Ireland must do without Burke

After over a month of negotiations the Irish men's basketball team has failed to secure the services of Panathanaikos star Pat Burke for the European championship qualifying campaign in Freibourg, Switzerland, next week.

Burke's involvement in the end of season Greek play-off rules him out of two of Ireland's five group B qualifying matches next week and the decision was taken by the IBA not to pursue the matter further.

That decision has taken huge pressure off the Irish international centre who was faced with a serious club-versus-country dilemma which was brought about in part by the poor direction given to the IBA by international governing body FIBA.

"It's pure silly that there should be play-offs in Greece running at the same time as a qualifying group and I hope FIBA will learn something from this," said Irish coach Enda Byrt yesterday.

As well as the absence of Pat and John Burke, who are both involved in those play-offs, and the failure of the IBA to lure Mijaljo Pescic into the Irish squad, Byrt has injuries to several key players.

Ahead of this weekend's international warm-up tournament in Ennistymon, Ken Lacey is recovering from a badly bruised leg, Dan Callahan is still trying to shrug off a back problem, while Mick Richardson is suffering from the after-effects of a stress fracture in his foot.

Lacey and Callahan will combine to form Ireland's main inside threat and they have been joined in the squad by former Star of the Sea junior, six feet nine inch Kieran Lynch, now at college in California.

Gary Dredge has lost his own battle to be fit for the Europeans and has had to drop out of the squad because of tendonitis in his knee. This weekend's warm-up tournament involves England, Weber State University, Utah, and a Eurostars selection which will be comprised of Americans playing in Ireland and Europe.

Weber are one of the best college teams ever to play in Ireland and they made the "Sweet Sixteen" in college basketball this year.

Ireland's women put the finishing touches to their preparations for the European qualifying campaign next week with a weekend squad session in Waterford.