Hoops all round as Notre Dame join Shamrock Rovers

Basketball News round-upIn a unique move, Notre Dame and Shamrock Rovers football club have decided to amalgamate.

The union coincides with Rovers' imminent, albeit currently stalled, move to their new stadium in Tallaght.

Although Notre Dame will change their name to Shamrock Rovers, or more colloquially "The Hoops", they will retain their present board of directors and management structures.

"We decided to go in under the same umbrella as we will both be operating in the area," said Rovers chairman Tony Maguire.

"It is an ideal opportunity to broaden our fan base in Tallaght, that was the motivation."

Maguire added that no financial transactions have taken place between the clubs. He also said a final announcement on the move of the club to the Tallaght area is forthcoming at the end of the month.

Meanwhile, St Vincent's are to appeal the late ruling by the Superleague Board last Friday evening that denied them the services of American Mike Trimmer.

The player was suspended for four games following an incident between himself and an official in the final game of last season, when he was with Tralee Tigers.

The National Competitions Committee ruled his absence for the first four games of the season would satisfy the ban, but the Superleague Board deemed the decision outside the remit of the NCC and enforced Trimmer's suspension, forcing St Vincent's to play with one American for the second consecutive week, as he was a replacement for the injured Mike Phenizee.

After missing last Friday's deadline to re-sign a player, St Vincent's requested the rescheduling of the game but were denied and lost the match 101-88.

Tralee Tigers remain the only undefeated side in the Superleague, after a 120-113 away victory over Killester. The closest contest of the weekend saw a Kenny Gamble-inspired Neptune overcome Northern Conference leaders UCD Marian by a mere three points, in Cork.

In the women's Superleague, UL continue their reign, defeating Tolka Rovers 82-47, while Glanmire returned to form for a 72-65 victory over Drimnagh. Wildcats defeated St Paul's 69-84, while Killester beat Meteors 96-80.