Hoops suffer another setback

Basketball/Previews: What's become clear regarding the Superleague is that over-reliance on the big-shooting, slam-dunking players from abroad is not going to produce any long-term success. Some have stuck around but there is no guarantee.

Take Shamrock Rovers Hoops. Who would have thought their long-term player-coach Anthony Jenkins would have departed in the off-season? By all accounts Ken Black is an able replacement but the results tell a different story. And it gets worse.

Maurice Jackson, their 6ft 8ins University of Texas recruit, decided to shoot hoops elsewhere and duly departed last week. Another American, Ruben Perry, broke a bone in his foot this week so now they are looking to yet another of the foreign brigade, Jackson Bain, to fill the void.

On cup final weekend last season what really impressed from three of the four semi-finalists was the influence of their home-grown talent. UCC Demons, Neptune and the basketball stronghold of Ballina take a bow.

To say these clubs shouldn't recruit would be folly but they should strive to find a balance. In Ballina they have Ronan McGarrity, who is on the cusp of becoming a Gaelic footballer if he is not careful - All Star awards tend to do that - and American Lawrence Young leading the charge.

After victory over Rovers last week they square up to the Killarney Lakers on Saturday.

Limerick suffered a similar fate to their Dublin counterparts the Hoops in losing Sneed Deaderick, who in fairness headed back home due to family problems.

Yet, he still becomes another statistic. While outsiders continue to use the Superleague as a stepping-stone to greater things or in several cases a final pitstop before oblivion, the domestic game will suffer.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Men's Superleague: Tonight: Shamrock Rovers Hoops v Roma St Vincent's, ESB Arena, 8.30. Saturday: Neptune v Tralee Tigers, Neptune stadium, 7.30 Killester v UCD, IWA, 8.00 Ballina v Killarney Lakers, Ballina SC, 8.00 Sunday: Limerick v UCC Demons, UL Arena, 3.15 Roma St Vincent's v Waterford, St Vincent's CBS, 3.15.

Women's Superleague: Saturday: Killester v Glanmire, IWA, 6.00 St Paul's v Meteors, 7.30 Sunday: UL Augninish v Mercy Coolock, UL Arena, 1.00 Drimnagh Dynamos v Waterford Wildcats, Oblate Hall, 3.30.