St Paul's must do without O'Brien

Basketball:The domestic game said farewell to a valuable home-grown talent this week, but the flow of the foreign brigade into the Superleague continues unabated.

St Paul's of Killarney lost point guard Eoin O'Brien to division three of the professional Spanish league as the Irish international joined CB Aridane, based on the Canary Islands. St Paul's travel to face an injury-ravaged UCC Demons at the Mardyke tomorrow trying to adjust to life after the loss of their central attacking component.

Jermaine Turner - last season's Most Valuable Player - has returned to Dublin recently seeking a club, although an offer from a Swiss franchise may yet see his stay curtailed. St Vincent's could re-sign the American, who combined so effectively with the Donnelly brothers to deliver a surprise Superleague title to north Dublin in 2006.

The club have an opportunity to address a miserable two wins from six outings at the National Arena tomorrow against leading northern conference side Shamrock Rovers Hoops, followed by a home game against Ballina on Sunday. Turner is the type of player who would revitalise an ailing Superleague defence.

However, the Hoops are expected to bounce back from their first defeat of the season, away to the Limerick Lions.

Ballina are also attempting to breathe life into their campaign. They lie three points behind Killester in third, with a double-header starting tomorrow against a Killester side coming off an inspiring victory down in Tralee.

"The guys were excellent, they really dug in deep," said Killester coach Mark Keenan. "It was a real gutsy performance considering we were without Damien (Sealy) and John Quigley. Josh Hinz and Craig Walls are doing a great job for us. As rookies they have been brilliant and are real team players.

"Our Irish guys have also been superb. Isaac Westbrooks was probably our best player in Tralee, but the pressure that Isaac, Jonathan (Grennell) and Paddy Kelly put on their guards turned the game our way, while Josh and Craig dominated inside."

Sealy has recovered from injury but Quigley is unavailable with a knee problem.

The big game in the south conference comes tomorrow night as the Tralee Tigers attempt to take top spot off Neptune. However, the Tigers are again without Kieran Donaghy, who is in America with the Kerry football panel. The other GAA man on the roster, Michael Quirke, is also doubtful as he is playing in the Town League final in Kerry on Sunday.

Belfast Star can continue their upward curve with a trip to the bottom club in the north conference. UCD Marian are level on points but Star hold a game in hand.

In the women's Superleague, Killester will parade their replacement for Sue Altman as Kimberly Bennett comes in to face Cork in Little Island. The former New Jersey State All Star played professionally in the Netherlands last year with Nijmegen Wildcats, averaging 14.5 points per game.

"We spoke at length to Sue and she knows what we need and she feels that Kim is the girl for us. She has been impressive, setting records at high school and in college, but she really impressed in the Dutch first division," said coach Mark Grennell.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Today -Men's Superleague: Shamrock Rovers v St Vincent's, National Arena, 8.15.

Saturday -Men's Superleague: UCD Marian v Belfast Star, UCD SC, 7.0; Tralee Tigers v Neptune, Tralee SC, 8.0; Ballina v Killester, Ballina SC, 8.0. Women's Superleague: Meteors v Tolka Rovers, Naomh Olaf, 6.45; Cork v Killester, Little Island, 7.0; Wildcats v UL Aughinish, Mercy Gym, 7.30.

Sunday -Men's Superleague: St Vincent's v Ballina, St Vincent's CBS, 3.30; UCD Marian v Shamrock Rovers Hoops, UCD SC, 3.0; UCC Demons v St Paul's, Mardyke Arena, 3.15.