BASKETBALL: With non-Superleague opponents Queen's standing in their path, UCC Demons, will be expected to advance to the quarter-finals of the National Cup on Sunday.
They will also wish to atone for their comprehensive midweek defeat to Killarney, but coach Pat Rice is aware of the target that is placed on his side as defending champions.
"As Cup holders, it would be the highlight of some teams' seasons to knock us out, but we have a different team this year, what with three of our starting players departing," said Rice. He did admit that Tori Butler appears to have filled the void left by the exit of a last year's star player James Singleton.
"Queen's are in a similar position to the way we were last year against Notre Dame, who were coming off the back of a 10-in-a-row winning streak. Queen's only have to play better than us for 40 minutes."
Moycullen will also look to live up to the role of giant-killers when they take on Waterford in Ennistymon. Considering the Superleague side's abysmal form this season - they have won only two matches - opportunity knocks for the Division One team.
The match of the weekend will be the all-southern conference clash between the undefeated Tralee Tigers and Neptune. Earlier this week, the Tigers saw off the Corkmen 91-77 but with Kenny Gamble expected to return, tomorrow's game should be much closer.
The Harlem Globetrotters will be returning to Ireland for the first time in more than a decade in April next year. The world famous basketball team begin their European tour in Millstreet on April 17th, while they will play two shows in the National Arena in Dublin over the following two days.
SATURDAY - MEN'S NATIONAL CUP: Tralee Tigers v Neptune, Tralee, 8.00 Corinthians v Mayo, Inchicore, 3.00 Micelle v Waterford, Ennistymon, 7.00 UCD Marian v Killester, UCD, 7.10 Star of the Sea v St Vincent's, Jordanstown, 7.15. WOMEN'S NATIONAL CUP: Glanmire v Tolka Rovers, Littleisland, 7.30 Notre Dame v University of Limerick, Firhouse, 5.30 Sligo All Stars v Killester, Sligo SC, 4.30 Mercy Coolock v Meteors, Mercy 1.30 St Paul's v Sligo Warriors, Presentation 3.00 Wildcats v Longford Falcons, Mercy 7.30
SUNDAY - MEN'S NATIONAL CUP: Killarney Lakers v Shamrock Rovers, INEC, 1.30 UCC Demons v Queen's, Mardyke, 3.15 WOMEN'S NATIONAL CUP: Drimnagh v Donoughmore, Inchicore, 3.30.
