A disappointing season for Tralee reached a new low on Saturday as the defending champions were knocked out of the national cup by UCC Demons. The problem is undoubtedly consistency.
It was the Irish contingent who failed to deliver this time, as Kieran Donaghy and Micheál Quirke finished the 97-90 defeat with a combined total of seven points. The statistic is even more damning when one considers five of the seven came from the free-throw line.
Luke O'Hea and Luke Egan each garnered 26 points, but it wasn't enough.
Limerick are the other Southern Conference team through to the semi-finals after they beat UCD Marian 88-73. The students' new signing, Elijah Warren, hardly set the world alight with just 17 points. Limerick's import, Jon Steven, was the MVP after finishing with 32. He was assisted handsomely by 23 points from Robert Taylor.
Killester had far too much ammunition for Star of the Sea as they coasted to a 19-point victory. The game was notable for Adrian Fulton's failure to register a single basket for the University of Jordanstown-based side.
Ballina evened out the geographical representation in the last four by overcoming the Killarney Lakers 91-83. Even Pellerin and Patrick Pope were top scorers, but the home-grown talent shared the load, with Ronan McGarrity on form and Liam McHale stretching his much-travelled legs to shoot eight points.
A minute's silence was observed before this match in memory of former Lakers supporter Seán MacMonagle who passed away recently. MacMonagle (84) never missed a home game and the club honoured his memory by keeping his regular seat vacant.
The Killester woman ensured a double celebration for the club by also progressing to the semi-finals after overcoming Glanmire 56-53 in Greendale. UL/Aughinish and St Paul's also progressed.
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