Killarney, who have the dubious distinction of being the most unsettled club in the ESB Superleague, have undergone another major upheaval over the past week and could line out over the weekend with two new foreign players and a new coach.
At the start of the season, it looked as if the struggling Kerry club had the strongest American in the country on their books when they signed former player-of the year Ricardo Leonard. But within a fortnight of making his debut, Leonard made his exit and that precipitated a cycle of player changes that has peaked in the past week or so.
Following Leonard in and then out of the club was former Killester American Joe Warnke, who was released this week after less than a month on the Killarney books, and it would appear that Terry Smith's one game for the Kerrymen last week will be his only appearance for them.
That is because of Killarney's on-going pursuit of more talent to complement Jamel Chretien, who has somehow managed to remain with the club since the start of the campaign. During the week it was revealed that they were looking to sign up two more Americans, Terry Thomas and Craig Wilson, who will both be eligible to play against Star of the Sea in Belfast on Sunday if they arrive in time to be cleared by the IBA.
To compound their difficulties, Killarney have also just released their Bosman player, Blake Gage, which has a two-fold influence on their already troubled position, as he was also coach to the team. Not only will they miss his considerable influence on court, but they have had to install a caretaker coach, Niall O'Callaghan, who will have to train a squad depleted by the absence of Pat O'Shea who is on holiday. In such circumstances, a win for Star on Sunday is quite likely, although the Belfast club suffered an unusual lapse in form last week by losing to Limerick. If Star are to remain as serious contenders to retain the title, they simply must win a home game such as this one.
Waterford Crystal are the side that just about every neutral in the game has been speculating about over the past month. The question most asked is just when will the fledgling Superleague team crack under the pressure of holding on to a 100 per cent record in their first seven games.
Match number eight on their roster, away to UCD Marian tomorrow night, will be a serious test of Waterford's title hopes, as the south Dubliners have looked capable of upsetting any team in the league since the arrival of Randall Mounts to partner Kevin Ellery. With Patrick Glover and Gary Edge demonstrating their ability to out-score both Americans in the team, Marian have a formidable first five.
Should Waterford lose, they will probably be punished by their nearest pursuers, Killester, who should win a north Dublin derby away to Tolka Rovers on Sunday. Also on Sunday, the resurgent Cork side, Blue Demons, should pick up a home win over Limerick, while tomorrow St Vincent's play Dungannon in the televised game at the National Arena. Also tomorrow evening, Neptune entertain Dublin Bay Vikings while Notre Dame, who this week added Kildare footballer Dermot Earley to their squad, are away to Sligo.
The women's league leaders, Wildcats of Waterford, are involved in a televised match against Limerick tomorrow in Tallaght, while the men's match between Tolka and Killester on Sunday is preceded by a women's Superleague duel between the same clubs.
