"You ever been to Killala? It's like nothing you ever seen."

- Deora Marsh

On Saturday night, they leathered the drums one last time for what was an unforgettable farewell to one of the great outposts of Irish basketball.

The hall in Killala is a many varied thing: it has probably gathered its share of Emerald sweet wrappers over the years of bingo, hearts could well have been broken over long forgotten slow sets.

But over the years it acquired fame and notoriety as the home of Ballina basketball, a treacherous wrecking room for visiting teams. "I call it the little box," says Deora Marsh, who left his hometown near Cleveland for college in Mississippi, dropped by Ireland in 1981 after graduating, visited Ballina and never really left.

"Teams always hated coming here, I don't think we've lost a game here in something like four years. But it's not bad, just old."

Ballina have been the flag-bearers for western basketball over the past decade, twice winning the national cup and regarded as an all but impossible proposition at home.

Financial constraints forced them out of the Superleague last season, but they have a great cup history. Next year, a brand new gym opens up in Ballina town, with pull-out seats and a shiny floor. So the days of the glory box in Killala are done.

That is what made Saturday night so special, the last big-time game in the village. In the quarter-final of the Cup, Ballina played hosts to Blue Demons of Cork. Tip-off was timed for eight o'clock, but the hall was buzzing for an hour beforehand.

Killala is a culture shock for first timers. There is virtually no standing room in the hall, so the crowd stand flush against the sideline, inches separating them from the players. Low ceilings trap the sound, and for the entire game the hall pulses to the boom of an ancient drum, the inspiration of a Crossmolina man. The rhythm is basic but effective, up-beat when the home team have the ball, slow and pounding when the visitors are trying to score.

On this night, the cast of players reads like the Who's Who of Irish basketball. With Cork is Shane Coughlan, one of the new breed of Irish guards, and American Tobe Carberry, a lightning quick threat who shoots for fun. With Ballina is Paul McStay, the feisty point guard; Chris Doyal, one of the best American arrivals of recent years, and Liam McHale, perhaps the most complete Irish basketball player of all time, sharp as ever. And, of course, Deora.

He could dispense with Marsh as this point and his mail would still get to him. Not especially tall at 6ft 4in, the rangy Ohio native has a dunking leap that defies gravity. And time. When Marsh slams, his elbows are up around the ring. He is 40 years old now, enjoys a pint and puffs the occasional cigarette. He looks maybe a decade younger and is still whippet thin.

Marsh's story is not unlike many American players who come here for a season and lose track of time. He got an offer to play a season in Cork after impressing at an arranged try-out in Alabama. It was meant to be a season, an adventure.

"Like many people, I had never been outside the States. I was 21 years old then and I just thought, well, if I don't like it, I can go home."

And straight away, he liked it. Moved to Ballina after a season with North Mon and met a local girl. Their son, Lamar (11), is just starting to play hoops, and the younger girls, Sebai and Tyra, will probably have their dad as coach in a few years. "I'm the kind of person that adjust to wherever I am. And I learned that, in this country, you don't get to know people by sitting at home. You gotta go to the pub. And we'll be dead for long enough anyway, so there was no point in sitting in the house for 24-7. "The great thing about Ballina is that we play and socialise together. We might bitch at each other on court and get mad, but afterwards, win or lose, we'll sit down and have a drink, a laugh. I think that's one of the things that make us hard to beat."

Question was if they had enough left to beat the Demons. The Cork side is inexperienced and has got burnt in a few thrillers. But, oh, are they quick. Deora nails the first basket of the game, a floating little jumpshot that settles the team. For the first quarter, it's score for score, a fast-running shoot-out.

But as the game wears on, Demons' pressure tells. Ballina begin to tire and the Cork side pour in a series of quick baskets. At half-time, the visitors are up by 10, and early in the third they have a 16-point league.

"Couple of baskets more then and it could have been a blow-out," admitted Marsh. There are, however, gremlins in the air. The game begins to turn improbably. Chris Doyal and McHale are on fire for Ballina. Young Paul Barrett comes into the game, takes a pass on the run, gets clobbered and hits a jump-shot as he is fouled. The lead shrinks. And small things conspire against Demons. Shots roll in and out. Passes slip. The drum keeps pounding. The 16-point lead becomes a dim memory. They might have known. There was no way the last night in Killala could be a blow-out. The gods wouldn't allow it.

With five minutes left, a classic, a tale that time will varnish, is on the cards.

With 30 seconds left, the visitors finally crack and Ballina romps home in style, McHale spinning in for a basket. In the final play, Deora is sent to the line for two free throws.

In a previous life, the man played in front of 15,000 crowds week in, week out. Chances are many of the guys he ran with then have long since given up the game. But here he is, Christmas 2000, on a free throw line by the west coast of Ireland, listening to a chant of D-OR-A, DOR-A.

He swishes both shots and the curtains close on Killala with yet another win.

"That was one of the sweetest," he says later in Murphy's pub. "We say we are a Cup team, but I think we just like being on TV. That's what I say to the other guys; you gotta get me back under lights. So at least we have another day out. Maybe after this one, I'll hang up the boots."

Maybe. But not for a while. Things are right again: the great western basketball carnival heading for the bright times in January. And they'll bring the drum, of course. They'll bring Killala to the capital.

Highlights of Ballina-Blue Demons can be seen on TV3 at 11.25 p.m.