Limerick's season may be imploding in the southern conference but Ballina are on the verge of becoming the story of this year's Basketball Superleague as they seem certain to top the northern conference, writes Gavin Cummiskey.
The Limerick Lions were beaten by a Luke O'Hea-inspired Tralee Tigers as the Australian finished with 30 points. Ballina overcame Shamrock Rovers 124 to 88.
Elsewhere, St Vincent's beat Star of the Sea 93-81 to maintain second spot ahead of third-placed Killester. With just two weeks remaining in the regular season all three northern clubs look set to make the play-offs.
The woman's Superleague reached its conclusion at the weekend with Mercy beating Glanmire to top the table at the end of the regular season. Mercy had a strong first quarter to lead 23-12. Glanmire came back with a high-scoring second quarter to trail by five at the half, 36-31. Glanmire's head coach Mark Scannell constantly changed his defence to try to disrupt Mercy's rhythm but the Dublin team stayed in control with good displays from Sarah Hughes and Lindsey Peat. The contest finished 73 to 64. UL Aughinish beat the Wildcats 79 to 70.
Scanlon on way back
AG2R Prévoyance professional Mark Scanlon showed he is on the way back after a below-par 2005 season with a strong ride in Saturday's Het Volk semi-classic in Belgium, writes Shane Stokes.
The 25-year-old Sligoman was at the head of affairs towards the finale of the prestigious 1.HC ranked contest, going clear with 12 others inside the final 50 kilometres of the 202-kilometre event, and then forging ahead again in a four-man group with 24 kilometres to go.
This group was joined by eventual victor Philippe Gilbert (Francaise des Jeux) and while Scanlon lost contact, he finished with world champion Tom Boonen (QuickStep Innergetic) and Tour de France green jersey winner Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole) in a nine-man chasing move sprinting for 12th place.
Scanlon was 19th but, as a rider who goes well in the heat, will be encouraged that stronger form is on the way. Race victory went to Gilbert, who clipped away with seven kilometres remaining and opened up a 38 second lead over Bert De Waele (Landbouwkrediet-Col). Leon van Bon (Davitamon-Lotto) was third, 54 seconds down. Scanlon's group came in two minutes behind Gilbert.
Irish riders denied
Irish riders put in strong claims for Grand Prix honours on the international show jumping circuit yesterday, but were denied by the shortest of heads at the finish, writes Grania Willis.
Billy Twomey came closest with a second in the Spanish Sunshine Tour feature, one slot ahead of compatriot Trevor Coyle, while Jessica Kurten also recorded a third-place finish at the Belgian fixture in Hasselt.
Twomey and Whinnie Jackson were fastest of all in the Sunshine Tour decider, but a fence down left them second ahead of British ace John Whitaker, with Trevor Coyle and Overtime third.
Kurten, ranked second in the world, steered Carving to a double clear in the Hasselt Grand Prix, but was just over a second adrift of Dutch winner Piet Raymakers and had to settle for third.
She had earlier picked up a fifth with Gucci Accenti in the two-phase.
Grand Prix Lexus International Competition. Group A: (jump off against the clock ): 1 Van Schijndel's Now Or Never; Piet Raymakers (Ned ) Faults 0/0 Time 39.02; 2 Joel; Gert-Jan Bruggink (Ned) Faults 0/0 Time 40.14; 3 Carving; Jessica Kurten (IRL) Faults 0/0 Time 40.18 - 46 starters.
Duo impress
Richard Coakley and Gearoid Towey made the right impression on National rowing coach Harald Jahrling at the first national time trial at Innsicarra Lake in Cork at the weekend, writes Liam Gorman.
Coakley (22), who finished second behind Richard Archibald and ahead of his brother, Eugene Coakley, in the lightweight men's ranking, has "developed well over the last 12 months" according to Jahrling.
And while Towey, who took time off last season to participate in the Atlantic Challenge, seems to be "back on track".
Jahrling put a men's heavyweight eight together over the weekend, but continually made the point that it was too early to make definitive judgments in any class for the season ahead.
However, the heavyweight women's double of Helen Walshe and Caroline Ryan did themselves no harm in what were sometimes difficult conditions.
Sinead Jennings again proved herself top of the rankings among the lightweight women's scullers.
Niamh Ní Cheilleachair took second.
