Killester's hopes are hit

BASKETBALL: Just one week into the ESB Superleague and already Killester's title ambitions have been shaken. After their third-place finish last season, and the signing of two top Americans since, there were high hopes for them, but the opening defeat to St Vincent's was only to get worse.

Ahead of a double-header this weekend, coach Mark Ingle was hit with a series of player losses. Jonathon Grennell announced he was taking a year's break from the league; new Australian signing Hugh Wardrope will miss several weeks with a shoulder injury; new American Howard Jackson is out with a thigh injury; and Irish international Damien Sealy still has a lingering knee injury.

Clearly then Killester will struggle when they hit the road for two away games this weekend. First opponents Tralee Tigers will be without Michael Quirke as he maintains his GAA commitments ahead of the county football final, but they should still prove too strong for Killester.

Killarney will also be depleted when they face Killester on Sunday with Michael Bree signing a late contract in France and Brian Clarke out through injury. They are also on court tomorrow when they face Tolka Rovers.

Early Superleague leaders Star of the Sea have a difficult trip to Cork to face Neptune on Sunday - a game that also acts as a warm-up to their Cup meeting next weekend. The Belfast club will have a full selection except for Gary Connolly, who is taking a year's break.

Elsewhere, ITP Saints have signed 6ft 10in Tim Welch from Sacred Heart University in Boston to replace Arturo McLoud ahead of their meeting with champions Waterford on Sunday. The UCC Demons will also hope to maintain their impressive start tomorrow when they travel to Limerick.

In the women's Superleague most of the attention this weekend will be on Waterford Wildcats' new signing Martina Jerant, the former Canadian international. At 6ft 5in Jerant towers above any other player and for the Meteors, tomorrow's opponents, she will clearly be the one to watch.

FIXTURES: Men's Superleague - tomorrow: Tolka Rovers v Killarney Lakers, 7.30; Limerick v UCC Demons, 7.30; UCD Marian v Notre Dame, 7.10; Tralee Tigers v Killester, 8.0; Sunday: Killarney Lakers v Killester, 3.0; Neptune v Star of the Sea, 3.30; ITP Saints v Waterford, 3.30; Women's Superleague - tomorrow: Killester v University of Limerick, 5.15; Meteors v Wildcats, 6.45; Drimnagh v Tolka Rovers, 7.0; Glanmire v St Paul's, 7.30.