Killester setback

BASKETBALL:Killester are trying to regroup following the departure of arguably the best female player to represent the club after American Sue Altman switched to the higher-profile German club, BG Dorsten, this week.

That the north Dublin club managed to secure the Ivy League Columbia graduate for a second season in the women's Superleague was a major coup and Altman immediately repaid them with the most impressive statistics in the competition. Coach Mark Grennell and the powers-that-be at Killester have a near impossible task to find a replacement.

The women's Superleague moves on with the most high-profile of games this Sunday as UL Aughinish host DCU Mercy in a top-of-the-table clash at the university campus.

Despite losing Irish international Michelle Aspell in the off-season, UL lead the table by three points from their college rivals. UL beat DCU in their last clash 71-54 but will be without captain Jillian Aherne because of injury and Nessa O'Keefe because of work commitments. DCU coach Mark Ingle has a fully fit squad.

Round seven of the men's Superleague sees Belfast Star seeking to build on last week's first win of the season, over defending champions St Vincent's no less, when they host the injury-ravaged UCC Demons tomorrow. In particular, Shane Coughlan is still nursing a broken thumb.

Elsewhere, Killester travel to Tralee to face the Tigers. Kieran Donaghy has finally returned to the fold although the Kerry footballer must first attend the All Star awards in Dublin tonight where he is favourite to be named player of the year.

The other Kerry versus Dublin affair sees St Paul's host UCD Marian in Killarney, while Ballina and Neptune meet at Letterkenny IT. On Sunday, the Limerick Lions play host to Shamrock Rovers Hoops.

WEEKEND FIXTURES: Saturday: Men's Superleague: Belfast Star v UCC Demons, Jordanstown, 7.15; Tralee Tigers v Killester, Tralee SC, 8.0; St Paul's v UCD Marian, Presentation Killarney, 7.30; Ballina v Neptune, Letterkenny IT, 8.0. Women's Superleague: Killester v Meteors, IWA, 7.0 Wildcats v Tolka Rovers, Mercy Gym Waterford, 7.30. Sunday: Men's Superleague: Limerick Lions v Shamrock Rovers Hoops, UL Arena, 3.30. Women's Superleague: UL Aughinish v DCU Mercy, UL Arena, 1.0.