Stage perfectly set for UL double

BASKETBALL/Round-up: While the University of Limerick can this weekend secure the women's Superleague title, six clubs are still…

BASKETBALL/Round-up: While the University of Limerick can this weekend secure the women's Superleague title, six clubs are still in the hunt for the men's title over the final five weeks. Star of the Sea and Neptune remain best positioned, though St Vincent's appear to have found their best form when it matters most.

Notre Dame lost a little momentum last week but are still within striking distance, while UCC Demons and UCD Marian, currently fifth and sixth respectively, need the four clubs above them to lose at least two games for their title ambitions to be realised.

Such a narrow division at the top makes for another decisive round of games this weekend. Neptune and Notre Dame are in action tonight, with UCC Demons staging the Cork derby and Notre Dame at home to UCD Marian. Wins for Neptune and Notre Dame would keep their title hopes alive, and would also almost certainly kill off the hopes of the colleges.

The two other pivotal games take place on Sunday, with St Vincent's away to Limerick, and Star of Sea also on the road to Cork, where UCC are back on court.

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For the UL, meanwhile, the stage is now perfectly set to add the women's Superleague to the Cup title. The Waterford Wildcats provide the opposition at the UL Arena, and having already suffered a 76-48 defeat in the cup they'll know only a major upset will now deny Limerick the title.

MEN'S SUPERLEAGUE - Tonight: UCC Demons v Neptune (Mardyke Arena, 8.0), Notre Dame v UCD Marian (ESB Arena, 8.15); Tomorrow: Tolka Rovers v Tralee Tigers (Tolka, 7.30), Waterford v Killester (WIT, 7.30); Sunday: Killarney Lakers v UCD Marian (NEC, 2.30), UCC Demons v Star of the Sea (Mardyke Arena, 2.30), Limerick v St Vincent's (UL Arena, 3.15).

WOMEN'S SUPERLEAGUE - Tomorrow: St Paul's v Tipperary Talons (NEC, 6.0), Killester v Drimnagh (IWA, 6.30), U of L v Waterford Wildcats (UL Arena, 7.0), Glanmire v Meteors (Neptune, 7.30)

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan is an Irish Times sports journalist writing on athletics