National title looks to be southbound

Basketball Weekend round-up On present form the Southern Conference of the men's Superleague looks set to take home the national…

Basketball Weekend round-upOn present form the Southern Conference of the men's Superleague looks set to take home the national title come next month. UCC Demons, Neptune and the Tralee Tigers are all hitting form.

Up north, Star of the Sea appear to be going into reverse after they were beaten 94-85 by the Tigers this weekend, while the Demons accounted for Dublin's finest, Killester, 93-79.

Star and Killester will both be keen to get their push for honours back on track when they meet on Wednesday.

Elsewhere, things seem to be falling nicely into place for UCD Marian. The talents of Kenny McFarland were on full display this weekend when he racked up 53 points in the overtime defeat of Limerick. They also beat Shamrock Rovers 93-88 yesterday.

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Marian's two victories mean the season is effectively at an end for Shamrock Rovers and St Vincent's, as neither can now make the play-offs.

Waterford are also out of the running but they do have a say in the Southern Conference pecking order. They have to face both Cork clubs and a victory may well sway the final placing, behind Tralee, who have already secured top spot.

In the women's Superleague the University of Limerick easily accounted for Glanmire 112-56, with Michelle Aspell hitting 38 points.

Tolka Rovers registered only their fourth win of the season, against the Wildcats, 81-69, with Nikki O'Brien hitting 21 points.

Their victory over the Meteors brings St Paul's level with the Wildcats in second place. In the head-to-head format, however, the Wildcats still hold sway.

The final games are played next week.

Gavin Cummiskey

Gavin Cummiskey

Gavin Cummiskey is The Irish Times' Soccer Correspondent