Ballincollig head to Belfast Star for huge Super League showdown 

Joint Men’s Super League leaders Ballincollig and Belfast Star go head-to-head tomorrow in the Domino’s Men’s Super League in what should be a cracking game at the Newforge Sports Complex.

It has been a difficult fortnight for Star that saw them defeated in the National Cup by Ballincollig and last weekend they were thrashed in Dublin by Killester in the Super League.

In the opening games of the Super League Star, they looked a formidable unit but after witnessing them play UCC Demons in Cork, yours truly had doubts about their strength in depth. On the other side of the coin, Ballincollig looked vulnerable in their opening two games, losing to St Vincent’s and Limerick Celtics, but credit to player-coach Ciaran O’Sullivan, they've won 10 in a row since.

They disposed of Killorglin on the road last weekend and once again the class of their Americans Latrell Jossell and Latavious Mitchell was clear to see.

Jossell is a clever guard that can score and assist with relative ease with Mitchell the master at the post and on the boards.

STEELY EDGE

The key to Ballincollig this season has been the signing of English-born Bosman Josh Steel, who has simply been a revelation.

Steel is consistently on double figures but more importantly is a terrific defender.

Another plus for coach O’Sullivan has been the form of his Irish players, led by his brother Adrian, with Keelan Cairns having his best season ever in a Ballincollig jersey. Dylan Corkery’s return is key to Ballincollig in the manner he defends and overall, the Cork team look a level above the majority of teams in this championship.

Hard to know whether the alarm bells are ringing yet at Star, but I am sure coach Adrian Fulton will be worried about how his American duo of Shane Bell and Roger Wilson performed in their latest loss to Killester. Bell only chipped in with 11 points but worse, Wilson had only four points behind his name and changes could be made at the Belfast club.

Energywise Ireland Neptune were buoyant after their second win of the season last Saturday when they easily disposed of Tralee Warriors. This scribe wasn’t surprised as this is one of the poorest Warriors side ever to represent the Kerry club.

The Blackpool faithful will not worry as they can now set their sights on getting another win under their belt when they travel to Dublin tomorrow to play UCD Marian.

Make no mistake Neptune will not get the space afforded to them by the Warriors last weekend and this will be a true test for them at Belfield.

The Cork side will be missing Catalonian Nil Sabata for the Christmas period and he will be a loss at the post.

New American Samuel Henderson looks energetic and Mike Hayes will be needed to put in a similar shift to the one he produced against Tralee Warriors.

It will be a return to UCD for Neptune’s Eoin Nelson but on present form, it’s hard to see them getting anything from this game.

UCC Demons coach Danny O’Mahony looked a relieved man on Sunday last when his side ended a nine-game losing sequence when disposing of Sligo All Stars 103-88.

New American signings Tamyrik Fields and Jordan Washington did okay without excelling but they look to have made Demons a better side in comparison to their previous professionals.

Tomorrow they travel to the capital for another crucial clash against St Vincent’s and another win would set up nicely for their mouth-watering derby game against Neptune on December 27.

Demons actually dug deepest against Sligo when their American pairing were sitting down in the last quarter and it was similar to looking at the team that were successful over the past two campaigns.