High-flying Saints will be on guard against Eagles
Killester, who won both the SuperLeague and National Cup last season, had not tasted defeat since last February and, on all known form, Saints were the team least likely to shatter their record.
But they deserved every point of their 88-81 victory and, according to Emmet Donnelly who contributed 15 of those points, the confidence is back.
“The confidence has certainly been restored,” he said. “It was a big win for us and it was a much needed boost ahead of another tough game against Eagles.”
“UL Eagles are a very strong team with a wealth of talent so we’ll have to produce a similar performance to have a chance of overturning them.
“On our day we can beat anyone as we have shown but we’re looking to improve our consistency as the playoffs approach. Saturday provides us with an opportunity to do just that against another very strong team.”
UL Eagles with just two losses this season, travel to Dublin on the back of three consecutive victories but their head coach, Mark Bernsen, is treading warily.
“The Saints, as always, are quite a challenge,” he said. “They have very good players, they are well coached and are obviously in great form after their big, but not surprising victory last week.”
Belfast Star host 11890 Killester tomorrow night and coach, Danny Fulton, is expecting a big backlash from the wounded champions.
“Killester are excellent but I thought they might lose one game — it’s tough to win them all,” said Fulton.
“Sadly for us that was last week against DCU Saints. They’ll be even more determined this week to play well especially with their National Cup semi-final coming up in Cork the following week.”
UCD Marian suffered another crushing 11 point loss to UCC Demons at the weekend and they can’t expect any favours from Ulster Elks who have a couple of big wins under their belt.
To add a little spice to the clash, Elks and Marian meet in the semi-finals of the National Cup at Neptune Stadium a week later.
The Cup is obviously foremost on the mind of coach Fran Ryan. A flu bug ruled out the majority of his squad for last Monday’s trip to Cork and he is glad that they are over that.
“A potential mental factor in Saturday’s game is the issue that the two teams meet again in the Cup semi final eight days later,” he said.
“We must separate the two as one of our key objectives is to get a quarter final play-off spot in the SuperLeague so this game is also hugely important.”
“Last time out UCD outplayed us on both ends of the court, this weekend we will need to bring more intensity and energy in order to compete,” Elks Assistant Coach, Patrick O’Neill, said.
UCC Demons should join Bórd Gáis Neptune in second position on the Southern Conference table on Sunday when they entertain a Moycullen side desperate to get their second win of the season.
Moycullen, however, are likely to be without star player, Cian Nihill, who suffered an injury in their recent loss to UL Eagles.
“Our scoring power was very limited against UL with Mason Ambler and Stephen Tummon having off days,” coach, Enda Byrt, said. “Mike Dowd at the point was the only player to really step up.”
Team Montenotte Hotel Cork and 11890 Killester renew rivalry when they collide in the IrishSport.TV Women’s SuperLeague at Neptune Stadium tomorrow night but Motenotte coach, Mark Scannell, will have to plan without Amanda O’Regan while Gráinne Dwyer is also a major doubt.
“We played 11890 Killester on the first day of the season and they weren’t ready,” coach Scannell recalled. “They come to Cork on a good run and I expect a far tougher test.”
DCU Mercy face UL for the third time this season in another exciting pairing. UL atoned for their National Cup loss to DCU Mercy when they recorded a 62-52 win in the league before Christmas.
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