Time for Irish Lions to roar, says Hehir
“Win both and we go straight into the play-offs, lose one and we are still there with a fighting chance, but if we lose both we would find ourselves in big trouble,” said Coach Tommy Hehir yesterday.
The Lions must do without their new American, Quentin Moman, who was brought in a few weeks ago to replace Jon Steven, but has now returned to the US.
“He should have gone home last week but we persuaded him to stay for the weekend,” Hehir said. “Now, I am looking at a player I saw last year as a possible replacement.
“However, I am turning to my Irish players for something special. After all this is an Irish league - it is their league - and I am putting it up to them to stand up and be counted.”
Not so long ago a place in the play-offs appeared secure, then a couple of results went against them and Gleneagle Lakers came screaming after them. They have a game in hand over Lakers who play Tigers midweek and that is a game that should favour Lions whichever way the result falls.
“Our players know what is at stake. They can guarantee us the third spot in the table this weekend.”
There are no such worries for UCC Demons ahead of tonight’s derby at Neptune Stadium. They have already cemented themselves at the top of the conference and secured a home semi-final but they won’t be taking their foot off the pedal when they face up to Michael Evans’ rejuvenated Neptune.
Coach Pat Price said: “We have accomplished a lot but we are just a few games away from doing something pretty special. Apart from all that this is a derby game and Neptune have nothing to lose.
“This is not the same Neptune we played last October or since. They have that fighting spirit back, they’re organised on and off the court and I think they’re going to be fairly determined not to lose another game to Demons.”
“I did not see the other derby games,” Neptune Coach, Michael Evans, admitted. “But I gather they were pretty much over at half time.
“Let’s face it, Demons are the team. They have done everything. But if we can stay in touch then you never know what might happen down the stretch.”
The most improved team in the country has to be the Vienna Woods Glanmire women’s side who can collect their first superleague title if they beat Carna Transport Coolock at Greendale tomorrow night.
The game brings two of the game’s most experienced coaches into opposition, Glanmire’s Mark Scannell and Mark Ingle’s Coolock.
“We are already through to the semi-finals but this year there is a regular season title and we can take that if we win this game,” said Scannell.
As things stand Coolock are two points clear but if Glanmire win they take the title as they beat Coolock by nine points in a previous game.
“We have had a pretty difficult couple of weeks - losing to UL and Wildcats,” Coach Scannell admitted.
“On top of that we have a very bad ’flu going through the team at the moment and neither Michelle Fahey nor Marie Breen has trained this week.”
Regardless of the outcome Glanmire are through to the semi-finals of the SuperLeague and any of the four teams can win that one.
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