Lions coach asks his side to roar against high-flying Demons

LIMERICK Lions coach Tom Hehir will be asking his players for an extra effort against high-flying UCC Demons in their final NIVEA for Men SuperLeague regular game of the season at the Mardyke tonight.

They have already qualified for the play-offs, but victory would give them a home quarter-final against either DART Killester or Roma St Vincent’s.

“The guys all know what’s at stake. I don’t have to impress the significance of the result on them at this point,” he said.

“But the last few weeks have been difficult for us - losing one of our most valuable players and then losing the replacement in a very short space of time - but I feel that we have weathered that particular storm.

“We actually beat Demons in the first round of the Cup when they looked unbeatable and up to the Christmas break we were playing excellent basketball. At that time we didn’t have the depth required to keep a run going but that is changed now.

“I know - and the players know too - that if we can regain that form we will be there with a big shout in a couple of weeks time.

“I have to admit I am delighted that we are there playing for something at the end of the season.

“If we get there it will be the first time we have made it to the semi-finals since the new structure was introduced.”

Brent Welton arrived to replace Quentin Moman with a big reputation and he has lived up to it. Undoubtedly he will have a huge role to play in all the upcoming proceedings.

“This weekend is difficult in that we have a number of players involved in the Universities championships here in Limerick and there is always the fear of injuries or distractions.

“The mind boggles as to why this competition can’t be run off at the end of March or early April.

“There is also a worry over Ricardo Leonard. He has been struggling with a viral infection and has not trained since the Cup. We might have to play without him tomorrow night.”

UCC Demons’ coach Pat Price also has injury worries ahead of the game. Michael Doles suffered an abdominal strain against Neptune on February 25 and has not played since.

“It is one of those injuries you can do very little about other than wait until it heals and he is ready to play,” the coach said.

“He is still doubtful for Friday but the important thing is to have him ready for two weeks’ time. But then there is always going to be a fitness problem.

“And David Murphy sprained his ankle on Monday and is on physio for the week so we are waiting on news from that quarter.”

The absence of Doles impacted last weekend’s SuperLeague game with Gleneagle Lakers when the Killarney side inflicted another defeat on the defending champions.

“I don’t know if it was the ultimate influence but you are always going to miss a big guy who is averaging 27 points a game. I was confident the players would step up and Colin O’Reilly did with 30 points but Michael makes plays and creates space for others.

“Justin Wingard certainly benefited and there is no shortage of confidence in Killarney. They hurt us in every position from the point upwards. Week in week out, from September to February, Michael Doles was the best player in the SuperLeague.

“We need to win against Limerick and feel good about our form going into the semi-finals on February 25.”

With Merry Monk Ballina, who are at home to UCD, topping the table, the tidying up continues in the Northern Conference.

DART Killester travel to Jordanstown to play MDS Star tomorrow night while Roma St Vincent’s will be looking for a win over Shamrock Rovers Hoops to consolidate their position.