BASKETBALL: The UCC Demons' quest for a third National Cup title in four years heats up this Sunday when they face Ballina in the semi-final at the National Basketball Arena, Tallaght.
During his six-year tenure as head coach, Pat Price has guided the Demons to this stage on five occasions but if talisman Shane Coughlan fails to recover from influenza they will struggle against the leading club in the northern conference. The presence of their former import, Patrick Pope, may also see their quest for the double come to a premature end.
Although the Demons are undoubtedly the form team in the country having won 11 out of their last 13 games, Pope and Evan Pellerin have settled nicely into the Ballina set-up. Also, the Mayo men would like to avenge the 2004 defeat at this stage.
The other semi-final also takes place at the National Arena as Killester seek to reverse last week's overtime Superleague defeat to the Limerick Lions.
Limerick are the southern conference's most improved team this season, by keeping in touch with the Demons stroll to the play-offs. Killester do not have a Bosman signing at present but an injury to Limerick's Adrian Walshe may cancel out that advantage.
Killester coach Saisa Punosevac is currently serving a two-match ban but this has no bearing on his presence courtside for cup matches.
The woman's semi-finals follow the men's on Sunday night and it is perhaps the last opportunity for UL-Aughinish to salvage something from a disastrous season that sees them languishing mid-table.
Since Killester beat them in last year's National Cup final they seem to have lost the belief in their ability.
Sunday's opposition comes in the shape of St Paul's of Killarney, who already beat them 80-74 in the Superleague, however, UL were without Michelle Aspell, American Courtney McDaniel and Orla Nolan that day. Expect a markedly different final scoreline.
St Paul's have failed at this stage of the cup for a number of years running and considering their inconsistent league form it's likely that trend will continue.
The other semi-final is between Mercy and defending champions Killester. If the league's leading rebounder Carmel Kissane and top points scorer Sue Altman arrive in top form, a repeat of last year's cup final is on the cards.
It could be a remarkable weekend for the Killester club as they have five teams involved in semi-finals - a remarkable achievement in itself.
Sunday - Men's National Cup semi-finals (National Basketball arena): Killester v Limerick Lions, 1.0 UCC Demons v Merry Monk Ballina, 3.0 Women semi-finals UL Aughinish v St Paul's, 5.30 Killester v Mercy, 7.30.
