Kerry faces Vikings raid

Last year's champions, Star of the Sea, survived seven weeks into the Superleague before losing a match, which turned out to …

Last year's champions, Star of the Sea, survived seven weeks into the Superleague before losing a match, which turned out to be the only one they lost in the entire campaign. Denny Notre Dame survived even longer, going to December 21st before losing a game. This season both sides have already lost a match after playing only two games, and sit anonymously in mid table.

Only four teams, Dublin Bay Vikings, Killester, Neptune and Waterford Crystal have kept a perfect record, with newcomers Waterford and the Vikings enjoying the limelight.

Vikings, however, will have to sort out some injury worries in order to retain their unbeaten record when they face Kerry Spring Killarney in Kerry on Saturday evening. Damien Leahy fractured a bone in his left wrist in their match against Limerick last weekend and will be sidelined for at least a month. He joins Jerome Westbrooks (groin strain), Emmanuel Hasstrup (ankle) and Tommy Costelloe (hamstring) on the injury list.

Vince Daly is set to make his return next week, while Ricardo Leonard is suffering from a recurring knee problem, but should be fit enough to line out.

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Dublin rivalry will come into play tonight in the National Basketball Arena when Killester visit Denny Notre Dame and UCD Marian travel to Tolka Rovers. Notre Dame's only worry is Anthony Jenkins, who is still suffering from the sinus problems that plagued him last weekend.

Marian will look to Gary Edge, whose committed performance last week pushed them to their first win over defending champions Star of the Sea. Edge scored four three pointers, three in the last 10 minutes. Neptune, who are certainly relishing the start of this season having lost the first seven games of last season's campaign, travel to Sligo seeking their third successive win.

Sligo will be hoping to bounce back following last weekend's defeat at the hands of Marlborough Saints, but will clearly have their hands full.

The Saints are naturally anxious to keep the wagon rolling and with Chris Doyal in such hot form (he had 41 points last week), they will be hopeful as they visit the Maysfield Centre in Belfast. Star need to bounce back after last weekend's defeat.

In the women's Superleague Meteors take on Tolka Rovers tomorrow and Snowcream Wildcats hope to extend their winning streak to a remarkable 25 wins at the expense of Supermacs Limerick.

Johnny Watterson

Johnny Watterson

Johnny Watterson is a sports writer with The Irish Times