Kieran Donaghy may be Kerry’s trump card... in basketball

Mark Bernsen can’t say if Kieran Donaghy will or won’t play football for Kerry in 2017 but the Tralee Warriors coach is confident the cross-code star will be a regular presence for the new club as it begins life in Basketball Ireland’s rebranded Super League.

The Warriors’ admittance to the top tier of Irish men’s basketball means the Kerry town will be represented there for the first time since the Tigers disbanded seven years ago. Confirmation earlier this year Donaghy would be a key part of it has helped create an early buzz around the project.

The new club takes its first step courtside on Friday week with a daunting trip to the Mardyke Arena in Cork and a game against league and cup holders UCC Demons. The season could conceivably stretch up to the first few days of April.