Neptune facing toughest test as daunting Tigers on the prowl

NEPTUNE, with four successive victories that includes a sensational win over DCU Saints in the first round of the cup, face their most serious SuperLeague assignment to date when they host undefeated Tralee Tigers at Neptune Stadium tonight.

Tigers have stepped up a gear since winning the National Cup last season and they have been mauling the opposition since the new campaign tipped off the first weekend in October.

Neptune lacked consistency in the opening weeks of the season but coach Dan Mobbs appears to have discovered a winning formula and the result is their best winning streak in a number of seasons.

They brought in a new American, James Williams, last week but he has returned to the US without a game after a recurrence of an old ankle injury. The fact that they brought him in at all would indicate that Neptune are not yet the finished product.

They have a reliable defender in Bosman, Pat Fitzpatrick, while their Americans are solid. Kieran O’Brien and Gary Walsh are both recovered from injury. O’Brien on his day can be sensational — as he proved in their cup game against Saints when he scored 26 points — however, he only had four last weekend against lesser opposition.

They have an interesting Irish player in Ian McLoughlin, who hails from Athlone. A student at CIT, he has been with the club for the past three seasons — two in the SuperLeague — and has trained with world class race walker, Robert Heffernan, so he is super fit.

“We are going to have a tough game against Tralee but we will have home advantage and that might swing it for us,” Neptune official Dermot Murphy said.

“I think this is the game that will bring out the supporters and they won’t be disappointed.”

UCC Demons, must travel to Ballina this weekend to play Merry Monk, who suffered an extra-time defeat to DART Killester last weekend.

Coach Terry Kennedy is confident his team will bounce back against Demons. “It was a tough pill to take last weekend and I am still at a loss as to why Ronan (McGarrity) was disqualified but that’s basketball,” he said. “UCC Demons are a fantastic team and have raised the bar in recent years but we have a full squad to choose from this weekend.”

DCU Saints have an unblemished record until falling victim to Neptune in the cup and have yet to win a game in November but they should have the measure of Star up in Jordanstown this weekend, while reigning champions DART Killester will be favourites to overcome a University of Ulster side still looking for their first win of the season.

In the Women’s SuperLeague, Team Montenotte Hotel Cork host DCU Mercy in a mouthwatering top of the table clash, while UL Aughinish make the trip to Dublin to face Tolka Rovers.

Waterford Wildcats will be without Nicola Kirwan for their clash at home to a full-strength Meteors outfit.