BASKETBALL National Cup: With the worst record in this season's men's Superleague, the Killarney Lakers should have gone quietly out of the National Cup at the quarter-final stage. Instead, they travelled to Cork yesterday and knocked out last season's runners-up Neptune.
Their reward is a place in the televised cup finals weekend on January 28th-30th. The irony of it all will not be lost on Neptune as their two key players last season, Kenny Gamble and Charron Watson, played crucial roles in booking the Killarney side's place in the last four.
Gamble posted a remarkable 37 points, Watson chipped in with 15, in the 78-75 victory that will surely transform the club's season.
Ronnie Clarke went the other way last season to sign for Neptune and he was their top scorer with 28 points. What makes it more commendable is the fact Neptune led at half-time (51-44) and extended that to 14 points late in the third quarter.
Before yesterday the Lakers' only victory was in the first round of the cup when they beat Belfast club Star of the Sea. They currently lie bottom of the southern conference table with no wins from 12 outings but this morning Mark Scannell's side are the only team definitely in the 2005 finals.
The other sides all meet this afternoon with holders UCC Demons facing UCD in the all-student affair, respective conference leaders Killester and the Tralee Tigers play in Dublin while St Vincent's host the Limerick Lions.
NATIONAL CUP: Quarter-final: Killarney Lakers 78, Neptune 75. Today: UCC Demons v UCD, Mardyke Arena, 3.15; Killester v Tralee Tigers, IWA, 3.0; St Vincent's v Limerick Lions, St Vincent's CBS, 3.15.
