BASKETBALL: After the embarrassing scenario of last week, Killester are hoping their new court in Greendale Community School is able to host three matches this weekend. The club were forced to forfeit last Saturday's game against Neptune in overtime after the referees declared the floor unplayable.
The stakes are raised for everyone in Basketball Ireland as the women's Superleague league team play Glanmire just two hours before Killester face north Dublin rivals St Vincent's on Saturday night. Significantly, this game will be broadcast on Chorus Sports next week.
Also, Shamrock Rovers switch from the National Arena to Greendale for their cup match against the Killarney Lakers on Sunday afternoon.
Killester chairman David McKay strenuously claimed condensation was not to blame, rather the supply of towels and mops ran out leading to the new court becoming "hyper-slippy".
"It is a new wooden floor, with a glazed surface and new varnish so the grip is superb," said McKay. "We probably needed to have more mops in place (last week) as it is a non-porous surface so a bit of extra elbow grease is required as it is more like cleaning glass.
"After a while the over-use of towels and mops made them too damp so they were unable to absorb and to clean the surface sufficiently. It is not a condensation issue but we do hope to install an improved ventilation system."
Some €100,000 was invested in the new court in Kilbarrack after a club member put them in touch with a company that supplies the Canadian timberwood used in the NBA. It is the only court in Ireland of this nature so the grand opening last week was a huge disappointment for the club and local community.
"I would be cautiously confidant that the problem has been solved. We have got more paper hand towels and they will be more absorbent," added McKay.
Killester's new coach Saisa Punosevic could also do with a first victory against St Vincent's in the opening round of the cup. Good news comes with the return of Damien Sealy from injury.
Defending champions Tralee Tigers travel to Ballina in a repeat of last year's corresponding fixture, when the Kerry club prevailed. Australian Luke O'Hea is their in-form man but Irish player-of-the-year Kieran Donaghy is also selected, providing he comes through his commitments to Gaelic football.
MEN: CUP: First round (all matches 8pm unless stated): Saturday: Ballina v Tralee Tigers, Ballina SC; UCD Marian v Neptune, UCD; SC Killester v St Vincent's, Greendale; UCC Demons v Limerick Lions, Mardyke Arena. Sunday: Shamrock Rovers Hoops v Killarney Lakers, Greendale 3.0. WOMEN'S SUPERLEAGUE: Saturday: Killester v Glanmire, Greendale, 6.0; UL/Aughinish v Mercy Coolock, University Arena, 7.0; St Paul's v Meteors, Presentation. Sunday: Drimnagh Dynamos v Wildcats, Oblate Inchicore, 3.30.
