An extremely in-form Ambassador UCC Glanmire are in action this evening [Wednesday] as they travel up the road to neighbours, Singleton SuperValu Brunell for a mid week derby in the Women’s Super League.

Glanmire have been the ones to watch in recent weeks, with their Americans firing on all cylinders and stalwarts Aine McKenna and Casey Grace consistently producing for Mark Scannell’s side. Brunell have a new signing in Treyanna Clay though and she’s settled into the league quickly, already featuring in the top scorers for her team to make this Cork derby one to watch. Brunell face into a second game later in the weekend, when they welcome IT Carlow Basketball to Cork, while Glanmire will travel to Kilkenny to face Marble City Hawks.

Indeed, it’s a big decider week all around, as many of the top teams face each other in what could prove to be a crucial round of fixtures. League leaders DCU Mercy travel across town to neighbours Pyrobel Killester in what is set to be a massive battle between first and second place in the league. The sides have split the wins in their past four league meetings, while this weekend’s battle has the added element of former Killester players Hannah Thornton and Maeve Phelan returning back to Clontarf for the first time since their move across town. With Killester in sharpshooting form in their home gym, this is set to be a tough test for the unbeaten DCU side – who haven’t won in Clontarf in the league since March 2017 - but head coach Mark Ingle is looking forward to the challenge: “We are very excited to play Killester this Saturday in the IWA. Not only is it first versus second in the league, but it’s also a local derby game where the players know each other very well. Killester's two American players pose a different type of defensive challenge for us, but we will try and impose our game on them from the start and it should be a great game."

Killester boss Karl Kilbride added: “Our games against DCU are always exciting affairs. The local derby always brings a big crowd and it will hopefully do the same on Saturday night. They’ve been excellent all year and consistently one of the best defensive teams in the league. Rebounding will probably be the difference in the game this weekend.”

Elsewhere, Fr Mathews and Maree – who are also in joint second place with Killester - will go head-to-head in Galway in a big battle. Maree come into the game off the back off a narrow loss to Killester in Dublin last weekend and will be hoping to get back to winning ways against Mathews at home this weekend. Mathews meanwhile have some momentum coming into the game after winning out over Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics last weekend in Kildare, and will be looking to the danger trio of Shannon Brady, Grainne Dwyer and Chantell Alford to help them lockdown Maree’s fast and pacey game. An interesting match up is also in store in Leixlip meanwhile, as Liffey Celtics host Maxol WIT Wildcats. Both teams are tied in joint third position on the table, and are both coming into the game off the back of losses last weekend. Celtics, who have been without the services of Sorcha Tiernan, have three losses to their name to date, while Wildcats also come in on the same record, and have had a tough few weeks without Cathy Kavanagh. Young Irish international Debbie Ogayemi has been the big talking point for Wildcats though, and closing her and Stephanie O’Shea down will be a key focus for Celtics.

This weekend is a crucial one in the Men’s Super League as well, with six teams currently tied at the top of the league to ensure this weekend’s games will be key. Belfast Star have a big home game this Saturday evening when they welcome Abbey Seals Dublin Lions to De La Salle. Lions are still chasing their first win of the league this season, but haven’t been too far off the mark in recent weeks. Star meanwhile have been in super form recently, winning well at home against UCD Marian before winning out against DBS Éanna in Dublin last weekend. Speaking of Éanna, they travel across town to face Marian in what is set to be a very interesting derby clash. Éanna come into the game off the back of two consecutive losses and will be hoping to bounce back with a key win over Marian this weekend. UCD Marian meanwhile come in off the back of a tricky win over Dublin Lions last weekend, and will be hoping to improve on that performance in this Saturday’s clash.

Elsewhere, a big challenge awaits Pyrobel Killester in Kerry this Saturday evening, as they travel to face Keane’s SuperValu Killorglin. Killorglin come into the game with their tails up following a big derby win over Garvey’s Tralee Warriors last weekend, and will be hoping to carry that momentum into this weekend’s clash and aiming for another big home performance to get them over the line. Tralee meanwhile are on the road to Galway where they face Maree in a tough clash. Maree took a big win at home over Griffith College Templeogue two weeks’ ago, but lost out on the road last weekend to Killester in Clontarf. DCU Saints host Coughlan C&S Neptune in a key game for both sides, while Templeogue are in action in Galway once more this weekend, as they face off against Moycullen.

Basketball Ireland Fixtures: November 13-17^th

Wednesday 13th November 2019 

Basketball Ireland Women’s Super League: 

Singleton SuperValu Brunell v Ambassador UCC Glanmire, Parochial Hall, 20:15;

Friday 15th November 2019 

Basketball Ireland Women’s Division One: 

Trinity Meteors v Swords Thunder, Trinity, 19:30;

NUIG Mystics v Limerick Celtics, Ballinfoile CC, 19:45;

Saturday 16th November 2019 

Basketball Ireland Men’s Super League: 

Belfast Star v Abbey Seals Dublin Lions, De La Salle, 18:30;

UCD Marian v DBS Eanna, UCD, 19:00;

Keanes Supervalu Killorglin v Pyrobel Killester, Killorglin Sports Centre, 19:15;

Maree v Garvey’s Tralee Warriors, Calsanctius College, 19:30;

DCU Saints v Coughlan CandS Neptune, DCU, 19:30;

Moycullen v Griffith College Templeogue, NUIG, 19:30;

Basketball Ireland Women’s Super League:

Marble City Hawks v Ambassador UCC Glanmire, O Loughlins GAA, 17:00;

Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics v Maxol WIT Wildcats, Leixlip Amenities Centre, 19:00;

Pyrobel Killester v DCU Mercy, IWA Clontarf, 19:30;

Basketball Ireland Men’s Division One: 

IT Carlow Basketball v Waterford Vikings, Barrow Centre-IT Carlow, 12:30;

LYIT Donegal v Portlaoise Panthers, LYIT, 16:00;

Ulster University v Limerick Sports Eagles, UUJ, 17:15;

McGowans Tolka Rovers v Limerick Celtics, Tolka Rovers SC, 18:00;

EJ Sligo All-Stars v Tradehouse Central Ballincollig, Mercy College, 19:30;

Fr Mathews v Scotts Lakers St Pauls Killarney, Fr Mathews Arena, 19:45;

Basketball Ireland Women’s Division One: 

Ulster University v Fabplus North West, Ulster University Elks, 15:00;

Team Tom McCarthys St Mary’s v Portlaoise Panthers, St Marys Castleisland, 18:30;

Griffith College Templeogue v Phoenix Rockets, Nord Anglia International School, 19:00;

Sunday 17th November 2019 

Basketball Ireland Women’s Super League: 

Maree v Fr Mathews, Calasanctius College-Galway, 14:30;

Singleton SuperValu Brunell v IT Carlow Basketball, Parochial Hall, 14:45;