Pride at stake as Demons aim to sink Neptune
Names and players may change but the fixture remains one of the most passionate sporting rivalries on Leeside’s sporting calendar.
This campaign has seen Demons link up with UCC and a move to The Mardyke and there will be some new faces on court.
Neptune will go into the game as red hot favourites on the back of a run of victories that includes a 15-point win over Notre Dame at the ESB Arena.
Demons, too, have had their moments, but the fact that there has already been a change of American - DeWaune Wesley parted company this week to be replaced by 6’ 8” Bill Romano from Quinnipiac - underlines that there are still creases to be ironed out.
“He will train again tomorrow but it’s not going to be a huge adjustment on his part. His role is pretty defined,” coach Pat Price insisted.
“OK people get very excited about this match. You can already feel the excitement. But, from our point of view, it’s big for a lot of reasons. For us it’s about staying within striking distance of the leaders. About trying to become a better team every day we get together. It does not really matter who we are playing,” he said.
He said their new signing should give them a post presence that they have not had before now this season.
“He plays a good post defence and can rebound the ball at both ends. He balances the floor and guys like Brian Clernon and James Singleton will flourish.,” he said.
He admitted they would have liked more time with him but said one could not predict the timing of these things.
“But there is always a good atmosphere at Neptune Stadium. I enjoy playing there and it seems to bring out the best in a lot of fellows. It is an opportunity for guys to step up into the limelight,” he said.
“We are looking forward to it. Guys are excited this week. We realise we go in as the big underdogs and we know that it is going to take a really special performance to beat Neptune. They are riding high right now. Langrell is doing a lot of damage for them in recent weeks. Their Americans are pounding people.”
But Neptune coach Martin Aherne is not being lulled into any sense of false security and they got something of a reality shock on Wednesday night when Gordon Fitzgerald drove from the Curragh for training with a damaged calf muscle.“Right now I would say he is extremely doubtful,” Aherne said. “We will not be making any decision until tomorrow night but he would be a huge loss to us particularly in a derby game. But we have Emmett Neville back.”
He still remembers a couple of years ago when they went into a similar situation raging hot favourites.
“We were unbeaten and they were struggling. Every one thought we had just to go out on court to beat Demons that night but it did not happen that way. I don’t think we will allow it to happen again. Our guys are older and I would hope wiser now.”
While their Americans have been playing excellent this season he has been singing the praises of the home grown players and Marcus Walley is jumping out of his skin right now.
“The fact of the matter is that we want to win and stay top. Winning is a nice habit,” he said.
Former Neptune player Mark Scannell has taken over as coach to the Gleneagle Lakers in place of Billy Hungrecker who returned to the US this week and Otis Duffy has also parted company with the club.
Scannell has released Billy Gilligan and replaced him with Tyrone Levitts who has been training with the side all week. They will have a tough game against UCD Marian this weekend but the Dublin side have lost their last two games and could be vulnerable as a result.
Waterford Crystal showed some promising signs last weekend despite going under to the Sx3 Star by 17 points. They travel to Killester this weekend and could find the home side weakened by the absence of Jerome Westbrooks, who is struggling with a calf injury.
Irish Travel Partner Saints will be at home to BurgerKing Limerick on Sunday afternoon and are awaiting a fitness test on their 6’10” American, Tim Walsh.
And John Teahan is still struggling with his injured back ahead of Tralee’s home game against Tolka Rovers while Michael Quirke is still committed to Kerins O’Rahilly’s footballers.
The big game in the ESB Women’s SuperLeague is in Waterford tomorrow night when Bausch & Lomb Wildcats host University of Limerick.
Both teams are level at the top of the table and Wildcats will welcome Orla Dempsey back this weekend. A serious foot injury kept her out of action for over a year. University of Limerick are still without Neassa O’Keeffe who is recovering from surgery on her back. She will rejoin the squad in the New Year along with Maire Guiney and Carol Fennell.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
