Neptune aim for Kerry double

NEPTUNE did not take long to produce the performance that coach Jim Nugent promised at the start of the new SuperLeague season when they overwhelmed Mark Scannell’s Gleneagle Lakers in Killarney on Wednesday night.

Now he is hoping for more of the same when they host Conference leaders and defending champions Abrakebabra Tigers from Tralee, at Neptune Stadium tomorrow night.

Coach Nugent, who returned this season to lead Neptune after a nine-year absence, could not hide his delight as he reflected on their 105-91 victory at the Gleneagle INEC centre. But he was quick to point out the role Stephen McCarthy played in the win.

“We both went into the game under a lot of pressure,” he said.

“We lost our first game of the season to Limerick and it hurt for two reasons. Firstly it was a game we expected to win and secondly because it was a home game. You lose the odd game on the road but you always want to win your home games.

“Both ourselves and Tigers went into Wednesday’s game under pressure because we were without a point and whoever lost was going to be under even more pressure. From that point of view it was scary,” he admitted.

Ultimately, Neptune coasted to victory, but not until Stephen McCarthy took control of the boards.

They led by four points at the end of the first quarter but the game was tied two minutes after the restart and the full house was treated to some thrilling exchanges.

Before the half-time break McCarthy hit the opposition with four three-pointers and, at the full-time buzzer his total was 28.

“He was amazing,” Nugent insisted. “He was an inspiration to everyone around him and Charron (Watson) also played superbly. Ricardo Leonard did very well on Clyde Ellis.

“It was a great team performance. While I knew we were capable of this, after our opening game we were under a bit of pressure and you begin to wonder.”

Now they turn to face unbeaten Tigers in what promises to be a thriller and it is a game that could be significant later in the season.

“If we win then we will be joint top,” Nugent said. “It is going to be a difficult game. Tralee were impressive against Demons. They beat what I regard as a very good Demons team.

“But if we can perform the way we did in Killarney we can win this one.”

Mark Scannell has to rally his troops for a difficult trip tomorrow to play Merry Monk Ballina, who are unbeaten and, since their return to the SuperLeague, have been hotly tipped to win it out.

“We are going through transition. We have five new players in so the continuity is not there.

“We are trying to gel and I feel it’s coming around.”