Keenan preaching caution ahead of Neptune tie
The champions will be without the injured Michael Goj for the trip to Cork where they face a home side whose sights are fixed firmly on the play-off’s.
They may have been coming off back to back SuperLeague defeats when they took on Southern Conference leaders UL Eagles last weekend but they played out a comprehensive victory with confidence and Neptune coach Pat Price was impressed.
“Over the weekend Killester displayed why they are still the class of the SuperLeague,” he said. “The return of Paddy Kelly has really boosted their performances, and we will need a very strong and focused 40 minutes to have success against them.”
Since their reality check against neighbours UCC Demons in a best forgotten derby game a couple of weeks ago, Neptune have been getting their act together again.
They were without their influential captain, Michael McGinn, (who was on holidays) and Ian McLaughlin who is still injured.
After shock SuperLeague losses to DCU Saints and Belfast Star, Killester coach Mark Keenan won’t be taking any chances.
“Neptune are a very well organised and dangerous team and they cannot be taken for granted,” he said. “They are averaging 84 points a game, which is one of the highest in the league which indicates that they have several guys who can score big points.”
UCD Marian booked their place in the National Cup finals last weekend for the first time in their history but their coach, Fran Ryan, insists there will be no room for complacency as their play-off hopes gather pace away to Moycullen.
“We lost the corresponding game last year so there is no underestimation of Moycullen’s ability, particularly with the game in Galway.”
Moycullen are still without the services of injured duo, Cian Nihill and Garnett Griffin, as they look to end their run of seven league games without a win.
Belfast Star will play the two beaten Cup semi-finalists this weekend when UL Eagles have to make the long trek north to Andersonstown as they bid to come to terms with their disappointing loss to Killester.
“It’s very disappointing to lose in a cup semi-final,” Eagles coach, Mark Bernsen, said. “We felt we had prepared well and trained well for the cup game. But we can have no complaints. We didn’t play particularly well, we had a lot of difficulty with our offence and fair play to Killester they made life really difficult for us.”
A full strength Star will be hoping Clayton Longmire, who is currently topping the points table with an average of 31.0 points per game, is on song again this weekend when they will have another opportunity to wreak vengeance on Ulster Elks who dumped them out of the cup.
Elks, themselves, went out to UCD Marian in last weekend’s semi-final and their cause won’t be helped by the absence of Kevin Foley and Barry Drumm who picked up injuries in that game.
UCC Demons are on a roll right now and coach Paul Kelleher will be hoping they can maintain the momentum against DCU Saints as he awaits the return of Niall O’Reilly next month.
Saints, too, are on a bit of a roll with excellent displays against 11890 Killester and UL Eagles recently.
“DCU Saints are always a tough ask at their place as they are probably the most physical team in the league and also match that with the ability to play,” Coach Kelleher said.
In the IrishSport.TV Women’s SuperLeague, Team Montenotte Hotel Cork make a trip to the capital to face Black Forge Oblate Dynamos, while beaten cup semi-finalists 11890 Killester and Waterford Wildcats meet in Clontarf.
