Refreshed Demons intend to make history
Since they opened their defence of the title with a devastating display against Neptune, Demons have been the raging hot favourites and, since then, Pat Price's side has done precious little wrong.
Tomorrow (2.30 pm) they get an action packed weekend under way with the first of the semi-finals against Roma St. Vincent's and while they will be fancied to go through to the final, there will be no complacency in the camp.
Demons had a couple of setbacks in recent weeks. They lost for a second time to Gleneagle Lakers but were without the services of Michael Doles and there were also injury concerns to contend with.
"To be honest we needed the week off," Price admitted. "We have been knocked about a bit and the free week helped us. In fact it is the first time I have ever welcomed a week without a game but we needed it. We had guys injured, some illnesses and Michael Doles needed an extra couple of days.
"But it also gave us an opportunity to get focused and it showed at Monday night's practice when there was a great buzz about the place - everyone knew we were on the brink of something pretty special."
St. Vincents' defeat of Lakers in their quarter-final sent out a clear message to everyone, however, and not least to Demons.
"They will not be easy pickings and there will be no complacency," Price insisted. "Joey (Boylan) will have them all fired up and I know they will relish the underdog role. Joey has given a sense of ownership to his local players and they will step up for a big game like this. They proved it by beating a team as good as Killarney last weekend."
But they will have their hands full against a team as complete as Demons. This has been a memorable season for them and they have put themselves in a good situation by earning the right to host the semi-finals and finals.
St. Vincent's have been busily putting all the pieces together during the second half of the season and they were close to the complete article against Lakers when Jermaine Turner and Kenny McFarland showed just what they can do from the wings with David Donnelly, brother James and Eoin Darling chipping in with their best performances of the season.
"We know we can hold our own against Demons, based on the last time we played when we led for most of the first half," captain Dave Donnelly said.
"What we need to do is not allow them to establish a lead because that would be very hard to claw back, particularly when they are on their home court."
Limerick Lions, after a few weeks of indifference, go head-to-head with Merry Monk Ballina in the second semi-final (4.30 pm).
Coach Tom Hehir had to do some patchwork after losing two Americans in quick succession but the way they finished their quarter-final against resurgent DART Killester last weekend would indicate that they are back on track.
In that game they started slowly but impressed when they got into a rhythm in the last 15 minutes and tomorrow they will be boosted by the fact that in their last meeting in a cross conference game last October, they defeated Ballina in a closely fought encounter.
Ballina Coach Terry Kennedy is itching for another shot at Demons but, he is looking only to tomorrow first and hopes that big performances from his top Irish players, Ronan McGarrity and Paul Freeman, together with quality displays by imports Patrick Pope, Evan Pelleran and Dan Zapior will see his side make it to Sunday's final.
14:30 NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague - Semi-Final 1: UCC Demons v Roma St. Vincent's, 2.30 p.m.; NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague - Semi-Final 2: Merry Monk Ballina v Limerick Lions, 4.30 p.m.
Women's SuperLeague Final: Carna Transport Mercy v Vienna Woods Glanmire, 1.30 p.m.; NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague Final, 4 p.m.
