Demons battle back to see off UCD

DEFENDING champions, UCC Demons, had to come from behind to defeat UCD/Marian and keep their early season record intact as the NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague as UL Eagles beat the other Cork team, Neptune for a third successive win.

Demons and Neptune face up to each other in what should prove to be an interesting derby game at The Mardyke Arena next Friday night (8 pm) and while the reigning champions have had to produce battling performances to win both their games to date they must go into that tie as raging hot favourites.

Yesterday UCD/Marian led them 30-24 at the interval but Demons responded with a solid second half. Joshua Johnson was top of the scoring pile for Demons, while UCD/Marian were led by experienced campaigner Conor Meany on 17 points.

“It was a tough physical contest and I’m delighted we have come through this game,” Demons coach, Luke D’Alessio, said.

“We managed to score 22 points in the third quarter and we had some outstanding performances including Joshua Johnson, who finished top scorer, while Niall O’Reilly turned in a great display despite his recent injury problems.”

DCU Saints put their poor start to the season behind them with a surprise win away to Ulster Elks, just three days after their huge loss to Killester and Coach Vinny O’Keeffe was full of praise.

“It is a great result,” he said. “This win is a real bonus against a side with so many talented players.”

UL Eagles coach, Tony Hehir, paid tribute to his side after their 76-62 win away to Neptune to maintain their excellent start to the season. Inspired by superb performances from Welsh duo, Stuart Robbins and Matt Hall, they led by 18 points at half time but coach Hehir also had special words of praise for Irish international Scott Kinevane.

“I have a great bunch of players, everyone is working for each other and that is why we are getting results,” he said. “But Scott (Kinevane) had an excellent game and Stuart Robbins was clinical with his baskets while Matt Hall put in an outstanding shift.”

Belfast Star continued to build on a perfect start to the season with a 99-87 win away to HOOPS on Saturday night – a performance described by former Irish international Adrian Fulton (now on the coaching staff at Belfast Star) as the best performance this season.

“It was the best display we’ve had,” said Fulton. “It’s been a case of so far so good but we are not getting carried away just yet but we have to be happy with three consecutive wins.”

There may have been some new faces on court but it was the same exciting story for Mark Scannell’s Team Montenotte Hotel Cork as they tipped off their season with a narrow win DCU Mercy at Neptune Stadium on Saturday evening.

The Team Montenotte Hotel Cork coach, however, was refusing to get carried away despite his side’s 57-53 win over last season’s beaten finalists.

“It was a tough game,” he said. “I was pleased with our younger players but you can’t read too much into the result. We are still way off the pace but it’s a win and you will take a win any day over a team as strong as DCU.

“I was delighted with Marie Breen’s return and Claire Rockall made a big impression on her debut and Clodagh also put in a good performance,” he added. “We have a couple of weeks to get ready for our next game with Sligo so hopefully we will be a step nearer to where we want to be.”

UL got their season off to an excellent start with 72-32 success away to newcomers Sligo All Stars.

Rachel Vanderwal made an instant impression with 19 points and their head coach James Weldon was delighted to get off the mark with a win.

“They played some tough stuff in the early stages but I was pleased with the pressure we exerted,” Coach Weldon said. “They have some very good players who will get better with more games at this level.”