Neptune to parade new recruits

STEPHEN McCARTHY will parade his new-look Neptune side before the home fans when the new basketball season tips off in Cork tomorrow night.

The former international worked miracles overnight when he was cajoled into taking over the coaching duties last season, having just months earlier been a star player with the club.

Neptune, reeling from a few stunning if close losses in the Nivea for Men Superleague, were desperately in need of a boost and that is exactly what he provided as they picked themselves up and shot back up to the business end of the table.

“I suppose it is a bit different this season,” he said. “When I took over last season I was not sure if I would enjoy it. It is different to playing.

“There is a bit more pressure on me this time around because I have had an input into the side in that I was the one who recruited our American players and that.”

And he has two smart recruits in Tristan Parkham and Vincent James to parade against Superleague rookies Ulster Elks at Neptune Stadium tomorrow night.

There will be some familiar faces missing from the bench — like his old playmate and fellow legend Gordon Fitzgerald who has retired after a spectacular career.

“I plagued him over the summer to continue playing but he was adamant he wanted to give the younger players a chance,” McCarthy admitted.

He has lost Kieran O’Brien to DART Killester but he can turn to Ger Noonan and Michael McGinn for on-court leadership and he feels he has the right mix to take Neptune back to their regular slot at the top of the table.

UCC Demons will host their Cork city neighbours in the first derby game of the season next week and they launch their campaign tomorrow night away to Belfast Start.

Demons have recruited an exciting new coach in Douglas Leichner from Connecticut and under his inspirational direction coupled with solid performances from new signings Ryan Hamblet and Jerrah Young they had what could prove to be significant victories over Dart Killester and Hoops in pre-season games.

Reigning champions Abrakebabra Tigers open their defence of the title at home to UCD/Marian tomorrow night but will be without Kieran Donaghy who is being rested after a gruelling all-Ireland campaign with Kerry.

Their defence of the title has been strengthened greatly by the return of Head Coach Mark Bernsen and top scorer CJ Hadley.

DART Killester is the team on everyone’s lips and they have been handed the honour of tipping off the SuperLeague against Hoops tonight.

Mark Scannell’s Team Montenotte will be challenged but are unlikely to be beaten in their defence of their women’s cup and superleague titles.

But the fact that Sasa Punosevac has been installed at UL where he will coach both the men’s and women’s SuperLeague sides will throw the spotlight back on UL Aughinish. The colourful Serbian coach has entertained fans in both Dublin and Cork, where he coached in the men’s superleague.

And the launch of the LeisureWorld/Churchfield women’s team in Cork this week has added an exciting new dimension to the women’s superleague. Coached by Wayne Kiely, the team incorporates a wealth of talent and experience as the majority of players have been drawn from the Donoughmore Division 1 team that won back-to-back cup and league titles in 2006 and 2007.

There will be a huge interest in the game when they make their superleague debut against UL at Neptune Stadium tomorrow week.