Killester lodge protest over referee

DART Killester have lodged a protest over the refereeing of last weekend’s tie against Star of the Sea, but coach Mark Ingle said yesterday there was no question of seeking a replay or anything like that.

Speaking in advance of this weekend's visit to Cork where they play Neptune in the ESB SuperLeague, he said they just wanted to bring the whole issue of bad refereeing to the attention of the SuperLeague.

"The overall standard of refereeing is going to have to sharpen up. They are the highest paid people in the game for an hour. The Americans would have to work seven or eight hours to get what they are paid," he said.

"It costs €50,000 to €60,000 to run a national league programme and our season came down to that game. It is frustrating and disappointing to lose a game like that. We have sent them a tape with the protest."

He admitted that it would be difficult for them to win the league now. At the start of the season he predicted it would be a six defeat league. Now they have lost six and need 10 straight victories to win the title.

"Having said that, we never abandon hopes and if we don't win it we could decide who does win it," he said. "I think it is between Star, Neptune and Notre Dame. We meet Neptune this weekend and we owe them a beating. They hammered us the last time but we were going through some changes. Now things have settled down I hope the teams will decide it."

Opposing coach, Martin Aherne insisted yesterday that this is a game Neptune must win to keep on track and he was willing to dismiss last weekend's loss to Star.

"There were so many positive things from that game that we have to be happy with it," he said. "It was one of those games when we actually played very well and, on account of that, it was easier to take the defeat than it was the previous week.

"In the end Summersgill got in some big baskets and that proved to be the difference. But we played better than we have in recent weeks and there is still a long way to go in this competition. Star could slip up and Notre Dame are creeping up the table.

"I know Killester are going to be a tough team to beat. They were very unlucky to lose to Star last weekend."

Gleneagle Lakers could prove a stumbling block for Star when they travel to the Maysfield Leisure Centre this weekend.

"Belfast is not always a pleasant trip but we are actually looking forward to it," Lakers coach, Mark Scannell said. "We always seem to play better against teams we are not expected to beat and there are a lot of teams out there hoping that we can cause an upset again this weekend and break the league open again."

They will be missing Andrew Fitzgerald and James Fleming this weekend but they are confident that they can cope. But with John Leahy fully fit, they meet a side oozing confidence.

"But I am optimistic," he said. "If we perform we will give them a game exactly the same scenario as against Neptune. To our advantage we have played Star already and I talked to a couple of the Neptune lads since the weekend and basically, Scott Summersgill is the key to the Star game. If we can cope with his scoring you'd never know what might happen."

Mardyke UCC Demons had a very important win over BurgerKing Limerick last weekend and Pat Price will be hoping for more of the same when they make the trip to Dublin tomorrow night to play Hibernian UCD Marian.

He will have a full squad at his disposal although Brian Clernon is still playing limited court time and Tim O'Halloran went over on an ankle last weekend.

It is a busy weekend for Marian who face old rivals, Irish Travel Partner Saints in a derby game on Sunday.

Marian had an important win over Frosties Tigers last weekend when Jamie Kendrick made his debut for them and while he only hit a below average 12 points coach Darren O'Neill was happy with him.

Saints also have a double header this weekend another derby game with Anthony Jenkins' high flying Notre Dame and there is no love lost between those two sides.

In the women's SuperLeague, old rivals Tolka Rovers and Bausch & Lomb Wildcats, who never fail to provide excitement when they meet.

Molly Watson is out with a repetitive strain injury to her ankle and, even with the return of Roisin Dixon, Tolka will struggle without her.