Neptune aiming to shoot down Star
Coach Stephen McCarthy remembers the glory days. He was very much a part of them, cup winning captain, Player of the Year, distinguished international and he enjoyed a very successful stint as a pro.
It was his belief in the current side that has them in an exciting position going into tomorrow night’s quarter final play-off against Belfast Star with a semi-final place against the one time NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague favourites, DART Killester, as the prize.
“If we can play to our strengths we have a really good chance,” Stephen McCarthy insisted as they put the finishing touches to their preparations.
“We showed against DART Killester in the National Cup semi final that we can compete with the best and a similar performance will be required this weekend.
“Star have enjoyed a great end to the season and it’s no surprise their form changed following the arrival of their very talented US duo, Pierre Thomas and Jermaine Washington.
“At the start of the season we would have settled for a place in the National Cup semi final’s and reaching the play-off’s but now that we are in it we want to make an impression and hopefully make further progress.”
Belfast Star’s lost to Limerick Lions in their final game of the regular season but prior to that they put a string of seven consecutive wins together.
“We have been on an excellent run but we are down to a one off game and we need to put on a strong display particularly with the game in Neptune which is an extremely tough place to go,” said coach Darren O’Neill.
“The arrival of Jermaine Washington and Pierre Thomas has certainly bolstered our cause but we have also had excellent displays from the likes of Kevin Foley, Chris Butler and Scott Summersgill.”
The winners of UCD/Marian and Limerick Lions face a tough semi final two-legged affair against UCC Demons as DART Killester lie in wait for the winners from the meeting of Neptune and Belfast Star.
UCD/Marian were assured of their place in the play-off’s well in advance of the final weekend in the regular season but tomorrow night they host a Limerick Lions side that is buoyed by back to back wins including their winner takes all clash away to HOOPS last weekend. Marian are expected to be at full strength with their coach, Cormac Connor, fully aware his side will be carrying the unwanted tag of favourites into the game.
“We will be favourites because of our form in the league but Limerick will gain serious respect from us for the way they have managed to turn their season around,” said Connor.
“Limerick are capable of getting really big results and this has been proved already this year after they managed to surprise a lot of people by beating DART Killester and Belfast Star.
“We have made a lot of progress this season in the league and a lot of this is down to having the same faces in the squad. It has allowed us to build momentum and we have managed to move on this season a notch higher after reaching the national cup semi finals last season. We are hoping that progress continues on Saturday.”
Limerick Lions are agonising over the fitness of Mike Dowd, who is rated 50/50 after sustaining a head injury in Saturday’s win over HOOPS.
“We have ended the season in great form, picking up two massive wins and we need to keep that form going and raise it again for what will be a major test,” said coach, JP Nerbun.
“UCD have had a great season, they have been extremely consistent throughout so they certainly won’t be lacking in confidence and they will feel they can make a major impact in the play-off’s.”
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