Limerick leader pleads for support

LIMERICK coach Tom Hehir last night appealed to fans to support them as they celebrated their biggest weekend since winning the National Cup a couple of years ago with back to back SuperLeague victories over Neptune and Waterford Crystal.

On Saturday evening they went to Neptune Stadium in Cork and beat the home side 111-102 in a thriller, and they produced more of the same at UL Arena yesterday to overcome Waterford Crystal 88-80.

“To say we are delighted would be an understatement,” insisted Hehir. “I have to hand it to the guys. They all played out of their skins.”

It has been an amazing lead up to the SuperLeague for Limerick. They lost their sponsor at the end of last season and Hehir himself decided to take a year or two out to pursue other interests.

But he was inundated with requests to return and could not resist the temptation.

Without sponsorship the club had to put structures in place to ensure an income and much of this will depend on their home games.

“I am now calling on the people of Limerick to come out and support us and I can guarantee them value for money,” the coach promised yesterday. “I don’t think they will find better entertainment anywhere.

“We were very good on Saturday and yesterday we were good again. The attendance was not that big but then there were a lot of other attractions around - the mini marathon and the county final.”

Limerick fought back from an early deficit to tie the game at half-time against a resurgent Neptune at Neptune Stadium, and once they got their noses in front in the third quarter they sat on their lead.

“And we finished the game with Matthew Hall on the bench both against Neptune and then against Waterford Crystal,” pointed out Hehir. “In both games I played nine Irish players and I was delighted with each and every one of them.”

Hehir had to be particularly pleased with Neil Campbell, who returned from college in the US this year. He landed the two three pointers that turned the game against Waterford in their favour after the visitors had led 47-42 at half time.

“Stephen King played very well against Neptune, ending up with 14 points and he is just 18 years of age,” said the coach.

“They were both very competitive games and, to be honest, they could have gone either way. Neptune are very experience and could have well have won.

“Waterford are a good side, too, so we have to be pleased with those two wins. “

Mardyke UCC Demons got their campaign under way with a 105-92 away win over UCD, Dave Holmes scoring 32 points.

The defending champions, Abrakebabra Tigers, beat St. Vincent’s Roma 95-72 but Vincent’s bounced back yesterday with a 98-95 win over Gleneagle Lakers.

Merry Monk Ballina, the team they are all talking about, beat Waterford Crystal 107 to 99 on Saturday night.

In the women’s SuperLeague, Vienna Woods Glanmire had a significant win away to Peugeot Meteors, 78-67, on Saturday night while defending champions, UL Aughinish, kept their amazing run going with a 57-53 win over Drimnagh Dynamos.