Neptune, Demons set for a cracker

WHEN Mardyke UCC Demons and Neptune battled their way through to the final of the National Cup at the end of last season everyone was regretting the fact that it was not to be played in Cork - for many the spiritual home of basketball.

Tonight's clash at The Mardyke Arena, which tips off the first round of the cup, will not be deciding the destination of the cup - with the back door ajar for losers - but it could give an indication of who will be in the shake up.

Last weekend's results, which saw Demons put an end to Abrakebabra Tigers' unbeaten SuperLeague run with a 20 point drubbing and Neptune travel to Belfast to beat Star on their home patch, has added a new zest to tonight's clash.

Unfortunately for Demons' Coach, Pat Price, he will have to plan without young David Murphy. He handed him a place in the starting five and the under-19 star was a revelation.

This week, however, he had to cut him from the roster when he went down with an illness that will keep him out of the game for at least three weeks.

"It's tough. He is going to be a big loss but, at this stage, it's all about his health and him recovering quickly. We should have him back in three weeks so we just have to get on with it in the meantime," Coach Price said. "But it is unfortunate. David has emerged in the past three weeks and then, all of a sudden, we are without him."

The game against Tralee was not about one guy, however. Demons conceded just eight turnovers, they got more shots in and practically all of them were good.

"We have skilled players. We knuckled down to it. We did what we had to do and I would expect more of the same. We had a thriller in the cup final and now, all of a sudden, the people of Cork have it again."

Jim Nugent won't be changing the side that beat Star last weekend which means Ronnie Clarke and Daveeno Hines will start. Charron Watson is ready if called and Gordon Fitzgerald, who did not tog off for the past couple of games will be on the bench despite being on physio for a troublesome hamstring.

"This is another big game," Neptune's Tim O'Brien insisted. "Local derby pride is at stake and nobody wants to lose a cup game even if there is a back door there.

"Back-to-back victories sent our guys to Belfast full of confidence last weekend and it showed. Our two Americans played well and obviously it left Jim (Nugent) with a big decision.

"They were scoring and rebounding and the Irish players were able to feed off their production."

Abrakebabra Tigers were shell-shocked by Demons last Sunday afternoon but Team Manager, Junior Collins, feels they can put that defeat behind them when they play Merry Monk Ballina at the Tralee Sports Centre tomorrow night.

"We will be back to full strength," he pointed out. "Michael Quirke was in America with the Kerry footballers last weekend and Kieran Donaghy picked up an injury the night before but that's not saying they would have made up 20 points.

Merry Monk Ballina will almost certainly have to play without Deora Marsh who is having problems with the ankle that he injured some weeks ago but they are not going to be overawed by the opposition.

"We have Malachy Daly fully fit again and Ronan McGarrity, despite his club football championship game on Sunday, has given priority to basketball and he is playing very well," Press Officer, Vincent Roche said.

Waterford Crystal could pull of the shock of the weekend if they can beat Roma St. Vincent's in Waterford, while Mark Scannell will be hoping that Clyde Ellis can sign off on a high when Gleneagle Lakers travel to Belfast to play MDS Star. Limerick Lions and UCD face each other for the second time in a week at Belfield.

In the senior women's cup three of the seeded teams sit it out this weekend when the programme will include just one all-superleague game and that involves DART Killester and the former champions, Bausch & Lomb Wildcats. Elsewhere, Galwey Auctioneering Castleisland face the Pacers.

Cup fixtures

Tonight: Men's National Cup: Mardyke UCC Demons v Neptune, Mardyke Arena, 8.15pm.

Tomorrow: Men's National Cup: MDS Star v Gleneagle Lakers, UU Jordanstown, 7.15pm; UCD v Limerick, Belfield SC, 7.15pm; DART Killester v Shamrock Rovers Hoops, IWA, 8pm; Abrakebabra Tigers v Merry Monk Ballina, Tralee SC, 8pm.

Women's National Cup: DART Killester v Bausch & Lomb Wildcats, IWA, 6pm; Firhouse Notre Dame v XLR8 Autos Drimnagh, Old Bawn, 6pm; Portlaoise Pacers v Galwey Auct. Castleisland, St Marys, 6.30pm; Peugeot Meteors v Sligo All Stars, Naomh Olafs, 6.45pm.

Sunday: Men's National Cup: Roma St Vincent's v Waterford Crystal, St Vincent's CBS, 3.15pm.

Women's National Cup: Mercy Coolock v Longford Falcons, Mercy Coolock, 2pm.