THERE is a slew of National Cup basketball fixtures this weekend, with men's and women's games at all ages, levels and grades due to be played all over Ireland, with a number of important fixtures.
Probably none more so than the Men's National Cup battle between Belfast Star and Pyrobel Killester on Saturday at Methodist College (7pm). It's the second clash in three weeks between the clubs after the Dublin side went home with a 69-59 victory from their Premier League encounter.
There is a difference this time. Star will have their towering centre and captain Keelan Cairns on court. He was injured last time but, has since, played three times with Hibernia in Europe and, also, with Star against Demons, last Sunday.
“To be without our captain, our centre, our second highest scorer and a player who is one of our top assists-player was a big blow against Killester last time. Keelan's presence will make a big difference this time," said head coach Neal McCotter.
“Killester won't get anything easy. There is a lot of belief in our squad and, I feel, that we may surprise a few people. Our league position isn't good reading (just one win, so far) but there were a couple of games we should have won."
Star may have to play without their head coach this time as he has also had to miss training during the week because of family commitments and he may have to miss the match, as well.
“JD (Javan Dupree) and Danny Fulton looked after the sessions and no better people. JD was my idol as a player when I was growing up and Danny is, probably, the best coach in Ireland. I'm also hoping that Darren O'Neill can lend a hand,” says McCotter.
Undoubtedly, the absence of Cairns last time in the low-scoring league match had a big say on the game. Killester got 15 to 20 more shots at the basket than they should have got, due mainly to their offensive rebounding. That should change with Cairns under the net.
Allan Casey – 18 first half points and 26 in all – plus bustling Jerome Turner, who made 17, did serious damage to Star last time. Keith Anderson was also troublesome but the fact that Killester could only land 69 points speaks well for Star whose biggest problems were on the boards.
Killester coach Brian O'Malley ran his bench constantly throughout the league action, something that Neal McCotter didn't have the advantage of doing. It made a difference.
Killester's defeat by Swords Thunder last weekend will make the Dubs all the more anxious not to lose in the cup first leg but Star can put it up to them.
After their whirlwind defeat of hitherto undefeated Women's Division One league leaders NUIG last weekend, Ulster Rockets must go into Sunday's cup game with Longford Falcons, at Methodist College (4.00), as hot favourites but the home side, possibly like Star, will be without their head coach Breda Dick. Breda has another date to keep but her charges will be well looked after and they know that they cannot cause a slip-up.
Emma O'Connor, in her first home game since joining the Rockets, cemented the team together and the work rate of Ciara O'Neill, Nicola Rafferty, etc, etc was superb but they must not rest on their laurels or think too much about the favourites' tag.
They earn that from the fact that almost the length of the league table separate them from Longford, who have lost all their five games to date this season. In stark contrast, Rockets are in a 4-and-2 situation, tucked in just behind joint leaders NUIG and Oblate Dynamos.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Men's National Cup
Saturday: UCD Marian v DCU Saints; S&E Airtricity, Moycullen v Templeogue; GCD Swords Thunder v Éanna, Dublin; Belfast Star v Pyrobel Killester (Methodist College, Belfast, 7pm)
Women's National Cup
Saturday: Singleton SuperValue, Brunnel v O'Loughlin Hotel Panthers
Sunday: Ulster Rockets v Longford Falcons (Methodist College, 4pm)
Presidents' Cup
Saturday: C&S Blue Demons v Queen's (Mardyke, 4pm)
Intermediate Cup
Saturday: Phoenix, Lisburn v Kildare Gilders (Methodist College Belfast, 4.45pm); Ulster Elks v Killester (UUJ, 3pm)
U20 Men's Cup
Sunday: Phoenix, Lisburn v Maree, Oranmore
