UCC Demons make no mistake this time as they blow Neptune away to win by 19 points 110 to 91

UCC Demons 110 

Energywise Ireland Neptune 91 

UCC Demons came out on top in the most talked about Men’s Super League quarter final play off at the Mardyke Arena on Sunday.

Energywise Ireland Neptune by virtue of protesting against their loss in the first game when these sides played last week got a controversial second bite of the cherry.

But, on this occasion Demons went for the jugular and barring a little spurt in the first half Neptune were second best for the majority of this game and Demons went on to win in style and at their comfort.

Many heroes for the winners but their American duo of Patrick Robinson (30) and Elijah Tillman (25) did very well with team captain David Lehane finishing with 20 points.

Toby Christensen gave Demons an early lead with a baseline jumper before Demons courtesy of a three pointer each from James Hannigan and Elijah Tillman surged into a 10-0 lead in the third minute.

A much- needed Neptune time out was called out and the response was immediate when Hunter made a lay- up and bonus.

The tension in the arena was incredible and gradually the scoring dried up but a Lehane three pointer outside the arc in the sixth minute gave Demons a nine- point lead.

The visitors responded with consecutive baskets before Blake Murphy nailed a three pointer that eased the pressure on Demons.

In a late rally Neptune reduced the deficit to two points 23-21 before Hosford nailed a brace of free throws that gave Demons a four- point lead entering the second quarter.

On the restart Jaksa Sola got in backdoor for an unchallenged lay up as Demons defence looked all at sea.

Both sides were scoring with relative ease, but Demons got a run that saw them extend their lead to seven points 34-27 in the 14th minute.

On each occasion Demons looked to be getting on top Neptune responded and a Fields basket reduced the deficit to three points with 3.02 remaining.

Turnovers were costing Demons big time and when Hosford carelessly lost the ball with two minutes remaining Nil Sabata produced a wonderful slammer that brought the score to 44-42.

The closing couple of minutes were exciting as both sides continued to trade baskets and when the electric Robinson went coast to coast and produced a basket and bonus it increased Demons lead to eight points.

That’s the way it stayed 54-46 at the break in what could only be described as an interesting half as it was clear both teams hadn’t produced their best form.

The biggest problem for Demons was the number of turnovers they had tallied in nine but their opponents had seven in a game that the capacity attendance were hoping would move up a level for the second half.

Tillman got Demons up and running up with an easy tip followed by a Christensen basket as lead was extended to 12 points.

It got worse for Neptune as Demons had the next three baskets as the lead was suddenly 18 points in the 23rd minute with Neptune calling a time out.

The pressure continued on Neptune as they couldn’t guard the physical presence of Tillman at the post and with Lehane in superb shooting form Demons surged into a 23- point lead with three minutes remaining in the quarter.

The Demons coach Danny O’Mahony who rested his big guns for three minutes when they were dominating brought them back in and entering the final quarter Demons led 83-63.

Sabata opened with a Neptune basket as the Blackpool side needed very good start to get back in this game.

Sadly for Neptune it was downhill all the way for the remainder of this period as Demons simply blitzed them with champagne basketball that set up Thursday’s semi-final against Tralee Warriors at the Mardyke Arena (7.30pm).

Scorers for UCC Demons: P Robinson 30, E Tillman 25, T Christensen 18.

Energywise Ireland Neptune: C Hunter 43, N Sabata 15, D O’Sullivan 10, R Downey 7.

UCC Demons: S Hannigan, B Murphy, T Christensen, P Robinson, J Hannigan, D Lehane, E Spudis, K Hosford, C Looney, D Cuff, E Tillman.

Energywise Ireland Neptune: D O’Sullivan, C Leahy, C Leahy, T Fields, D Aluko, A Heaphy, D O’Rourke, N Sabata, C Heaphy, J Sola, C Hunter, S Noonan.

Referees: M Nazimek (Dublin). E Perry (Dublin), J Lavin (Dublin).