City rivals ready to rumble once again
The Cork derby games are always to be savoured. This season’s first was sensational before Neptune edged it by 104 to 102.
Neptune coach Mark Scannell has been playing that win down ahead of the return tonight. “It was great for us and the fans,” Scannell said. “But the reality is you don’t win any championships giving up over 100 points.
“For me it was never the be all and end all. I we had lost, we’d be going away wondering what we did wrong. We learned a lot from the game.”
Continuing renovation work at the Mardyke Arena brings Demons to Neptune Stadium again for what should be a home game but they are not fazed.
Demons’ coach Paul Kelleher said: “The reality is that at this stage we have not played at our home venue this season so it makes no difference where this game is played.”
He also knows only too well that his club boasts the biggest fan following in the Nivea for Men SuperLeague and they will travel in droves.
They will be back at Neptune Stadium again in a couple of weeks time to battle it out with their near-neighbours for a place in the final of the National Cup.
Kelleher added: “Demons-Neptune games are always a great occasion for the Cork basketball community, but there is always an extra atmosphere when the game is over the Christmas period.
“Neptune have been very impressive as of late and, in my opinion, the game against UL was stolen away from them. They have players all over that can hurt you and with the intelligence of Ron Thomspon — inside and out — it’s easy to see why Neptune are being talked about nationally.
“We have been battling for a bit of form since the DCU Saints cup game, but the players have been working extremely hard to get ourselves motoring again and that is all that can be asked of them.
“Part of this struggle has been due to unavoidable absences of players in recent weeks so our natural rotations have been a bit irregular and that has taken us out of our rhythm. That is behind us now and with the hard work the players are putting in, I’m sure we can get back into our stride.
“This is a crucial game for us because we have already lost to them and we do not need another defeat before our national cup semi-final clash.”
When it comes to derby ties, the American players frequently mark themselves out and it is left to the local players to win or lose the game.
From that point of view Neptune coach Scannell has only to look to the recent games and see how well his home players have performed and, in particular, Ger Noonan against Belfast Star the weekend before last.
Neptune had beaten Star by a point in the cup so they expected a backlash but Noonan’s defiant performance denied Star and boosted confidence in the Neptune camp.
“I think all players and coaches of both clubs look forward to this occasion as there is always a special buzz surrounding the game,” Scannell said.
“With the cup semi-final looming it will give the two teams a chance to weigh the pros and cons up so you can expect one hell of a game.”
In another derby clash, 11890 Killester will be hoping to avenge their recent defeat when they entertain DCU Saints in IWA Clontarf.
Both Neptune and Demons will be back in action on Bank Holiday Monday when UCC Demons will entertain Moycullen at The Parochial Hall in the Nivea for Men SuperLeague and Neptune travel to Limerick to renew rivalry with UL Eagles.
In the Nivea Women’s SuperLeague, the sole game will see Oblate Dynamos play host to Ulster Rockets.
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