Marian praying Star will wane in the north

Basketball: A Clyde Ellis-inspired Killester clinched the Superleague's Northern Conference last Wednesday after a 102-90 victory…

Basketball: A Clyde Ellis-inspired Killester clinched the Superleague's Northern Conference last Wednesday after a 102-90 victory over second place Star of the Sea.

The Belfast club's form has dipped in recent weeks, while the Dublin men are looking capable of challenging for the overall title.

UCD Marian are now making a push for the second slot but Star have a game in hand. Marian will have to play their last game of the regular season, against the Tralee Tigers, without Barry Glover who has withdrawn from playing due to personal reasons.

Killester's American Keith Friel had his licenese reinstated by the Superleague board prior to their game on Wednesday against Star. Friel had his licence revoked last week because of complications with the clubs work permit application. He is now available to play for the remainder of the season.

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In the Southern Conference, Mardyke UCC Demons need to win just one of their last three games to secure second spot and home-court advantage in the playoffs first round. This weekend they host St Vincent's.

The fight for the third spot then is between Neptune, Killarney Lakers and Limerick. Neptune travel to the National Arena to play Shamrock Rovers. The Hoops' Wayne Houston walked out on the club on Tuesday and will be gone for the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, Lakers player Tyrone Levetts looks very doubtful for Saturday's game against Killester.

It's the final round of league games in the Women's Superleague this weekend. Although the top six have been decided, the ranking positions are all still to play for, bar first, which belongs to University of Limerick. The top two automatically go into the semi-finals, with home advantage, while third to sixth play a quarter-final.

The Wildcats have been hit by further injury problems as captain Olivia O'Reilly is carrying a knee injury and Gráinne Dwyer was taken to hospital last weekend with gastro-enteritis.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

MEN'S SUPERLEAGUE - Saturday: Star of the Sea v Limerick, UUJ, 7.15; UCD Marian Tralee Tigers, Oblate Hall, 7.10; Killarney Lakers v Killester, INEC, 2.00. Sunday: Shamrock Rovers v Neptune, Arena, 3.00; UCC Demons v St Vincent's, Mardyke, 3.15.

WOMEN'S SUPERLEAGUE - Sunday: Meteors v Wildcats, St Olafs, 7.30 Tolka Rovers v Glanmire, TRSC, 7.00 University of Limerick v Killester, UL Arena 5.00 Drimnagh Dynamos v St Paul's, Oblate Hall, 3.30