UCD Marian produced their best performance of the season to defeat Neptune 83-80 in a thrilling Nivea Men’s SuperLeague quarter-final.

UCD Marian stunned Bord Gais Neptune to set up a play-off semi-final date away to DCU Saints, while UL Eagles will take on UCC Demons in a repeat of the 2012 National Cup Final after their win away to 11890 Killester.

The Cork side, who had defeated the students three times in the regular season by 20 points plus in all games, were expected to win this tie in a canter but UCD Marian had other ideas, according to coach Fran Ryan.

UCD Marian Head Coach, Fran Ryan, was ecstatic after his side created the big surprise as the Students were ranked as outsiders to emerge from a difficult assignment. "I told my players that winning was not beyond them if they played to their potential," Fran said.

"No pundit gave us a chance of winning but then again nobody gave us a chance last season of winning the national cup and we proved many doubters wrong on that historic occasion."

UCD weren't expected to cause Neptune too many problems after a run which included six straight defeats in the regular season. However, they produced their finest display of the season with their recent Irish American acquisition Owen McNally contributing 23 points in the win and Kevin Foley adding a further 22.

"We absolutely believed we were going to win," said Marian Head Coach Fran Ryan. "We saw Ger Noonan as the real problem and we felt if we stopped him we had a great chance. We genuinely believed the results prior to Neptune weren't a true reflection of the way we were playing. "Owen (McNally) has come in and played well," added Ryan. "He played just 23 minutes and got a fine points tally so that shows what he brings to the team. DCU will be a real test. I saw them recently beat Neptune and I thought it was the best performance from a team this season."

The mood in the Neptune dressing-room was one of complete shock as coach Mark Scannell took time to praise the gallant winners.

"I was adamant in the build-up to this game that it was a potential banana skin and sadly I was proved right," Scannell said.

"On the other side of the coin we did not play smartly but credit to UCD they shot the lights out as we failed to shut down their threats."

UCD Marian will now play DCU Saints in the semi-final on Sunday next in DCU at 3.00pm

In the other quarter final, National Cup champions UL Eagles are still on course for the double after an emphatic 87-71 win away to reigning champions 11890 Killester. The Limerick side ended Killester's National Cup interests at the semi-final stage and put a halt to their hopes of retaining the league title after a dominant display in Clontarf.

The win would have been particularly pleasing to Eagles Head Coach Mark Keenan, who left the capital giants last summer. American Robert Taylor produced another memorable display, chipping in with 28 points and the Eagles can now look forward to a repeat of their cup final with UCC Demons in the semi-finals next week.

"I am absolutely thrilled," said Eagles Head Coach Mark Keenan. "It was always going to be tough on the road to Killester particularly considering UL's record up there in recent years. We stood up to the challenge and the commitment and attitude was excellent.

"Demons away will be difficult," he added. "We played there two weeks after winning the cup and lost. I was heartened by our second half display against them on that occasion so hopefully we can take that with us into next weekend."

In the Nivea Women's SuperLeague quarter finals, Waterford Wildcats beat 11890 Killester in overtime to set up a semi-final clash with UL, while DCU Mercy will take on old foes Team Montenotte after their win over Meteors.

Waterford Wildcats have earned a daunting date with UL in the semi-finals of the Nivea Women's SuperLeague following a dramatic 67-65 overtime win away to 11890 Killester.

DCU Mercy will face Cork rivals Team Montenotte Cork after they powered past Meteors on a scoreline of 78-39.

Basketball Ireland National League Play-Off's

Saturday March 10th 2012

Nivea for Men's SuperLeague Quarter Finals

Bord Gais Neptune 80 (42) (M Bonaparte 28, G Walsh 12, G Noonan 10) UCD Marian 83 (41) (O McNally 23, K Foley 22, D James 12)

11890 Killester 81(40) (J Turner 27, P Madsen 18, R Clarke 11) UL Eagles 97(45) (R Taylor 28, E Quigley 23, R Lynch 11)

Nivea Women's SuperLeague Quarter Finals

Killester 65 58 (30), (E Stone 14, A Maguire 11, E Naughton 11), Waterford Wildcats 67 58 (29), (C Kavanagh 19, K Maher 15, J Coady 14) OVERTIME

Sunday March 11th 2012

Nivea Women's SuperLeague Quarter Finals

DCU Mercy 78(37) (S Woods 23, S O'Connor 16, L Peat 9, C Newton 9) Meteors 39(17) (R Nagle 9, E Browne 6, F Meany 6)