Neptune look for tonic against table-toppers

UCC DEMONS would not expect to be over-extended when they host Belfast Star in the Nivea for Men SuperLeague this weekend.

However, their victims from last week’s cup semi-final, Bord Gáis Neptune, claim centre stage against leaders DCU Saints, at Neptune Stadium.

Neptune will be bidding to bury the memories of their bitter loss to their neighbours and this game provides the opportunity to scalp DCU Saints.

There is history between the clubs that goes back to the early days of Irish basketball and particularly when Neptune reigned supreme .

“Saints were too strong when we last played them in the SuperLeague and in the end they blitzed us,” said coach Mark Scannell.

“Players will have to get rid of the cobwebs and get ready for action as Saints are a physical team and its important for us to get back to winning ways.

Demons coach Paul Kelleher can be rightly proud of the strength he has built all along his bench to stand them in good stead for years to come but he won’t take his foot off the pedal against Star.

“This is going to be a very difficult game and we will have to be very focused as it’s a potential banana skin,” he insisted.

“They are coached by one of the best in Danny Fulton and they beat us on their last visit to the Mardyke so it gives us an indication of how hard we are going to have to work to get the result we are looking for.”

After claiming their place in the cup final, UL Eagles lie in wait of last year’s cup champions, UCD Marian, with coach Mark Keenan anxious to keep the run going .

“We have had two really tough games against UCD already this season and I expect no different this weekend,” he said.

“We must keep our feet on the ground after last weekend’s cup semi-final win over Killester. We need to win to keep the pressure on Neptune and UCC Demons in the southern conference title race.”

Darren O’Neill was bitterly disappointed with the way 11890 Killester went down to Eagles in the cup semi-final last weekend.

“Losing a nine-point lead with minutes to go was crazy,” he said.

“We have to learn from it and go to Moycullen this weekend and win and hope that someone does us a favour with DCU Saints.”

In the Nivea Women’s SuperLeague, Mark Ingle will take DCU Mercy to Waterford to play Wildcats hoping take his side right up to the Cup final clash with UL in the winning frame of mind.

“Its always good to go into a cup final on a winning run and that will be a priority against Wildcats,” he said.