Home comforts for Coughlan’s Demons

NOT many sporting outfits get to return to their less sophisticated roots.

It may be the preserve of the nostalgic to fantasize about swapping 21st century comforts for those atmospheric yesterdays but for UCC Demons captain Shane Coughlan, mother nature’s ferocity saw to it that he and his SuperLeague National Cup champions were forced to abandon the Mardyke Arena in November for the familiar surrounds of the storied Parochial Hall on the opposite side of the city.

It’s going over tried and tested ground, not to mention plain and simple patronising, when you fall into the trap of pigeon-holing basketball on Leeside as purely northside.

But Coughlan, who has been a Blue Demon all his sporting life, admits that the return to Gurranabraher has turned the heads of the traditionalists.

“It was nice to go back there actually,” he admitted this week.

“Years ago you’d hear so much about the place, how it would be packed for games in the late 70s and 80s. The Mardyke is an unbelievable facility but to get a chance to go back up to the Hall and play there again, it’s a bit special. You wouldn’t think you’d get that chance again, but we did thank God.

“There’s something there. It’s nice for the older members of the club to relive all those memories. The court is nice as well, there are new nets. Before when playing in the Mardyke, we’d train in the Hall and we’d be saying how we’d like to actually play there.”

But forget about returning to your spiritual home; Coughlan et al simply want to get back out on the floor after almost 40 days of fasting from real court action.

December 20 saw them humbled at home to campaign pace-setters, UL Eagles, that eight-point defeat just their second this season. That can’t be the best preparation for arguably the biggest game of their season.

“No, definitely not,” concedes Coughlan. “We were due to go to Castleisland (annual basketball blitz) over Christmas to get some games under our belt but that was called off too. Then the two leagues games that were supposed to be played since New Year, away to Moycullen and at home to UCD, were both cancelled as well.

“It’s a bit of a setback but there’s nothing you can do. Neptune have been getting game time so it’ll be a slight advantage for them.”

Another downside is that new American signing Tyronne Beale from Silver Spring, Maryland will undergo a baptism of fire in what was never supposed to be his debut.

“Tyronne looks a nice player,” says Coughlan. “He has some big scoring in his locker, he can score with ease at times. He’s a tall guy, he’s athletic and seems to be a good player.”

Coughlan concedes that training without a match to look forward to has been frustrating for his side but the prospect of tomorrow’s derby gives the sacrifice ample perspective.

“Without a doubt. Last year was an exceptional season, doing the treble. You end up thinking that’s it, where do we go from here.

“It did enter my mind, I’m about to turn 30, all the rest of it. But then you get into it again during pre-season and games like this make it worthwhile.”

Of course this eagerly-awaited showdown is being billed as a potential throwback to the days so richly documented by Kieran Shannon in the book Hanging from the Rafters.

“It’s ironic all right that the book comes out and then we move back to play in the Hall,” laughs Coughlan. “It all helps get the interest back, I think.

“Two cup semi-finals back at Neptune like the old days. Maybe it has brought people back to the game. There must be a few who see that Demons are back in the Hall and it rekindles a bit of interest. Maybe some people stopped coming when we went to the Mardyke, away from the heartland in the northside, and now we’re back, and maybe they are too.”