Absent Donaghy a blow for Tigers

BASKETBALL:When Kieran Donaghy broke through the sporting barriers to become a household name last summer those associated with the Tralee Tigers could take a little pride in the achievement.

The Kerry footballer is one of their own. A product of Tralee and the Tigers basketball club, they also knew Donaghy was no longer a dual player but primarily a footballer.

That theory crystallised into fact this week with confirmation that Donaghy will miss the Cup semi-final against Superleague champions St Vincent's as he is on holiday with the Kerry football panel.

Even if the Tigers progressed to the final on January 28th, Donaghy would be unavailable as he will be in Dubai on the All Stars tour.

He lines out for Jack O'Connor's 2006 team against Mickey Harte's 2005 selection on January 27th with a return flight scheduled for the following day. Suggestions of an early return from the Middle East have also been quashed.

"Kieran did play for us in Ballina on a Saturday night recently before driving through the night to be back in Kerry for an important club game for (Austin) Stacks," noted Tigers PRO Timmy Sheehan.

"But he would hardly undertake an All Stars tour and not feature in the game - that would be the only chance of him making it back in time for the finals, should we progress this weekend."

The real blow to Basketball Ireland, caused by Donaghy's absence, is Sunday's semi-finals are being televised live on RTÉ from the national arena in Tallaght. The big man would have been a massive draw and also for the final in two weeks.

He seems certain to also miss the Tigers Superleague run in as the Kerry footballers up their preparations to defence the All-Ireland crown.

"After the Cup, Kieran will be playing National League football so it is slim, at best, that he will be able to play any part for the Tigers," added Sheehan.

Life moves ever on. The pinnacle of basketball's season is fast approaching with the Superleague overshadowed as the four remaining teams seek Cup success - still clearly the priority in Irish basketball.

The Tigers and St Vincent's have not played each other this season so the Dublin club are yet to experience the blitz offence generated by Auguste Wilder and Dave Fanning. Jermaine Turner's reputation as the leading foreigner in the domestic game will come under intense scrutiny.

The Tigers are top of the league and are expected to set up an all Southern Conference final against the winners of UCC Demons and Killarney St Paul's, who are on court at 3.0pm.

Ger Noonan is expected to return from a knee injury for St Paul's but a full-strength Demons, seeking a fourth Cup title in five years, have already beaten their opponents twice this season in the league and are expected to repeat the process.

St Paul's arrive at this juncture via the back-door route having lost 87-78 to the Tigers in the opening round.

In the woman's Superleague Cup semi-finals UL Aughinish face the Wildcats and their former coach Tony Hehir and star player Michelle Aspell who defected to the Waterford club this season. In the other semi-final DCU Mercy are expected to overcome Montenotte Cork.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Sunday -Men's Superleague National Cup - Semi-finals: St Vincent's v Tralee Tigers, 1.0; UCC Demons v St Paul's, 3.0. Women's Superleague National Cup - Semi finals: UL Aughinish v Wildcats, 5.30l DCU Mercy v Montenotte Cork, 7.30. All fixtures at the National Basketball Arena, Tallaght.