Derby double delivers a festive treat for fans
Cork fans will be treated to a double helping of this seasonal fare over the next week with Demons hosting their arch rivals at the Mardyke Arena on Sunday and then Neptune reciprocating at Neptune Stadium on January 5.
Demons have been struggling to regain lost ground in the NIVEA for MEN’s SuperLeague after a few close results went against them in the first half of the season and their dismissal from the cup was shattering.
But they might have beaten the table toppers Abrakebabra Tigers on their recent visit to the Mardyke Arena with a rub of the green and that performance was enough to get the fans excited in advance of the two derbies.
“The derby games are always special,” Demon’s PRO Jim Dineen, said. “Everyone appears to get involved — the players and the fans — and that generates a special atmosphere.”
He said they were hoping that Shane Coughlan, coming back from injury, will be able to play a bigger part in the game and they are hoping that Tim O’Halloran, who has been missing from the line-up all season, will be back in the not too distant future.
But it is going to a huge effort to decide this one with Neptune on the up since the appointment of new coach Stephen McCarthy.
McCarthy has been through all this himself in the not too distant past and he admits that it is going to be more difficult to coach than to play.
“To be honest it is more difficult,” he said. “You are trying to get the players to do what you want them to do. There is so much passion involved in a derby game that all league form goes out the window as players play with their hearts. We have seen how the local players raise their game 100% for such encounters.
“From my point of view I will have to take a more rational approach. I will be looking for the points. I have been very lucky since I took over in that we won the first two games but this is a really big week for us now with two back-to-back games against Demons and then a game against Killarney.
“So far the players have responded well for me but the next three games will tell us a lot. With Tralee running away with the conference we are playing for second or third place.”
He could have to plan without Ian McLoughlin who suffered a broken nose in a recent win over Merry Monk Ballina. He had surgery last week and did some light training yesterday.
UCD/Marian welcome University of Ulster to the UCD Sports Centre hoping to get back to winning ways after a 93-77 defeat to Hoops a week ago.
UCD/Marian inflicted cup woe on Limerick Lions and eased past DCU Saints in the league over a week ago but were brought crashing down to earth with that big loss to Hoops.
Meanwhile, UU can breathe a sigh of relief after opening their winning account at the expense of Hoops but suffered their third successive Ulster defeat to Belfast Star in their last outing.
“UU have performed very well in the last number of weeks so it was inevitable that they would win a game in the league,” said UCD/Marian Manager Thomas Tracey. “We must be aware of the threat they pose.
“They had a great win over Hoops recently so they will be a tough challenge. Having played three times in the last six days before the Christmas break we have appreciated the rest that the break brings to the players.”
Both sides prepare for the clash with full-strength squads as they look to end 2007 on a high.
Mustang Sallys/St Paul’s entertain Merry Monk Ballina on Saturday in what will be their first home game under new coaches Shane Horgan and Brian Clarke.
The Killarney side are at full strength, while Terry Kennedy’s Ballina are also reporting a clean bill of health.
The sides met last week with Mustang Sallys coming away from Ballina with a 111-101 win, but Ballina’s US star and assistant coach, Pete Strobl, is desperate to make amends and get back to winning ways,” Strobl said
“We have plenty of talent but things just aren’t coming together at the moment. We have to concentrate on the remaining games in the league and make sure we make the play-off.
“This is a game we must win and hopefully we can string results together and get our season back on track,” he added.
“It was hugely disappointing to miss out on the cup so we must make up for that loss by improving our standing in the league.”
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