InsureMyVan.ie Super League and Division 1 preview

Unbeaten Tradehouse Central Ballincollig will be looking to make eight wins from eight in the InsureMyVan.ie Super League, when they host defending champions Belfast Star on Saturday. Head coach Kieran O’Sullivan has called for a “quality performance” from his side if they’re to register yet another victory.

“We are looking forward to playing our last game this year at home against last year’s champions. Star have proven pedigree on and off the court and us having their former player, Keelan Cairns, in our ranks adds to this important game. 2021 has been a difficult, but rewarding one, for Ballincollig. It’s important we finish the first half of the season with a quality performance, if we are to keep our unbeaten run going.” - Kieran O'Sullivan

Belfast Star had a 94-85 home win over Grvey’s Tralee Warriors last time out. Head coach Adrian Fulton feels his side are in for a tough test this weekend. “We know we will be up against it this weekend. Ballincollig have only lost in the (National) Cup this year and are clearly playing very well. Andre Nation is the current player of the month and they have multiple threats in multiple positions. Hopefully we can build on last week's win and put in another good performance. Anything less than a very good performance won't get the job done.”

North Conference leaders DBS Éanna host NUIG Maree at Coláiste Éanna off the back of a 92-86 win over C&S Neptune. Darren McGovern, DBS Éanna head coach, said: “Maree are probably the most in-form team at the moment, full of confidence and talent. I am really looking forward to the match-ups. They have firepower all over the court, brilliant Irish talent in Eoin Rockall and many great imports this season. Us on the other hand, I'm delighted how we've navigated the start of the season. We've lost keys parts of the squad, but others have stepped up big time. I'm sure it'll be a great game in front of another sell out in Éanna.”

 DBS Éanna head coach Darren McGovern

His NUIG Maree counterpart, Charlie Crowley, has once again called for his team to improve their away form, after their 99-94 defeat at Killester. “Eanna are one of the top teams in the country. Even after dealing with numerous injuries they’re sitting pretty there at the top of the North Conference. They play an attractive style of basketball, along with some very good import and local players, they’re an extremely tough team to beat.”

“We don’t have a good record away from home, and it’s something we need to sort out. Against Killester we would take one step forward and two steps back. We played good basketball to get back into the game, but then players would decide to resort to individual plays to try and play ‘hero ball’. We need to continue to play as a team, as we do at home, if we want to get to where we’re capable of.”

C&S Neptune host Bright DCU Saints on Saturday. The Dublin club picked up their first win of the season, a 72-71 win over Team 360 Financial Killorglin, and Gareth Winders is hoping to follow it with a road victory. “Coming off a good performance last weekend against Killorglin, we know we will have to lift our performance again against a strong Neptune side. They have a good mix of players in their team and again are well coached and organised. We know there is a big challenge ahead on Saturday evening and the fact it’s in Neptune Stadium adds to that challenge. Our players have started to show another level to their game and we want to see more of that, come this Saturday.”

C&S Neptune player/coach Colin O’Reilly added: “It our first home game in a month and the last one before the last weekend of January, so we are looking forward to get out in front of our home fans. We have had a nice week of training, knowing we are going up against a team full of confidence after their win last weekend. Vincent’s always bring an intense pressure style to their play and we will have to match that for 40 minutes to give ourselves a chance of winning.”

Griffith College Templeogue are on a 5-game losing streak and head coach Mark Keenan is eager to end that sequence against Team 360 Financial Killorglin.

“Another big test for us this weekend against Team 360 Financial Killorglin. They have some great individual players, that can score big and really hurt you. We have to start playing more as a team ourselves and try to get that win under our belt before the Christmas break.” Keenan commented.

