BASKETBALL/Weekend Preview: Mark Ingle has returned as head coach at Killester ahead of tomorrow's important game with Dublin rivals Notre Dame. It may be a stretch to say that his return is the last-ditch effort to keep alive Killester's defence of their ESB Superleague title, yet the timing is nonetheless significant.
It was Ingle who led Killester to the league-cup double last year, but he then took up an offer from the Manchester Giants to become their head coach. All seemed to be going well there until one of the clubs' major backers pulled out in early December, forcing it to fold.
Killester, meanwhile, were experiencing their own problems in the Superleague. A disastrous start ended in the removal of new coach Ken Black, and the appointment of Jerome Westbrooks as player-coach. After a string of positive results, Westbrooks helped bring the club up to second behind Waterford, but they then fell quite dramatically to UCD Marian last Saturday.
With Ingle now back in his old coaching position - and Westbrooks back to more regular court appearances - it is expected that Killester can still be in the running for the title come March.
Ingle is helped by the fact that he starts out with a full panel, but Notre Dame have slowly been getting their act together and enjoyed their second consecutive win (over Neptune) last weekend. Although their title hopes have disintegrated, they won't be holding anything back against Killester.
Waterford, meanwhile, should have little trouble holding onto to their top position in the table when they host bottom-placed Tyrone.
, Tralee will be looking to keep their hopes on track when they travel to Tolka Rovers but it won't be an easy game. Fourth-placed Limerick are also in Dublin to take on UCD Marian, while St Vincent's must travel to Cork for a difficult assignment against Demons - who defeated Kilarney 105-93 on Wednesday night.
The women's league still has some life in it, but both Tolka Rovers (against Killester) and the Wildcats (against Meteors) can't afford a slip. With a two-point advantage, Wildcats are still leading the pace.
MEN'S SUPERLEAGUE - Tomorrow: Limerick v UCD Marian, UL, 7.30; Tolka Rovers v Tralee, Tolka, 7.45; Waterford v Tyrone, WIT, 7.30; Killester v Notre Dame, IWA, 8.0; Killarney Lakers v Sligo, NEC, 8.0; Sunday: Star of the Sea v Neptune, Maysfield LC, 2.30; Demons v St Vincent's, Parochial Hall, 3.15.
WOMEN'S LEAGUE - Tomorrow: Tolka Rovers v Killester, Tolka, 5.30; Wildcats v Meteors, Mercy Convent, 7.0.
