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Neptune eager to end wait for trophy

BASKETBALL: BORD GÁIS Neptune can end a wait of eight years without a trophy when they take on reigning champions 11890 Killester…

Fri Mar 25 2011 - 00:00

BASKETBALL:BORD GÁIS Neptune can end a wait of eight years without a trophy when they take on reigning champions 11890 Killester in Sunday's Nivea For Men's SuperLeague final at the National Basketball Arena.

The last time the Cork giants got their hands on the league crown was in 2003 but their passage to this year’s final has come as a surprise. Despite occupying the final play-offs spot on offer in the Southern Conference, Neptune have really excelled in the knock-out stages, emerging from a difficult quarter-final trip to DCU Saints with an 83-69 win before creating a huge surprise by beating highly-fancied UL Eagles 90-88 in their semi-final clash.

“Michael McGinn is the only member of this team who has been a part of a championship, and that was back in 2003,” said Neptune head coach Pat Price.

“His leadership in this squad has been invaluable. For veterans like Ger Noonan and Phil Taylor, who have never played for the SuperLeague title, they want to make the most of this opportunity. They understand that it doesn’t come easy. And for our younger guys, it is a wonderful learning curve that they have been on in the past year.”

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11890 Killester will be wary of carrying the “favourites” tag particularly after their shock loss to UCD Marian in the final of the National Cup in January.

However, they have bounced back from that defeat by securing the Northern Conference and enjoying a better win ratio in the league than they did last term.

“After losing the Cup final to UCD in January, we said as a group the only way to make up for that loss was to go on and do our best to win the SuperLeague,” said Killester head coach Mark Keenan.

In the women’s decider, reigning champions Team Montenotte Hotel Cork can secure their fourth consecutive league title on Sunday but they face an almighty challenge from UL.

UL are making their first appearance in a league final since 2007 but they won’t be travelling to the capital in fear, with a squad that includes the likes of Rachel Vanderwal (Great Britain), Natalie Taylor (former New Zealand Olympian) and Michelle Fahy (Irish international).

Montenotte have suffered the agony of a cup final defeat to DCU Mercy this season but they bounced back to beat the Dubliners 75-71 in their semi-final encounter last weekend. Mark Scannell’s side will be boosted by the return of Marie Breen, who was ruled out of their win over DCU prior to the game with injury.

NATIONAL LEAGUE FINALS: Women’s Division 1 Final – Liffey Celtics v Brunell, 11am; Women’s SuperLeague Final – UL v Team Montenotte Hotel, 1pm; Men’s SuperLeague Final – Killester v Neptune, 3pm; Men’s Division 1 Final – St Mary’s v Titans.