Basketball: When UCC Demons coach Pat Price wields the axe, like he did before Christmas with the departure of Ahmad Smith and Jamaal Wise, it should not be taken as an act of desperation.
The remaining foreign brigade at the Cork club responded in round 11 of the Superleague, with Leshon Sheffield and Benito Flores combining for 37 points as the Demons obliterated Northern Conference leaders Shamrock Rovers yesterday.
The result places the Demons back in pursuit of champions Tralee Tigers, who remain favourites to reclaim the title after an impressive away turnover of Ballina, 104-93. Ballina can point to the absence of Ronan McGarrity, because of commitments to Mayo football under John O'Mahony's new tenure. And yet, the Tigers had to plan without Kieran Donaghy because of a similar commitment to Kerry. Wilder Auguste was the standout performer with 26 points.
The other Kerry and Dublin clubs made similar statements this weekend with decisive victories to strengthen their chances of being involved in the play-offs.
St Vincent's are making a habit of going down to Cork and earning a vital victory. They won the Superleague last season at the Mardyke Arena, but this weekend it was at the Neptune Stadium where they appear to have kick-started a late charge, again their speciality, to be involved at the business end of the campaign.
Killester overpowered the Limerick Lions in Clontarf, running out 11-point victors, 94-83. Unsurprisingly, it was the influence of Jermaine Turner, just back from an unsuccessful spell on the Continent, that edged the 91-84 result. Turner finished with 29 points, while a further 22 from Kenny Gamble proved too much for the Lions.
St Paul's also looked to their foreign brigade, with Antonio Cool (38 points) and Justin Wingard (30) dominating the scoreboard in a 100-96 win over Belfast Star.
