After all these years, local derby games between Demons and Neptune still captivate us all

It is hard to figure out what really attracts huge attendances to the Cork basketball derby games between Neptune and UCC Demons in a rivalry that goes back to 1966.

Fifty nine years later and the bite is still there for fans, and on Saturday last we witnessed another battle royal at the home of Neptune at their state of the art stadium.

Two men that will not forget this evening in a hurry is Neptune’s stalwart Jim O’Donoghue, who was inducted in as the new President of the Cork Men’s Basketball Board replacing the late John Coughlan.

Mr. O’Donoghue a lifelong member of Neptune has given his life to the sport and he received a magnificent reception from both sets of fans.

The name of Blue Demons/Team Britvic star American Jasper McElroy of the eighties will never be forgotten by the Irish and Cork basketball fraternity and what a reception he received from the capacity attendance.

Ironically, it was 40 years to the day that McElroy put 70 points on Gleneagle Killarney and to be able to celebrate that feat at a basketball game in Cork was a dream come true.

McElroy departed on Sunday back to Kentucky but in his eight days on Leeside he once again endeared himself to the Demons fans who he brought so much joy to during the golden era of Irish basketball.

Back to the derby game and once again it was UCC Demons who came out on top against their great rivals without producing their best basketball.

The Neptune coach Pat Price now has three tricky games on the horizon beginning tomorrow with a home clash against Sligo All Stars (7.45pm) followed by a trip to Killester next weekend.

Neptune look to have a decent squad but have little structure and the man that was given the job to stop the rot now finds himself on the ropes as this team are lacking what it takes to compete with the big guns in this league.

Another coach that found the going rather tough in the last week was the Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig chief Antonio Lopez whose latest defeats at UCC Demons and Killorglin were disappointing.

Ballincollig trailed 73-52 entering the final quarter and despite putting in a far better final quarter they eventually went down 94-88.

Looking at the swish stats of the game it was a game riddled with fouls but when your Irish players only give you 24 points there is always a chance you end up on the losing end.

The below par performance of the Irish senior women’s team in the 125-24 defeat at the hands of France was a major talking point among the basketball fraternity.

Let’s get straight to the point we simply do not have the quality players to be competing against sides with the depth and class of France.

This scribe has pointed out on a few occasions this season that the Women’s Super League this season is the poorest we have witnessed in years.

Just take Cork, we have thee Super League teams competing and it is highly likely you could pick 10 players from all the teams on Leeside that you could class as genuinely good enough to play at this level.

With no disrespect to the present squads they are not a patch on the players that graced this league for many years and Basketball Ireland need to have a serious look to stop the decline.

Just to round off the week for the Irish Senior Women’s team despite putting in a brave performance and 14 points from Brunell’s Edel Thornton they went down 96-90 to Latvia.