Lions looking to set up Demons clash with home win over Lakers
Lions and Lakers have that play-off look about them as they head into the second half of the NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague while Demons, the defending champions, are the raging hot favourites to bring off the double - something coach Pat Price has been doing his utmost to cool down.
Limerick coach Tommy Hehir will face Lakers with some caution. They beat the Killarney side by 11 points in their first game of the season but then Lakers went into the Lions’ den and came away with a 99-82 upset.
And there was much more to come from Cormac O’Donoghue’s side - culminating in a resounding victory over Neptune before Christmas when they scored 149 points.
Justin Winguard scored 28 points, Bosman Tim Sullivan had 29, Dinus Baranuskas had 26 off the bench, Kelvin Coggins 22 and Owen O’Brien 21.
“It was one of those performances you dream about,” O’Donoghue said.
“Everything went right for us on the night and every coach knows that does not happen too often.”
He was speaking after his side had beaten Limerick by six points in the Castleisland tournament yesterday but insisted he was not attaching much importance to that result.
Tim Sullivan went home to New York for Christmas but they were expecting him back in Killarney today.
Limerick’s Bosman, Adrian Walsh, has been having endless problems with an ankle injury. The Canadian, who played with Ballina and then Galway last year, became a vital cog in Tommy Hehir’s machine right from the start of the season.
“He is one of those players who can play anywhere and will do anything you ask of him,” the coach said. “He would come off the bench and give us five or 10 minutes each half and had the ability to boost a team. We got a very good balance with him.
“Then he picked up this nasty injury which included a break in his ankle. That healed pretty quickly but since then he has had trouble with ligaments and he still can’t put all his weight on it.
“Killarney beat us at home at the start of the month but we played poorly that night - we had one guy in hospital with appendicitis, Jonathan had ‘flu and Rick had a kidney infection. I would still be apprehensive about the game on Saturday night.”
The game against Demons on Monday afternoon promises to be a thriller. Despite the manner in which Demons have been dominating the SuperLeague and Cup, it could be difficult to call if Lions come through tomorrow night’s game unscathed because only Limerick and Tralee have beaten the defending champions this year.
“Demons are the team everyone is talking about right now and, let’s face it, they have remarkable depth. They have built on an established squad while we have been changing every year. I look at the league and I see players with clubs year after year and I find myself rebuilding all the time,” the Limerick coach pointed out.
“But there is a great buzz in the club right now and we have three under-age teams figuring in the Cork leagues so I am not complaining. We are in the semi-finals of the Cup and contenders for the SuperLeague. The future looks pretty bright.”
Demons’ coach Pat Price has resigned himself to the fact that he will have to plan without ice cool Shane Coughlan on Monday while point guard David Murphy, who had his wisdom teeth out yesterday, and shooting guard Sean Carroll - ‘flu - are both extremely doubtful.
“But we play to our strengths and right now that is out depth,” he said. “I think half the county is suffering from ‘flu, colds and chest infections and we are no different.
“It is a funny old league. We have played Tralee three times already and we are finished with them while we have not yet played Limerick or Killarney in the league. I am not sure if a lot of thought went into this season’s schedule.”
Castleisland’s annual tournament is providing the usual fair share of excitement and upsets. Yesterday Gleneagle Lakers beat Limerick by six points and Shamrock Rovers Hoops, who travelled with just six players, caused a major upset when they beat Abrakebabra Tigers.
Mustang Sallys qualified for the women’s regional final along with Galwey Auctioneering St. Mary’s.
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