Tralee exit marks end for Kerry basketball

THE curtain has come down on top-level basketball in Kerry after Abrakebabra Tigers Tralee withdrew from the Nivea for Men SuperLeague for the coming season.

The absence of some of their Kerry GAA stars was part of the problem as the club tried everything in their power to try to assemble a team for the season beginning October 3, but with so many key players unavailable, it was not feasible to compete, according to a club spokesperson ‘Pop’ Lynch.

“With Kieran Donaghy injured and concentrating on trying to recover to play with the Kerry footballers, basketball was not a priority for him,” Lynch said.

“Michael Quirke also indicated he was not participating and with John Teehan unavailable to play in our away games, other options became very limited.

“It is a very sad day for the club and for basketball in general as Tigers have contributed in a big way to the progression of the sport in this country.”

Kerry football ace Donaghy, one of the highest profile basketball players in the country, said he was hurting after hearing the news.

“On my own behalf, injury is restricting me at present and along with Michael Quirke, our football commitments (make it) impossible for a basketball team to plan,” Kieran said.

“Deep down, this hurts and it will be strange that there will be no team in Tralee this season.”

The withdrawal of Tigers coupled with St Paul’s of Killarney means no Kerry team will be involved in the Superleague this season.

Both clubs have indicated their wish to return next season but that could be highly unlikely in the present climate.

Basketball Ireland will be making a statement today but the reality is that with no teams competing from Kerry or Waterford, Munster basketball looks in serious decline.

The governing body also announced at the end of last season a loss of €1 million and many shrewd pundits are worried about the future of the sport in this country.

This season will also see the Men’s SuperLeague reduced to one American with the Women’s Superleague having no professionals in their teams.

Meanwhile, UCC Demons have lost their top player Colin O’Reilly to English side Cheshire Jets.

O’Reilly, last season’s SuperLeague player of the year, contributed immensely to the Leeside club completing the treble.

Another former Irish basketball coach Sasa Punosevac will also be strutting his skills in the English league next season when he was confirmed as Reading Rockets coach.

The Serb spent the last few seasons at Killester, Neptune and UL Aughinsh as well as a spell as head coach of the Irish senior women’s team.