UCC Demons all out to finish league season unbeaten

Expect a carnival atmosphere at the Mardyke Arena on Sunday when C&S UCC Demons are crowned Men’s Premier league champions following their last game of the campaign against Dublin Inter.

Incredibly Demons are bidding to extend an unbeaten record of 18 league games, a winning sequence that began in February, 2014.

Captain Shane Coughlan, who also skippered the side to Cup glory, said: “It’s been a magnificent season. We have played superb basketball that proved too much for all the teams in the league and I am honoured to be captain of a wonderful group.”

And Coughlan is determined his side can complete the Grand Slam at the Champions Trophy weekend in Galway later this month. “We have won it for the past two seasons and it would be nice to complete the clean sweep but we know we have to be prepared as many teams will be determined to derail us.”

Templeogue will snatch third place from Killester if they defeat UL Eagles at the UL Arena.

There are also two first leg semi-finals in the Women’s Premier League with Singletons Supervalu Brunell hosting DCU Mercy and Liffey Celtics entertaining the champions Team Montenotte. This is the first time Brunell has made it to this stage and coach Kieran O’Leary is hoping his side can take a giant leap tothe final. “We defeated them twice in the league but both games went down to the wire and we will have to be focused as we do not want to lose the first leg on our home court.”

Brunell will be boosted by the return of Edel Thornton from a foot injury and will be desperate to finish the season with silverware before she heads to America on scholarship.

Champions Team Montenotte travel to play Liffey Celtics with coach Mark Scannell urging his team not to be complacent. “We defeated Liffey Celtics comfortably in a recent league game but this is a completely different ball game as they have quality players that are capable of matching any side in this championship.”