BasketballThese are challenging times for Basketball Ireland. Despite their relaunch and re-formed structures, along with this week's amalgamation of Notre Dame and Shamrock Rovers football club, the impending loss of their main sponsor, ESB, at the end of the season ensures one of the country's genuinely burgeoning sports organisations is facing financial insecurity.
The only other income for basketball comes from the Sports Council, under the core-funding scheme, so after six years of support right across the board, the chief executive of Basketball Ireland, Debbie Massey, is looking for a new set of sponsors.
"ESB sponsored everything, including the kitchen sink, over the last six years, but we are now looking at splitting up the properties with a range of different sponsors," she said.
No announcement is expected until at least the end of March, when the season concludes, but one major sponsor will be required for the Superleague.
Notre Dame officially change their name to the Shamrock Rovers Hoops for tonight's match against Killester. This new departure, if successful, may have a knock-on effect in other areas where basketball and domestic soccer share the same community base.
Considering Rovers' imminent move to Tallaght, the idea should help swell the support base for both teams in the area.
Meanwhile, after two weeks of cross-conference games, the men's Superleague returns to in-conference this weekend. Tolka Rovers will have three opportunities over the next six days to finally claim their first win of the campaign when they play UCD Marian, Killester and St Vincent's.
St Vincent's are still set to be without Mike Trimmer, who is one game into a four-match ban, although he is appealing the decision. The suspension was handed down last season when Trimmer was a Tralee Tigers player. An independent disciplinary body has been brought in to make a final decision on the matter.
With Erik Brown out for six weeks with a broken thumb, the north-Dublin club are facing another round of matches without any of their foreign signings.
In the women's Superleague, Glanmire will struggle without Deirdre Leahy this weekend when they travel to take on the undefeated University of Limerick. With five straight victories, UL are favourites to take the first spot in the play-offs, with all other teams vying for the next three places.
Drimnagh will be signing Tamala Vaughan, a six-footer from Tallahassee, Florida, ahead of the weekend and are pushing to have her in the country ahead of Sunday's fixture against Killester.
The provincial fixtures of the All-Ireland Club Championships will be taking place around the country this weekend.
The competition is open to all clubs in the country, except Superleague.
Mercy Coolock are the holders of the women's title, while St Vincent's are the men's defending champions.
FIXTURES
FRIDAY - Men's Superleague: Shamrock Rovers v Killester, ESB Arena, 9.00.
SATURDAY - Men's Superleague: Tralee Tigers v UCC Demons, Tralee, 8.0; Neptune v Waterford, Neptune, 8.0; Tolka Rovers v UCD Marian, Tolka Rovers, 8.0. Women's Superleague: Meteors v St Paul's, Naomh Olaf, 6.45; Wildcats v Tolka Rovers, Mercy Convent 7.30; University of Limerick v Glanmire, UL Arena, 7.30.
SUNDAY - Men's Superleague: Limerick v Lakers, UL Arena, 3.15; St Vincent's v Star of the Sea, St Vincent's, 3.30. Women's Superleague: Drimnagh v Killester, Oblate Hall, 3.30.
TUESDAY - Men's Superleague: Killester v Tolka Rovers, IWA, 8.0; Lakers v Tralee Tigers, INEC, 8.30.
WEDNESDAY - Men's Superleague: Neptune v Limerick, Neptune, 8.30.
THURSDAY - Men's Superleague: Tolka Rovers v St Vincent's, Tolka Rovers, 8.30.
