Demons and Dart on guard

UCC DEMONS and DART Killester were always favourites to get through to the final of the Men’s SuperLeague National Cup but after exhaustive efforts getting there, they’ll tread warily as they resume NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague duties.

Defending champions, DART, kept their hopes of retaining the cup alive with a win over Neptune and they would appear to have a comparatively easy run-out at home to Ulster Elks at Clontarf tomorrow night.

But they had to work hard to see off Neptune in their semi-final — coming off a shock loss to troubled Limerick Lions a week earlier.

“It wasn’t a great performance last weekend,” coach Mark Keenan admits. “But, thankfully, we have this game to get us in the right frame of mind and we certainly need a good result heading into the cup final.”

UCC Demons produced their now trademark devastating fourth quarter to end Tralee Tigers’ hopes of cup salvation last weekend and face another difficult task on their second visit to the National Basketball Arena to play HOOPS who have shown signs of a big revival this season.

“We must play with intensity and enthusiasm,” Demons coach, Douglas Leichner, insisted. “Of course there will be the temptation to look ahead to the cup final but we can’t afford to do that.

“Demons will get back to the basics and stress rebounding, transition defence and team defence. We are healthy and I expect a full squad. Our bench needs to continue to give us a lift and provide energy and positive results.”

HOOPS are also at full strength and their coach, Ahmad Smith, believes Sunday’s represents one of their toughest tests all season.

“Demons are one of the hardest teams to play against in the league,” he said. “We have worked hard on our defensive game, we cannot afford to make any mistakes if we are to have a realistic chance of getting a result.”

Abrakebabra Tigers have an injury crisis ahead of their double header against DCU Saints and Belfast Star this weekend. On top of Kieran Donaghy and Micheál Quirke, they will also be without the services of Sean Carroll with a knee problem, and Timmy and Tomas Collins due to work commitments as well as Frank O’Donoghue, Aaron McLaren and Roscoe Patterson.

Neptune were on a hot streak until disappointing losses to UCC Demons and Tigers in the lead up to the cup semi-finals but they can get back on track this weekend when they face Belfast Star.

“Hopefully we can bounce back — there was very little between the sides last weekend so obviously the lads are disappointed,” coach Stephen McCarthy said.

Limerick Lions created what could prove to be the upset of the season when they emerged at the end of a traumatic week that saw them part company with their coach Sasa Punosevac to beat high flying DART Killester on the eve of the cup semi-finals.

They had recruited coach JP Nerbun in the meantime and he is looking forward to more of the same when they meet UCD/Marian this weekend but he is also conscious of the need to get the balance right between confidence and complacency.

“Going into the game against UCD my biggest concern is how our team reacts to our big win the last day against DART Killester,” he said. “Are we going to let that be the highlight of our season or have we become hungry for more wins and more success?”

In Basketball Ireland’s Women’s Superleague, National Cup finalists Team Montenotte Hotel Cork and Bausch & Lomb Wildcats return to league duties after their cup exploits. A late three pointer from Niamh Dwyer in double overtime gave Mark Scannell’s side victory in their cup semi-final against DCU Mercy in one of the most enthralling cup clashes witnessed at the National Basketball Arena.

On the back of that Team Montenotte Hotel Cork welcome UL Aughinish to the Neptune Stadium tomorrow while DCU Mercy will be hoping for a return to winning ways away to Meteors.