Donaghy happy in the role of an 'Underdog'

BASKETBALL League round-up: Ballina's Ronan McGarrity is not the only basketball man making significant inroads in the world of Gaelic football. Down in Tralee, Kieran Donaghy has been a key component for the Tigers this season as well as staring in the TG4 reality show Underdogs.

If McGarrity thinks he has it bad doubling up over the last couple of weekends, then try to imagine what Donaghy's been through.

Like last week, he will play flat out against Offaly this Saturday afternoon before jumping in a friend's car and rushing back to Tralee to face the unbeaten Killester as the leading sides in both conferences cross paths.

"It's been tough going," he says, "but I haven't missed any games, except the Demons match (which Tralee lost) because I strained ligaments in my shoulder playing football."

Dropped from the Kerry football panel after the victory over Dublin in the All-Ireland quarter-final, due to the return of Séamus Moynihan, the 21-year old hopes to grab the chance to prove Jack O'Connor wrong when he lines out at midfield for the Underdogs against Kerry on December 11th in, of all places, Tralee.

"I always felt this year wasn't to be my year, but next year I will have to step up. It's all been great, but my only fear now is burnout. It's tough after playing for the Underdogs on soggy grounds to jump in a car and head to Tralee to play basketball that night. The hammers do be hurting like hell every morning."

Not one soul across the country can question the man's commitment to become a permanent fixture in the green and gold of Kerry but, in the interim, the Tigers' cause is receiving his full attention.

Saturday's match is a repeat of last year's Superleague final, which the Tigers won. This time Killester arrive as favourites after a superb start to the campaign. However, the Dublin side must plan without Colin Tabb, who headed home to Boston to try out with a team stateside.

The luxury of having properly contracted players is not evident in Irish basketball yet. It would ensure imports would at least stick around for a full season.

Elsewhere this weekend, Ballina coach Seán McHale will be hoping to overturn a four-game losing streak away to UCD. The Mayo club released Chris Pena this week.

MEN'S SUPERLEAGUE - Saturday: Tralee Tigers v Killester, Tralee SC, 8.0, Waterford v Limerick, Waterford IT, 7.30, Neptune v Shamrock Rovers Hoops, Neptune Stadium, 7.30, Star of the Sea v UCC Demons, UU Jordanstown, 7.15, UCD v Ballina, Belfield SC, 7.30. Sunday: St Vincent's v Star of the Sea, St Vincent's, 3.15.

WOMEN'S SUPERLEAGUE - Saturday: Glanmire v Mercy Coolock, Littleisland, 7.30, Meteors v Killester, Naomh Olaf's, 6.45, Waterford Wildcats v UL Aughinish, Mercy Waterford, 7.30, St Paul's v Drimnagh, Presentation, 7.30.