BASKETBALL:THE 2012 men's and women's SuperLeague National Cup finals take place at the National Basketball Arena tonight, with UCC Demons set to face UL Eagles in the men's decider, while DCU Mercy will be bidding for a three-in-a-row when they take on a very strong UL outfit in the women's final.
UCC Demons will carry the tag of slight favourites after the impressive manner in which they dumped fierce rivals Neptune out of the cup at the semi-final stage.
Their recent meetings with Eagles also makes pleasant reading for the Cork giants, having recorded two wins out of two in league affairs.
However, Demons’ head coach Paul Kelleher is playing a very cautious figure as his side look for their first national cup title since 2009. “We have been in decent form of late but not great form, and we will have to up our level another few notches if we are to have any chance of being successful on this occasion,” said Kelleher.
UL will be looking to their head coach Mark Keenan’s undoubted cup pedigree as they look for their first national title since 2002, when they beat Star of the Sea 89-83. Long-serving campaigner Matt Hall, who is expected to be a key figure, scored nine points in the final in 2002 and he is hopeful the trophy drought can finally come to an end.
“It has been frustrating watching the cup final in recent years and not being involved. Demons are a great team that rarely go more than a couple of years without making the finals, so we will have a tough job on our hands but we have plenty of talent on the team and will be looking for a big performance on the day,” said Hall.
In the women’s final, DCU Mercy’s hopes of a third successive cup title will be tested to the hilt against UL. The sides have already met this season in the league, with James Weldon’s charges recording a 20-point win on that occasion.
“DCU Mercy were probably not playing as well as they could on that occasion,” said UL head coach James Weldon. “They seem to be playing much better. We have been consistently strong over the last year and a half but DCU have been here before.
“Their recent cup wins is testament to their head coach Mark Ingle and they have some exceptional players.”
Mercy’s Ingle believes they couldn’t be facing a more difficult proposition in Irish basketball.
“The fact that they are 27 games unbeaten speaks volumes about their current positioning in Irish basketball,” he said. “Our defence will need to be Spartan-like in our approach against UL.”
Men’s SuperLeague National Cup Final: UL Eagles V UCC Demons, National Basketball Arena, 8:45. Women’s SuperLeague National Cup Final: DCU Mercy V UL, National Basketball Arena, 6.45.
Saturday SuperLeague Bord Gáis Neptune v Moycullen, Neptune Stadium, 7pm; 11890 Killester v UCD Marian, IWA, 8pm; Belfast Star v DCU Saints, DLS Anderstown, 8:30 Women’s SuperLeague: 11890 Killester v Meteors, IWA, 6pm; Liffey Celtics v Waterford Wildcats, Leixlip Amenities Centre, 7:30; Oblate Dynamos v Team Montenotte Hotel, Oblate Hall, 8pm. Sunday: Women’s SuperLeague: Singleton’s SuperValu Brunell v DCU Mercy, Parochial Hall, 2:45.
