Lions test will tell me where we stand, says Neptune boss
UCC Demons entertain Gleneagle Lakers at The Mardyke Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Evans, who led Waterford Crystal to the SuperLeague title a few years ago, answered Neptune’s call when Ozell Wells left two weeks ago and met with immediate success against old rivals, Roma St. Vincent’s, in his first NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague match in charge.
However, he admitted yesterday he will learn much more from tonight’s home game:
“We are progressing nicely,” he said. “But it is going to take a couple of games before we know how far.
“I had not seen Neptune before the game against Vincent’s but I was pleased with the performance. Since then they have been showing good intensity in training. We had a challenge game on Saturday and, again, I was quite happy with them.”
He is happy they have found ‘a good, solid player’ in newcomer Johnnie Gilbert who arrived in time for the Vincent’s game.
“He is a really hard worker and is not your regular American player - I mean he will fight for the ball - and he can be spectacular,” he said.
“Along with Dejan Smith I feel we now have two good Americans who complement each other and provide a nice balance for the Irish guys.
“We don’t have a Bosman but that doesn’t worry me because we have enough quality among our Irish players.”
Against Vincent’s, Stephen McCarthy brushed off a prolonged injury to come off the bench and hit 16 points, while Ger Noonan had his best game to date for Neptune and Gordon Fitzgerald and Michael McGinn all played well.
Their defence has improved leaps and bounds but Tom Hehir’s high scoring Lions are another matter.
Limerick are coming off a big Cup semi-final win over DART Killester and will be very difficult to beat with the final scheduled for Sunday week.
Hehir said. “We have played Neptune twice but they will be a tougher proposition this time; new coach, new American and I would expect them to be more focused.
“They are playing for pride and that makes them dangerous.”
Adrian Walsh, although struggling with injury, can expect some court time but he cannot ignore the performance of 19-year-old Stephen King last weekend. The UL student, who played with the Irish Under-20’s in the European Championships last year, was a revelation against Killester.
UCC Demons were spectacular against Merry Monk Ballina last weekend and, with the Cup final a week away, Pat Price will want to keep the momentum going against Gleneagle Lakers on Sunday afternoon.
Demons have so much firepower it is difficult to see them being stopped. Every game somebody grabs star billing - Michael Doles did it last weekend - and the bench oozes talent. An over anxious defence could be their weakness and Lakers with their fire power - 149 pts against Neptune - will try to exploit this.
DART Killester will have an early opportunity to banish their cup blues tonight in the NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague tie with Shamrock Rovers Hoops. Both teams complete a busy weekend tomorrow night when Hoops travel north to play MDS Star and Killester play Roma St. Vincents at Glasnevin.
The other losing SuperLeague semi-finalists, Merry Monk Ballina, are at home to UCD at the Sports Centre.
In the women’s SuperLeague, Mustang Sally’s St. Paul’s, who lost to UL Aughinish in the cup semi-final last weekend and then to Vienna Woods Glanmire in the SuperLeague midweek, travel to Greendale to play DART Killester.
The other beaten semi-finalists, Carna Transport Mercy, are at home to Bausch & Lomb Wildcats. Vienna Woods Glanmire are at home to Oblate Dynamos, while Peugeot Meteors entertain UL Aughinish.
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