BASKETBALL/Superleague finals: At least St Vincent's captain Dave Donnelly was making all the right sounds ahead of the daunting semi-final against hosts and double-chasing UCC Demons.
"Based on our last game against them, we know we can hold our own. We led for most of the first half. What we need to do is not allow them establish a lead, because that would prove very hard to claw back when they are on their home court."
Yet, to look past the Blue Demons ending 2006 at the top of the Superleague pile appears like folly. The Mardyke Arena supplies them with vital home court advantage. Also, they have the added motivation of chasing a rare league and cup double.
The Cork club proved their quality under the spotlight by dismantling the Limerick Lions in January's Cup final - the only live television exposure Irish basketball manage to wrangle out of RTÉ each season.
The Demons' chances of making Sunday's final at the expense of the north Dublin club are also boosted by the expected return from injury of Michael Doles and David Murphy.
Shane Coughlan, the Cork electrician, will be keen to cap 16 seasons of dedication to the Demons cause with another Most Valuable Player award. Just like he did in the 2003 and 2004 cup finals. Coughlan is a big game player.
St Vincent's will look to the Donnelly brothers and Kenny McFarland - one of the few foreign household names in Irish basketball.
Tomorrow's second semi-final pits the Limerick Lions against Ballina. The northern conference champions have an excellent balance of home and foreign players. In particular, Ronan McGarrity has put intercounty football with Mayo on the backburner in order to reach full potential in his preferred sport.
The final takes place on Sunday at 4pm.
The women's decider precedes it at 1.30pm, with the best teams in the regular season, Mercy and Glanmire, squaring off. Just four weeks ago, Mercy prevailed 73-64 at home, but Glanmire will have the local support this weekend.
Mercy are without the services of Sharon Kelly, while Glanmire are hoping Michelle Fahy and Marie Breen can recover from influenza and injury by Sunday.
Glanmire coach Mark Scannell sees the main obstruction being the added pressure of expectation. "This is difficult with all the hype of the final, especially the fact that it is in Cork, but I am trying to keep the girls focused on the job at hand.
"This game will be all about the players. It's a time to let their skills show and an opportunity for all to see a good women's basketball game.
"It also gives the young players something to aspire to."
SUPERLEAGUE FINALS (at Mardyke Arena, Cork) - Saturday: UCC Demons v St Vincent's, 2.30, Ballina v Limerick Lions, 4.30. Sunday: Mercy v Glanmire, 1.30 Men's final, 4.0.
