Cork clubs face critical next few games in their bid for survival and league title honours

The closing weeks in the Men’s Super League will be interesting as the battle for honours and survival will continue in earnest for all competing clubs.

UCC Demons looked a side doomed a few weeks ago but credit to the coaching staff they eventually found an American pairing in Tamyrik Fields and Jordan Washington worthy of donning their jersey.

Since the inception of Americans playing in the Super League we have had the honour to witness the very good and bad of professionals playing in this country.

Demons were fortunate to attract good professionals over three seasons as players like M J Randolph, Seventh Woods, Elijah Tillman and Patrick Robinson were right from the top drawer.

The bottom line is when you are recruiting Americans it can be similar to a lottery and in the early weeks of this season Demons got it totally wrong but that’s okay too as it can happen and not the first year the club experienced this problem.

The arrival of Fields and Washington has brought a new urgency to Demons and on Sunday they can cement their place in the Super League with a win against Limerick Celtics.

Demons will have played Ballincollig last night, but this is a game they will have identified as getting the all- important win from with only three games remaining in the regular season.

The shannonsiders are a decent side on their best day but in recent weeks teams have exposed their lack of depth and they now find themselves in a race for survival in their first season competing at this level.

Coach Tony Hehir has assembled a decent squad and Demons will need to give them the respect they deserve.

Washington is a terrific post player when getting correct assists and this could well decide this intriguing game.

Celtics have a good scoring American in Ariyon Williams but at times he tends to make it a one man show but Demons will still need to keep a lid on his shooting.

The shannonsiders also have decent Irish players in Finn Hughes and Ruari Cronin but with so much at stake Demons are capable of grinding out the all- important win.

Ballincollig are trying hard to secure top spot in the regular season and they face an inform Sligo All Stars side at the MTU Arena tomorrow.

In recent games since getting the full complement of players back fully fit Ballaincollig have looked a different animal at both ends of the court.

Losing to St Vincent’s, Killester and Neptune was a shock to the Ballincollig system and player coach Ciaran O’Sullivan will want to finish the regular season on a winning run of games.

Latavious Mitchell continues to pose many teams problems with his physical power and no doubt Sligo will need to restrict his influence.

The second Ballincollig American Latrell Jossell is a serious shooting guard and their English born bosman Josh Steel is a quality player whose talents go unnoticed.

Many pundits felt Sligo All Stars were in big trouble to stay in the Super League a month ago but their latest double win in Kerry last weekend over Killorglin and Tralee Warriors has made many pundits change their minds.

Credit to the westerners they signed two new Americans in Elijah Lawrence and Jordan Hinds and Ballincollig will need to shut this duo down to secure a win.

Energywise Ireland Neptune had a disastrous last weekend losing at the death to Killester and Killorglin and now they must start all over again when they host St Vincent’s at the Neptune stadium.

The bottom line for Neptune is they must win all their remaining games and hope results go their way in a bid to keep their Super League status.

Vincent’s are a hugely improved team but Neptune with so much at stake will surely find a way to take them down.

More urgency is needed from Americans Mike Hayes and Jordan Henderson and in particular bosman Adon Gregirio if they are to survive this huge test.