New-look Neptune handed early chance of banishing Demons

UCC Demons and Neptune clashed recently in the opening game of the NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague and, astonishingly, Neptune, playing at home, went down by a massive 48 points.

Now they have the opportunity to exact swift revenge in the do or die National Cup second round clash next weekend.

Over the weekend both Cork teams were beaten. Demons suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Tommy Hehir's Limerick Lions and Neptune, away to UCD, lost by 12 points.

Following their embarrassing performance against their near-neighbours, Neptune rang the changes, bringingin two new players from the US, Dajan Smith, who has valuable experience of the Irish SuperLeague after a spell with Gleneagle Lakers, and exciting prospect Rob Brown.

To mix the blend they imported an American coach, Ozell Wells, a Bachelor of Sport from University of Michigan, who has been around the block as assistant head coach with his alma mater and head coach with a number of other teams.

He's been busy putting the talent together and, while they've yet to win a game under his stewardship, all the indications are that he's getting it right.

They lost Dajan Smith through injury on their SuperLeague visit to Killester and his absence from the floor against UCD in Sunday's cup clash was a severe if not decisive blow.

Fellow American Rob Brown stepped up to score 39 points in that game but it was not enough against a side with plenty of fire power.

"I did my best but it was disappointing," he reflected as he reported for training yesterday morning. "We expected to win that game and while I should be happy with my performance, I would much rather that we won."

Brown, a 6'5" centre who served his apprenticeship with University of Buffalo where he averaged 15 and 6, has all the credentials. He averaged 30 pts in Finland, 27 in Mexico and when he played in Australia last season his average was 35.

He wants to do the same in the SuperLeague here and, while he has yet to experience the atmosphere of a derby game in Cork, he knows what to expect.

"I have heard all about it," he said. "And I heard all about the last game before I got here but I think it will be really different this time around. I want to make sure that does not happen again."

Dajan Smith was on his way for an assessment of the current state of the damage he suffered at Greendale last Sunday week.

"I would like to think we will have him back for the SuperLeague game with Limerick at the weekend but if not so be it," Club Chairman, Tim O'Brien, said. "We will need him for the cup game.

"Obviously we were very disappointed with the last game against Demons but that performance was absolutely out of character. Those things just don't happen in a derby game."

Both Neptune chairman, Tim O'Brien and Demons' coach Pat Price were puzzled by the second round draw which will see the loser eliminated from the competition.

"It's one of those things but I don't know how they did it," the Demons' coach said. "But, having said that, there won't be a lack of focus for this one. It is going to be an intriguing game and we'll be keeping our heads screwed on."

Demons were smarting after being outsmarted by Limerick in their home Cup tie on Saturday night and he admitted that they might have been caught napping.

Shamrock Rovers Hoops, who lost to Gleneagle Lakers on Sunday, get the gig nobody wanted away to MDS Star who got a first round bye while Merry Monk Ballina will be at home to Roma St. Vincent's.

Draw: UCC Demons v Neptune; Merry Monk Ballina v Roma St. Vincent's; MDS Star v Shamrock Rovers Hoops.