Keith Daly is the new Neptune Super League coach 

Keith Daly has just been appointed the new Super League coach of Energywise Ireland Neptune for the coming season replacing Pat Price.

Daly, who has spent most of his playing and coaching career at the Blackpool club and he was at the helm of Fr Mathew's ladies Super League program last season. 

However, he comes into the job after a very successful underage career with Neptune leading their U18 side to National Cup honours in 2020.

“Working with the Fr Mathew's WSL team was a very rewarding and great learning experience for me,” Keith said.

“I got the opportunity to work with some competitive experienced players and off the court with a small group of phenomenal hardworking volunteers that are keeping a dual gender club going.

“One major takeaway was the value of resilience. 

"Challenges, whether in the form of tough losses, injuries, or internal struggles, inevitably arise over the course of a season. 

"Those moments reveal the character of a team. You learn who steps up, takes responsibility, and rallies others, and who tends to shy away or blame external factors. 

"Navigating those difficult periods showed me how essential mental toughness and accountability are to team success. 

"It’s in adversity that you discover what your team is truly made of.

“I’ve always hoped one day I’d get the opportunity to coach the Neptune Super League team and I’m extremely grateful that Ian O’Brien (Chairman), Gordon Crowley (Treasurer) and John Varian (Secretary) have put their faith and trust in me to lead the programme.

“I’m very excited and eager to get going. 

"The stadium renovations are going extremely well, there’s a lot of excitement around the club and all the players are eager to get back in to play in the upgraded facilities. 

"Tom O’Sullivan and Kevin Reddy have put in tremendous work in order to get the kids and senior teams back on the floor for August.

“We will get the players back on court at the end of July for pre-season. 

"Initially, with a new team and coach there is a period of implementation of structures and systems, but it’s important for us to get playing early and build while we play. 

"Players at this level work better with concepts and goals rather than predetermined actions, allowing them creativity and more autonomy. 

"We’ll also work initially on creating our culture and environment, establishing clear standards, expectations, and values that reflect who we are and what we want to become as a team. 

"This includes setting the tone in how we train, communicate, and support one another. 

"By defining our identity early, we lay the foundation for a unified, high-performing group that’s aligned on and off the court.

“The team will likely look a lot different to last year, but hopefully we will have core players such as Cian and Adam Heaphy, Darragh O’Sullivan, and Nil Sabata returning. 

"Sean McCarthy and Eli Lenihan, who I coached previously have both returned to Ireland after successful basketball college careers in the NCAA D2 in the US while we are also looking to add other local players.

“I will have two assistant coaches Kieran Leahy, who has won three U20 National cups as a head coach with Neptune and was my assistant coach when we won the U18 National Cup in 2020. 

"Paul O’Brien who has coached underage in Neptune for several years will also be with on my coaching staff, while John O’Sullivan will return as team manager,” Daly added.