Griffith College Templeogue head coach Mark Keenan

Team 360 Financial Killorglin head coach Declan Wall has described their 72-71 defeat at Bright DCU Saints last weekend as “our worst performance to date”. He’s looking for improvement for their next trip to Dublin. “Tough game on the road again this coming weekend against a quality Templeogue side. We were really disappointed with how last weekend went, giving what was our worst performance to date. So for us to match a high calibre team like Templeogue we need to get back to what we were doing well in previous games that got us results. Training this week will be a refocus and get ready to put in a hard shift to compete come Saturday. We’ve been on the road now for a month, which is hard on the guys, but hopefully we can give one decent performance in before the Christmas break and look forward to a lot of home games in the new year.”

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors host UCD Marian, with head coach John Dowling highlighting the threat posed by Srdjan Stojanovic ahead of the game.

“We’re looking for a bounce back from our guys at home this weekend after our loss last weekend against Belfast. UCD have a great experience at this level, with one of the best shooters (Srdjan) Stojanovic the league has ever seen. We will have to play at our very best in order to beat UCD this weekend, we’re hoping our home fans will have a big part to play and are looking forward to the game.” - John Dowling

UCD Marian head coach, Josko Srzic, also picked out Aaron Calixte as a player for his side to watch. “We are going to home of one of the top teams in country. Very good offensive team, well balanced on all positions, many options, with the very good (Aaron) Calixte running the show. We know there is no space for many mistakes playing the team like Tralee, at their home court.”

Winless Moycullen host Killester, John Cunningham outlined the challenge his team faces on Sunday. “Some of our better performances since I took over have come against them - although I have to counter by saying some of our worst performances have come against them as well!.

“Brian (O’Malley) has them playing with tremendous pace and intensity and Ciaran Roe, Paddy Sullivan, Johnny Behan et cetera, fit that game perfectly, as does their American, Kason Harrell. There’s no room to celebrate made baskets against them, as they have the ball in and down the other end like lightning. They will really test our transition defence.

Having worked hard on our defence for a few weeks, we’ve been good in that area over the last two games. However, we’ve really struggled to put offence together lately and we have to hope that a focus on that this week will bring similar rewards. We’ll need to be better if we’re to have a chance on Sunday.”

Brian O’Malley missed last weekend’s win over NUIG Maree due to Covid-19. Assistant coach Mark Grennell will step in again this week, O’Malley said: “It's a big game for us as we look to build on a great win last week. Obviously I'm not around the team this week and just checking in from afar, but Mark (Grennell) plays a huge role in team prep every week, so it hasn't been much different. Moycullen and ourselves always is a good tussle, we have to be really accurate on offence and match their phenomenal workrate to be in position to win the game.”

In the InsureMyVan.ie Division 1 South Conference leaders UCC Demons take on Killarney Cougars on Saturday, while second-placed Limerick Sport Eagles are away at Portlaoise Panthers on Friday night.

Killarney Cougars head coach Ignas Sijanas said: "We are very excited to play against one of the best team in the league, who are playing smart and physical basketball. Our main goal is to follow our principles, stick with our defensive rules. We have to show respect to our opponents, give the best possible fight and leave everything on the floor. We have had many ups and downs, however I am proud of my players that they stuck together and trust the process. To build a wining team takes time and I am happy we have enough patience for that."

Grand Hotel Malahide have the chance to go level on points with North Conference leaders McGowan’s Tolka Rovers, if they win at EJ Sligo All-Stars.

"We’re looking forward to traveling to Sligo, we know that they’re one of the most talented teams in the league this year. So it’ll be a tough game to finish up before Christmas, but we’re hoping to come out with a win.

"The lads have had a good week of practice and we’re still reeling from our loss against Tolka last Thursday, so we’re looking forward to getting back on the court and testing ourselves against one of the leagues top teams." - Sean Ingle Grand Hotel Malahide head coach.

Elsewhere Titans BC host Drogheda Wolves, WIT Vikings entertain IT Carlow Basketball, Abbey Seals Dublin Lions play Ulster University and Scotts Lakers Killarney take on Limerick Celtics.