Cork Basketball: Neptune host great rivals Demons in key Super League relegation showdown

When Energywise Ireland Neptune and UCC Demons go head it generates serious interest from the Cork sporting public.

The rivalry goes all the way back to 1966 and now entering its 60th year it has no signs of dropping with a full house guaranteed this afternoon at 4pm in the Neptune Stadium.

Sadly, it’s a completely different scenario this time with both clubs struggling to maintain their Super League status.

Let’s have a look at Neptune. They have played 12 games between league and cup and only managed two wins but the consolation for the Blackpool outfit is that their great rivals are on identical figures.

Starting the season with an inexperienced coach in Keith Daly, he will rue choosing the wrong fit of Americans for his team. You could see why Daly went down the road of recruiting two guards in Zyon Dobbs and Cameron Glover, as he thought that signing Eoin Nelson, a 6' 10" post player, would solve the inside problem.

However, Nelson is a rookie and was getting restricted court-time at his previous club UCD Marian as he doesn’t yet possess the physicality to worry teams at the top tier.

Daly and his American signings are no longer with the club and their present duo of Mike Hayes and Samuel Henderson have improved the team a little but are still suspect. New coach Ciaran Kiveney is another rookie better known for his involvement with Titans last season in Division 1 but he failed to get them promoted.

Neptune needed a new coach but it remains to be seen if Kiveney can keep them in the top tier.

The biggest loss for Neptune has been without a doubt the absence of Cian Heaphy, whose career has been ravaged with injuries. Heaphy is a quality player with heart and determination and it will be interesting to see if he will return for this crucial game.

Demons' problems are similar if not worse and their latest defeat at St Vincent’s shows they have not improved on court and their indiscipline is unacceptable. Technical and unsportsmanlike fouls were the order of the evening and that’s down to the coaching staff as the buck stops firmly with them.

New American pairing Jordan Washington and Tamyrik Fields look capable of keeping them up but the major problem lies with their Irish crop of players.

Many shrewd pundits are asking why this group of players have dropped their standards following their championship win last season? 

Did Demons' quality American players cover cracks that already existed?

On present form there is no guarantee Demons will win the latest chapter of this incredible rivalry but hopefully the loyal supporters of both clubs will be given some Christmas cheer with a brilliant game.

ON SONG

Super League leaders Ballincollig host Limerick Celtics at the MTU Arena on Sunday in a repeat of next weekend's Pat Duffy National Cup semi-final.

It's an unusual match-up with such a big fixture on the horizon in the cup but Ballincollig are presently in a rich vein of form after successive victories since losing their opening two, the first in Limerick.

What I like about this Ballincollig side is their ability and know-how in tight games as they proved last weekend in Belfast.

Trailing by five points with 1.20 remaining they called a time-out and Latrell Jossell produced an instant three-pointer on the restart, followed by a Dylan Corkery basket.

Jossell nailed a buzzer-beater three to get his team over the line that confirmed them as the outright leaders of the league.

Limerick Celtics defeated Ballincollig in their opening game of the season but surely on this occasion they will find the going rather tougher.