UCC Demons begin Domino’s Men’s Super League defence with win

Domino’s Men’s Super League champions UCC Demons began their title defence with a hard-fought 115-105 derby win over Energywise Ireland Neptune on Friday night at Mardyke Arena.

Energywise Ireland Neptune, under new head coach Keith Daly, were quick out of the blocks and were ahead by 12 at one stage in the first quarter, 31-19, after a pair of free throws from their American Zyon Dobbs. Dobbs and their other American Cameron Glover hitting the ground running with 10 and 11 points in the opening quarter alone.

Neptune suffered a blow when the lost Nil Sabata with a minute and a half to go the second quarter to injury, the Spaniard in visible discomfort as he left the court. He’d picked up 10 points and seven rebounds by that stage. 

UCC Demons, who were missing the influential Kyle Hosford due to illness, managed to bring parity to proceedings, at 49-49, after Daryl Cuff’s drive and layup a minute before the break and he landed a three in the closing stages to put the home side 52-49 to the good.

UCC Demons pulled clear in the third quarter, American Shariff Black grabbing eight of his 25 game points in it. He also finished with 11 rebounds and nine assists in an impressive debut. Another Cuff three putting UCC Demons 80-66 up by the end of the quarter.

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Glover led Neptune’s offence in the final quarter as they tried to chase down UCC Demons, picking up 15 points in it. He finished with a game-high 33 points.

A pair of Kelvin O’Donoghue three’s either side of Pharrell Osagie’s basket got Neptune within 10 points, 101-91, with just under four minutes to go in the fourth. Zyon Dobbs’ jump shot made it a six point game, 107-101, with a minute and a half to go. A Tala Fam Thiam layup and additional free throw put UCC Demons 112-103 up with 50 seconds to go and Danny O’Mahony’s side safely negotiated the closing stages to secure and opening day win.

Speaking afterwards O'Mahony said: “It wasn’t the spectacle everyone wanted , I felt we never got going, a lot of key players were in and out , but we win we move on and need to improve against a much tougher opponent next weekend.”

UCC Demons

Scott Hannigan, Ben Horgan, Luke Sutton, Kyle Hosford, James Hannigan, David Lehane, Tala Fam Thiam, Daryl Cuff, Cian Looney, Live Kivuvu, Zach Hinton, Shariff Black.

Energywise Ireland Neptune

Kelvin O’Donoghue, Zyon Dobbs, Cian Heaphy, Nathan Power, Eli Lenihan, Jack Scannell, Cameron Glover, Dylan O’Rourke, Adam Heaphy, Eoin O’Conaill Nelson, Nil Sabata.