All change for champs
Mark Scannell’s outfit is changed utterly for the new campaign and will look to the club’s underage stars to fill the considerable gaps left by the likes of Niamh Dwyer, Valerie O’Driscoll, Casey Grace, Emily O’Callaghan and Donna Buckley.
“There has been a lot of changes in terms of personal, and we are missing Aine McKenna and Denise Walsh this weekend, so it is certainly going to be a new-look side,” said coach Scannell.
“We did really well last term in the circumstances and now it is a chance for the younger players, who have enjoyed success with the club at underage level, to step up and make an impact at SuperLeague level.”
Montenotte Hotel travel to Clontarf to face 11890 Killester, while promoted side Black Forge Oblate Dynamos host Meteors in an all-Dublin affair. 11890 Killester also have a number of injury problems ahead of this weekend with Elaine Stone, Louise Gray, Claudia Frank & Fiona Carrick all set to miss out.
Meanwhile, Meteors are much changed from last term with just five players returning from season 2009/10. The club welcome seven new players including the signing of Erica Walsh from Waterford Wildcats.
The men’s Superleague contines apace but after a week without action, UL Eagles return this weekend with a double header against DCU Saints and Bord Gais Neptune respectively. However their Cork rivals have suffered a serious injury blow ahead of the game with confirmation that 6’7” power forward Robinson Louisme suffered an ankle injury in last weekend’s loss to Ulster Elks and is likely to be out for a number of weeks.
“The loss of Robinson Louisme to injury is a major worry for the coming weeks,” said Neptune head coach Pat Price. “We will enter the game against Eagles as underdogs but we will play hard. We must limit Scott Kinevane’s influence on the game and take away the three-point looks for Matt Hall and Neil Campbell if we are to be successful.
“Our game against UL Eagles is an opportunity to bounce back from a disappointing second half performance against UUJ,” added Price. “I believe that if we can sustain our focus on both ends of the floor for 40 minutes then we can compete with any team.”
The game with Neptune will be UL Eagles’ second outing this weekend after having faced DCU Saints in Limerick tonight.
Their meeting with DCU Saints will mark home debuts for Mark Bernsen (Head Coach), while Carlton Cuff, Ciaran White and Sean McCarthy will all make their first appearance in front of an expectant Limerick crowd.
“It was great to start off with a win away to UCD,” said Bernsen. “We were off last weekend which stalls our momentum a bit but we used the time wisely preparing for these two games. The (DCU) Saints ran Killester close in their last game and I know they will be at full throttle against us. It will be a good contest and we are really determined to start our home campaign with a win.”
Moycullen will be hoping their clash at home to UCC Demons will mark their first win after suffering defeats to 11890 Killester and Bord Gais Neptune in their last two outings.
The Westeners are confident Eoghan Maxwell will be fit in time to play after suffering an injury in their opening weekend defeat to Killester.
UCC Demons are on the back of a disappointing loss away to UCD Marian, and coach Paul Kelleher has highlighted a number of areas his side will have to be on their guard against Moycullen.
“With Stephen Tummon starting great, Moycullen have found the second scorer along with Cian Nihill they were lacking last year and they makes them a much bigger threat,” said Kelleher. “Mason Ambler gives a big defensive presence and initiates their offence so our transition defence will need to above par again this week.”
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