Demons add some Sheffield steel

UCC DEMONS will welcome the extra few days to prepare for their crucial NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague clash with Abrakebabra Tigers in Tralee, which has been rescheduled for Wednesday night.

The game was originally fixed for tomorrow night but the new date will be welcomed by both sides as Tigers await the return of Micheál Quirke from South Africa. They are also involved in the Castleisland extravaganza of basketball this week.

In recent games Benito Flores has been inspirational and now Demons have released Mark Smith and brought in Lashon Sheffield, who could be the man to solve their problems.

Reports from The Mardyke Arena indicate that the new mix is working like a dream and coach Price admitted yesterday Sheffield, an energetic point guard working in tandem with Flores, is just the right fit. They have been struggling with the position since the start of the season when Shane Coughlan picked up a hand injury.

“Let’s say the new guy is a more natural fit for what we are trying to do,” Price said.

“He has slotted in nicely behind Benito (Flores). The other guys did not exactly fit our needs but now I am pretty confident this new alliance is going to work.”

There was fury in the Demons camp after they conceded an eight-point lead to Neptune in the recent derby game. It was a game in which Kieran O’Brien came blasting out of the blocks in the third quarter to demolish what appeared a comfortable cushion.

“That loss had a big affect on the guys and they are determined nothing like that will happen again. It really shook this team up,” Price insisted.

Now he expects their new signing to provide the drive they need. He honed his skills at Tarleton State, where they have a very successful NCAA programme, and where he was lead point guard on the team.

Ice cool Benito Flores has made a big impact since his arrival earlier this month and while he was Demons’ top scorer against Neptune it only helped to highlight his role under the boards.

“We will be without Ciaran Donaghy for the month of January — and that includes our National Cup semi-final — because he goes to Australia with the Kerry footballers,” Tigers’ coach Dave Falvey said. Roscoe Patterson has gone back to the US for the festive season and Micheál Quirke went to South Africa for Christmas.

Both Mustang Sallys/St Paul’s and Limerick Lions will be desperate for the points when they round off the first half of the season in Killarney. Coach Tom Hehir is the first to admit the Lions should have won some of their recent games but they have been struggling without their most experienced player, Robert Lynch, out with an injury since the Hoops game.

“He has been a huge loss, particularly with so many young players in the squad,” Hehir insisted. “If we had him I am firmly convinced we would still be in the cup.”

Merry Monk Ballina also had big hopes for cup glory but now their season is all about the SuperLeague and while they sit comfortably at the top of the Northern Conference with a play-off place virtually assured, Terry Kennedy won’t be taking any chances when they entertain UCD Marian.

Marian have been struggling of late and their problems can be traced back to a succession of injuries.

“If and when they get back to full strength they will be a force to be reckoned with,” Kennedy insisted. “The last time they met they ran us pretty close.”

But he is happy with their current position. They have nine games remaining in the lead-up to the play-off stages and six of those are at home. But he is aware of what can happen then.

“Last season we beat St Vincent’s three times and they ended up third in the conference but went on to win the league,” he recalled. “We have beaten then twice this season and they could still win it.

“From that point of view I don’t agree with the new system where we have teams playing against each other week in, week out.

“It was far better the other way. Fans up here would be looking forward to having teams like Demons, Neptune, Killarney and Tralee coming up. It generates a great atmosphere.”

They have Robert Taylor back in the squad and while Ronan McGarrity is fit again they will be without him for a while after this weekend as he travels abroad with Mayo football team.