Basketball/ National Cups preview: If we are to believe the bookmakers - and we never should - the Killarney Lakers need not show up at the National Arena tomorrow.
The bottom club in the Superleague's Southern Conference are 14 to 1 outsiders to win the cup. It's worth a look, especially if Kenny Gamble decides to bring his best game to Dublin. Ditto his American team-mate Charron Watson.
Last year they almost scaled the mountain as both men were in Neptune colours when beaten in over-time by a UCC Demons side inspired by Shane Coughlan.
Neptune got rid of both early this season and paid the price. In the cup quarter-finals the two showed up in Cork with their dented pride and ensured the Lakers season stayed alive. The dream now would be to prevail in an all-Kerry affair come Sunday, but that's largely up to Gamble.
"Kenny is only now reaching the required fitness levels," said coach Mark Scannell. "Since arriving from Neptune he has worked very hard so there is a huge performance in him and it has to be now. I have no problem putting the pressure on his shoulders as he can take it."
That pressure on Gamble and Watson increased this week after leading Irish player Colin O'Reilly was rated extremely doubtful with angle ligament damage. Over the next 24 hours the 20-year-old has to decide whether to play through the pain barrier, a decision that could hinder his other sporting endeavours. Besides being an under-21 hurler with Cork, O'Reilly plays both football and hurling with the Blackrock club.
"He may take pain-killers to get through but it could mess up the next two or three months in whatever sport he does play," warned Scannell.
The Lakers face in-form St Vincent's who are looking good for a league and cup double. Stopping Mike Trimmer, Peter Madsen and Paul Tonkovich is one thing but then there are the Donnelly brothers, Emmet, David and James. If the Lakers' Irish contingent can match the Donnellys then Gamble's route to the rim opens up.
"The bottom line is every game we have had to win this year we have won," continued Scannell. "Against Star and Neptune defeat would have ended our season but we won both. If we lose Saturday then we are just making up the numbers for the rest of the league but if we take care of St Vincent's then Sunday's final will take care of itself."
What does Scannell think about the long odds? "It's embarrassing really but they are a great incentive for us. To have such odds in a four-horse race is ridiculous but any team's American could go over on his ankle and then things change."
Earlier tomorrow afternoon, there is the little matter of the defending champions (going for a three-in-a-row) and the Superleague's strongest outfit meeting. The UCC Blue Demons are on form and are the only team to have walloped the Tralee Tigers this season. Also, they still have Coughlan, the MVP in the last two finals, who obviously enjoys the Tallaght court.
Still, after missing their footballing duo, Michael Quirke and Kieran Donaghy, in recent times, Tralee are back to full strength.
"We will need to put in a tremendous performance to overcome Tralee," said Demons coach Pat Price. "They are playing with a lot of confidence and are deservedly favourites. Our transition defensive will be a primary concern, as Chris Craig pushes the ball better than any guard in the league. We also hope to get as much contribution from our bench as possible."
The smart money is on one of the other three but Gamble can upset the odds in an all-Kerry affair on Sunday evening.
