Neptune put Cup on back burner as Lakers eye another upset

NEPTUNE put their ESB Cup preparations aside as they prepare to entertain Gleneagle Lakers in the SuperLeague at Neptune Stadium tonight.

“The Cup is on the back burner for the time being,” spokesman Tim O’Brien, said yesterday. “We lost two very important games to Demons and Star so we are battling to maintain the No 2 spot for the play-offs.”

There was good news from the camp. Stephen McCarthy, who has been nursing a calf muscle injury since their cup quarter-final against Waterford Crystal, has been involved in all of the training sessions this week and is reported fully fit again.

“Whether Gerry (Fitzpatrick) plays him against Lakers remains to be seen. I suspect he might not start him,” he said. “But it is very good news because he was obviously missed in recent weeks.

“I think we played our best game of the season against Waterford Crystal last weekend. Our Americans were outstanding. Kenny Gamble is an inside player and, with Charron Watson, the pair are unbeatable inside. And it opens things up for Dave Langrell and Marcus Wally outside.”

Mark Scannell, an ex-Neptune star, hopes that Gleneagle Lakers will do the business. His last game as a player in Neptune Stadium was back in 1997 when they won the League and, since then, a lot of things have happened.

Last year he had just taken over as coach to the Gleneagle Lakers when they came to Neptune and shocked the home side, who went on to win the SuperLeague afterwards. Now he is hoping for more of the same and they arrive in Cork tonight on a high after Wednesday night’s 106-93 victory over BurgerKing who are getting ready for the Cup final weekend.

“We beat Neptune at this stage last year but, if we are to do it again, everyone will have to play very well for us. I think the win on Wednesday night will give us a bit of confidence and, hopefully, Neptune will be thinking about the Cup.”

“I think some of our guys were focused on other things,” BurgerKing coach, Tom Hehir, said. “I was totally focused on what we were doing but, unfortunately, I think some of the players had their minds on the cup.”

He is happy that their injury problems have been sorted out in advance of tomorrow night’s tie with Mardyke UCC Demons who will also have the Cup on their minds when they go into action.

New signing DJ Harrison, who flew in 24 hours earlier after the shock departure of Alai Nuualiitia made a sensational debut against Tigers last weekend. Tigers won that game but Harrison made 22 points and 15 rebounds and all Coach Pat Price could hope for now is to go to Cup final weekend on the back of a big win.

Vienna Woods Glanmire received a massive confidence booster when they beat the Cup semi-finalists Scruffy’s St. Paul’s a couple of weeks back. They beat Bausch & Lomb Wildcats earlier in the season and this weekend they will be hoping to do it in Waterford.

With Orla Dempsey at the centre of an injury worry, Wildcats could struggle to reverse the 13 point margin that separated the sides last time around.

The Irish Cadets (Boys) will play England in a series of three friendly matches in Gurranabraher, Cork, over the weekend while the girls will travel to Manchester to take part in a similar tournament.