In-demand Murphy faces double appearance

DAVID MURPHY, one of Irish basketball’s most exciting young talents, faces a busy weekend with the possibility of playing in the senior men’s semi-final with Mardyke UCC Demons before going on to captain the club’s U19’s tomorrow night in the men’s junior final.

The UCC scholarship student has been nursing an ankle injury in recent weeks but on Wednesday night coach Pat Price told him to be ready to come off the bench in tomorrow’s senior semi final before leading his team out in the junior final against Castleisland’s Galwey Auctioneering Hoops.

The all-action point guard has already made a number of starts in the SuperLeague but his season was fragmented through illness and injury.

“He has responded well to treatment and will be fit,” Price said. “He is the type of player you like to have. He has come through our programme, is a very good student and carries himself well on and off the court.”

As with the senior side, there has been a big turnover of players at this level but players who were coming off the bench last year are now establishing themselves.

“They got a taste of winning last year and have gone undefeated in the Cork leagues this year. Now they have their opportunity to be in the spotlight.”

A cup final weekend without a Notre Dame or Wildcat presence would be like Hamlet without the prince and both nurseries are represented at junior level this year.

Hoops shocked DART Killester in the semi-finals and have two big stars in co-captains Ciaran White and Scott Kinevane who won cup medals two years’ ago and both also play in the SuperLeague.

They have represented Ireland at underage level and won schools medals with Colaiste Eanna. The side is coached by Ruben Perry who should be playing in the SuperLeague but the Chicago State graduate has a fractured foot. Demons would appear to have more depth calling on David Murphy, Carleton Cuff, returning starters from last year, Daniel O’Mahony and Lithuanian Arturas Gavenia.