Superleague sees player exodus

There has been somewhat of an exodus of professional players from the men's superleague this week, with Notre Dame, UCC Demons and Tralee Tigers forced to deal with the departure of their top players.

Following their Cup semi-final defeat last weekend, Notre Dame has since received a further blow with the departure of LaVerne Evans.

Evans quit Notre Dame to take up a position in Portugal and playing under his European passport, cannot be replaced by the club.

Not only that, Brandon Hughes came out of the Cup in the second quarter with a broken knuckle and following surgery this week, Hughes will be out of action for the remainder of the season.

Notre Dame are believed to be flying in a replacement point-guard for the weekend.

Neptune play their first game in three weeks on Saturday and have a full squad ahead of the weekend. Kenny Gamble twisted his ankle in training on Wednesday night, but should be fine for the Notre Dame clash.

Coach Pat Price was brought down to earth with a bang this week, following the imminent departure of James Singleton.

Family issues forced Singleton's return to the United States and the talented 6'6" forward was released from the club earlier this week.

Whilst a replacement of Singleton will be difficult, Price is expected to sign an American ahead of the noon Friday deadline.

After a superb performance over the Cup weekend, Brian Clernon limped off the court in the fourth quarter of the final and is expected to be out of action with a hamstring injury for the coming weeks.

The same injury has dogged Clernon all season and only rest will ensure a full recovery.

Antoine Gillespie has departed with Tralee Tigers and returned to France.

Gillespie was expected to sign with a French club last week, but the deal collapsed and Rus Bradburd expected to have Gillespie until the end of the month. Gillespie had other plans and left the struggling club this week.

Alan Keane is carrying a calf injury ahead of the weekend, but is expected to play against Demons.

Star of the Sea have little time to mourn their Cup defeat with a double header this weekend, with a tough game on Friday night against St Vincent's, before they play Waterford Crystal on Saturday night.

Star have a full squad ahead of the weekend, while a week's rest has seen St Vincent's return

to full health.

The women's Superleague title can be wrapped up in the next two weekends. A victory over Drimnagh this weekend, followed by a second defeat over Waterford Wildcats on the February 15 will make University of Limerick the Superleague Champions 2003.

Deirdre Leahy was the only casualty of the Cup, coming off injured in the semi-final and missing out on the final due to a thigh injury.