Getting up for the Cup
For most of the season, it’s the League that takes priority but mid-January means only one thing in the sport here as the attention switches to the Cup. Live television coverage and bumper crowds help make it the only show in town.
Maybe it’s the game’s close ties to the GAA here or the fact you don’t have to follow a team for the season to be part of the journey but the love of straight knockout games still brings out the best in Irish basketball.
They inevitably rekindle memories of the glory days. Times when thousands hung from the rafters of falling down gyms all over the country to get a glimpse of the latest American sensation pounding the hardwood against the local heroes.
But it’s weeks like this that allow the modern Basketball Ireland image stand up to the past with pride. Because weeks like this create heroes, villains and tales of legend. They blow away the perception that basketball was an ’80s child in the Irish sports psyche and produce new memories that never fade but grow golden.
UCC Demons believed they would be facing UL Eagles in the men’s SuperLeague National Cup final on Friday but arch rivals Bord Gáis Neptune put paid to that.
The effects of that loss are still hurting.
Coach Paul Kelleher had called for a response to that loss at the weekend. He wanted his side to keep up their hunt for top spot in the Nivea for Men’s SuperLeague going strong until Killester inflicted on them their third league loss of the season, 79-69, on Saturday night.
It’s a side effect of the cup but one that will resonate around the league. Contrast their slump with the form of all four men’s and women’s SuperLeague finalists. They were unstoppable this weekend.
Bord Gáis Neptune blitzed Moycullen 89-74 on their home patch and gave their full bench a run.
“To see everyone step up and attack the game from the start is exactly what we want,” said coach Mark Scannell.
“Everyone contributed in the game. Most importantly we left the game with a clean bill of health as we prepare for the National Cup final next weekend.”
And they’ll need their full squad to take on the establishment that UL Eagles have become. Shocking Demons is one thing, but to back it up with a Cup final win over the Limerick side would rank as one of the game’s biggest upsets.
UL are not invincible as DCU Saints showed earlier this season but when fully focused no team in the country can stand up to them.
Their return clash with the Dublin side gave UL the chance to fine tune their defence of the Cup and gain revenge. A 20-point winning margin suggests they are in a good frame of mind.
“It was a comfortable win for us and I am delighted with the defensive effort that the guys brought,” said coach Mark Keenan.
“At times our offence was good but we need to up our shooting percentages if we want to continue winning big games.”
Team Montenotte Hotel Cork and UL Huskies also maintained their domination of the Ladies game ahead of the Women’s SuperLeague National Cup final.
The Cork side had the riskier game, taking on city rivals Singleton SuperValu Brunell yesterday, but came away with a comfortable 91-61 win.
“We know that Brunell are young and we expected them to be quick and resilient. We knew that in order to get a win we needed to match their intensity and speed and we did that,” said Andrea Congreaves, Team Montenotte’s coach.
“On some occasions, we played well enough to out run them and that is where our conditioning helped us out.”
Back in Limerick, reigning champions UL Huskies recorded another impressive victory when they saw off Liffey Celtics 71-19.
“Our defence was on point and we brought a lot of energy to the game,” said James Weldon, UL Huskies, head coach.
“Everyone left with a clean bill of health so we are really looking forward to the Cup clash now.”
