Donaghy to miss start of Tigers’ campaign

KIERAN DONAGHY had his first full training session with defending champions Abrakebabra Tigers in Tralee on Tuesday but coach Mark Bernsen does not expect him to play a part in their opening Nivea for Men Superleague game at home to UCD Marian on Saturday night.

“Kieran will be with us but he has not trained very much with us since the All-Ireland (football) final,” said Bernsen. “He has had a few niggling injuries and he was always going to be mentally tired after that campaign. But we are looking forward to having him back.”

Donaghy was a star performer when Bernsen guided them to last season’s Superleague title and the cup final, in which DART Killester deprived them of the double.

And the focus was on DART Killester when Basketball Ireland, led by chief executive, Debbie Massey, and commercial and marketing director, Karl Donnelly, travelled to Cork yesterday to launch the new season at the Montenotte Hotel. Killester have recruited Pete Madsen from St Vincent’s and Kieran O’Brien from Neptune. Michael Westbrooks has returned from the US and Damien Sealy has come out of retirement. They open against Hoops at the NBA.

Joey Boylan will be missing from the bench when DCU Saints (St Vincent’s) open their campaign. Vinny O’Keeffe has replaced the Glasnevin coach and has added Michael Chubb and Mick Lacey to the bench.

Neptune open at home to UUJ-based Ulster Elks on Saturday night, when coach Stephen McCarthy will be hoping to build on the progression made following his appointment in the middle of last season.

“This is my first full season so there is more pressure,” he said. “I have been responsible for recruiting and I think I have two exciting Americans in Tristan Parham and Vincent James.

UCC Demons are also tipped for a big season. They have recruited the NCAA Div 1 College University of Maine assistant coach Douglas Leichner to direct their fortunes and have signed Jerrah Young from University of Toledo, while Ryne Hamblet has completed his move from Bowling Green University. They open their campaign away to Belfast Star.

Coach Mark Scannell was present to highlight his plans. He admitted there would be some changes in personnel — his own daughter is on scholarship at Iona College in New York — April Cahalane has moved to UL Aughinish and Marie Breen, who graduated from UCC recently, is leaving the country.

But he was particularly happy that their American player, Jennie Strong, has come back and she said it had been an easy decision for her to make.

“The decision was made before the end of the season,” said Strong who came to Glanmire straight out of college in Cleveland. “I had no problem making the transition because I was surrounded by great people.”

There will be two notable absentees from the Superleague as St Paul’s Killarney and Merry Monk Ballina failed to meet the criteria laid down under the new structure.