Confident Lions confront Demons as Lakers sink

Limerick Lions 105 Gleneagle Lakers 91

His side were most impressive in victory over an in-form Gleneagle Lakers at the UL Arena on New Year’s Eve.

“It certainly means that we can be more relaxed about the Demons game,” Hehir insisted.

“If we had lost it would have put some pressure on us but now we have two wins out of three games over Killarney and that could be very important to us at the end of the season if things are still tight at the top of the Southern Conference.”

There were big games from Jonathan Stevens, who hit a game high of 36 points, Robert Taylor with 27 and the evergreen Ricardo Leonard (15). The hosts dominated, leading 28-20 at the end of the first quarter and 53-40 at half time.

But there were worrying moments in the closing minutes when Hehir had to run down his bench after Taylor, Robert Lynch, Neil Campbell and Stephen King were all fouled out with four minutes left on the clock.

“It was very worrying because Lakers were coming back at us in the third quarter,” he admitted. “We were fortunate in that we had a bit of a cushion because when the four lads were fouled out we needed our younger players - I mean 17 and 18 year olds - to see us through. Fortunately it went all right and I was delighted with the way they all responded.”

Though more relaxed about today’s trip to Cork, he admitted they could have done without a second game this weekend.

“It is something similar to the situation over the October bank holiday when we played Neptune on the Saturday and then Tralee on the Monday and we lost that one. It was a bridge too far at the time,” he said.

“This time we had an afternoon game but it was New Year’s Eve and there were some celebrations on Saturday night.”

Limerick are one of only two teams to beat Demons this season.

That win in the first round of the National Cup sent Pat Price’s side into the qualifying round and the Cork side will hope for revenge.

However Shane Coughlan is rated doubtful and has not trained since December 22 due to flu. There was better news about David Murphy, who had wisdom teeth extracted last week. He trained on Friday and is likely to play.

“He will have a major role to play in the absence of Shane Coughlan,” Price insisted.

“It is one of those games where all the players will have to step up.” And one of those stepping up will be Tim O’Halloran, who will be given a place in the starting five.

“Tim is one of those players who has shown improvement every year. I think he is going to carry that into this game and into the rest of the season. I know that when he comes into his own the whole team will step up a notch and I feel that this is the game where he will shine,” he added.