UCD Marian played an exciting game to a hugely supportive crowd in Belfield on Saturday night as Cork visitors; UCC Demons were left facing a disappointing journey home.

UCD Marian Head Coach, Fran Ryan, hailed his side after they recorded a rare win over courtesy of the 96-91 win. With a young team the recent return of veteran Barry Glover, the win marks an encouraging start to the season and follows on from their positive opening day display against last season’s beaten finalists UL Eagles.

“It is a good number of years since we last beat Demons,” said Ryan. “It takes the pressure off us to get that first win.

““This result isn’t out of the blue. We put in a good display against UL last weekend, a side I believe will be challenging for the major honours again this season.

“The standard of this game was extremely positive and the fact we put up 96 points against UCC Demons is very encouraging.” added Ryan.

“They are working extremely hard, training 3 to 4 times a week. We have very high fitness standards. They are improving all the time and this is a big step beating a side like Demons.”

It was a close game throughout but Glover managed to curtail Demons big man and a tight contest was settled in the closing stages courtesy of three pointers from Graduate Conor Meaney and current Scholarship student Michael Higgins.  Another highlight was the performance of Demons’ Marcus Van, who entertained the attendance with five dunks in the second half.