Price plays it cool as giant killers promise more
The two men's semi-finals will be played on Saturday, January 31, preceded by the women's semi-finals on the Friday night. Both finals are scheduled for Sunday afternoon and the junior men's and women's semi-finals on Saturday morning to complete a new and attractive package for fans at the ESB Arena, Tallaght.
Neptune, who dismissed raging hot favourites, Horans Health Store Tigers in the first round now meet the 2002 champions, BurgerKing Limerick, in the other semi-final.
While Ballina have figured at this level in the past even after dropping out of the SuperLeague they went on to make the final this is a new team drawn from an amalgamation of two clubs in the town, Team West and Lundy Foods.
Sean McHale is the Coach, assisted by Anthony McHale, and Liam McHale, the veteran of so many memorable battles both on the basketball courts and with Mayo footballers in Croke Park, was the inspiration behind so much of Saturday night's play.
"It is a nice blend of youth and experience," Eamonn Kennedy said. "We have some exciting young players coming through from the former Colts club.
"The amalgamation was a big success, as you can see from Saturday night.
"It was a low-scoring game and that was because we played very well defensively."
John Lorrimer is one of two Americans in the team. The other is Mylo Brooks while Ronan McGarrity spent a couple of years in College in America and Paul Barrett also spent a number of years in America.
Mardyke UCC Demons' Coach, Pat Price, was as surprised as anyone with Ballina's victory over Killester but was not too concerned about the draw:
"If you are going to win the cup you are going to have to win two anyway and the order is immaterial," he said.
Price made no secret of his delight with the victory over St Vincent's when he stretched his bench to the limit and each player responded magnificently.
"The biggest examples were Brian Clernon who came in at the third quarter and hit eight consecutive points. This not only turned the game but the crowd responded and St Vincent's realised they were on the road.
Tim O'Halloran, too, responded when called upon and I am only using those two to demonstrate the strength of the bench. I think we are more versatile than most."
It is only natural that Cork fans, in particular, should be savouring the prospects of an all-Cork final with Neptune on the other side of the draw against BurgerKing Limerick who won the title two years ago.
With so many pennants at Neptune Stadium it is amazing that Neptune have not lifted the coveted cup since 1992 when they won it for a fourth time.
They left nobody in any doubt about their ambitions when they went to Tralee and beat Tigers who were odds on for the double at the time.
BurgerKing Limerick Coach, Tom Hehir, was the first to admit that Neptune will face them as hot favourites.
"I suppose if we had a choice we would want Ballina," he said. "Neptune will be the favourites, and rightly so. I think they have a hunger for the cup this year. They have not won it in a long time."
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
