Tigers benefit from Donaghy decision

Basketball News:Kieran Donaghy will line out for the Tralee Tigers in Sunday week's Superleague Cup final, the premier event on the home basketball calendar, after withdrawing from the GAA All Stars tour to Dubai.

Speculation about Donaghy's availability had been mounting since his basketball club overcame St Vincent's in last Sunday's semi-final, a game Donaghy missed as he was returning from the Kerry team holiday in Australia. However, the 2006 footballer of the year was keen to highlight basketball commitments were not the only reason for his unavailability.

Donaghy told The Irish Times yesterday another trip would hinder his chances of regaining peak condition ahead of the National Football League opener against Mayo on February 4th.

After some astonishing displays during last season's All-Ireland championship, the 23-year-old has been in constant demand, be it for the Tigers, parading Sam Maguire around the world or lining out for football club Austin Stacks. Considering the expectations heaped upon him to maintain last summer's standards, a refocus on training has become the priority.

"The basketball is only 50 per cent of it," said Donaghy. "I'm tired of travelling to be honest. It's been non stop since the All-Ireland final. I've been to Chicago (for a presentation ceremony), Kuala Lumpur (with Kerry) and then Australia (Kerry) so I haven't done as much football training as I would like. It's not just about the basketball. Number one, I want to get the body right for the National League with Kerry. If I go over there (Dubai, the entourage departs next Tuesday, returning on Sunday) it will be a week of functions and drinking so I won't be ready for the league.

"I need to get back focusing on my sport so I can improve my game. It is a great honour to be named as an All Star but at the same time I don't want to say I'm not going just because of basketball. I have set my own football goals for the year ahead . . ."

Donaghy's commitments to Kerry football denied him the opportunity to make a genuine return to basketball this winter, not that this affected the Tigers' form. They lead the Superleague Southern Conference by three points and remain on course to regain the cup they last won in 2005.

"I haven't featured as much as I would have liked but they are playing better without me. When I went to Ballina I sat out the fourth quarter, when we were trailing, and John Tehan came in. The fellas really turned it on after that so I'm not as big an impact people would like to make out. I've actually upset the flow a little. The Americans (Dave Fanning and Wilder Auguste) are not used to playing with me.

"I have missed a lot of sessions as I've been training with Kerry so they just see me out on the court. I have to get back into it so I hope to feature this weekend (the Tigers host Kerry rivals St Paul's of Killarney on Saturday). I have been with the Tigers for four years now and it was a big part of my life before I played for Kerry. I think my time on court will be limited. I can be used to give the Irish lads like Tehan and Micheal Quirke a break. Maybe only for four or five minutes."

This is a genuine statement by the typically modest Donaghy but presuming he rediscovers the basketball skills that have had an impact on Gaelic football, his contribution against the Demons will be significant.

"Yeah, we've been doing well without him but the Demons are a very strong team," said Tralee coach David Falvey. "His availability will be hugely beneficial. We're hoping his profile might take the heat off the rest of the players and allow them keep the head down and prepare properly."

The addition is a real boost to the Tigers who, despite boasting a superior win-loss ratio to their opponents - who have lost seven league games to Tralee's two - go into the final as underdogs. The Demons, under long-serving coach Pat Price, are seeking a fourth cup triumph in five years.