Maree has decided to end the appeal process against the punishment meted out to it for falsifying player registration documents, and instead focus on trying to save a season that was plunged into even more turmoil this week with the departure of head coach, Fernando Bethencourt.

The club received a €3,000 fine; was hit by a 24-point deduction in the league; was thrown out of the Pat Duffy Cup; and had a two-year ban imposed on the person who filed the documents (with the final year suspended) on foot of the findings by the league.

An appeal against the severity of that punishment was taken by the club, and was heard last Wednesday night. The club was then informed on Thursday that the point deduction had been cut from 24 points down to 18, but the cup ejection remained, and following the decision, there were murmurings that the club would take a fresh appeal to the Sports Disputes Solution Ireland (SDSI) for arbitration.

The club had five days from being informed of the appeal outcome to lodge that further appeal, but with the weekend to think matters over, the club has decided to accept the decision on the appeal and will not be taking the matter any further,

That was not the end of things for the team this week, however, after Bethencourt and the team parted ways on Monday night. At the time of going to press, it was unclear who would take the head caching duties for this Sunday’s trip to Cork for the league clash with UCC Demons.

That trip is on the back of a 32-point shellacking by Tralee Warriors last weekend, and was the last appearance in a Maree jersey – for now at least – for Nate Davis, as the American’s playing licence has been suspended by Basketball Ireland pending the receipt of a work permit.

He is not the only US player affected: the league has applied a strict ‘rule implementation’ policy this season. Professional players coming into the country from outside the EU have a 90-day grace period to secure a work visa, during which time they can be licensed to play in the league, but once that period is up, their licence is frozen.

It is understood that is the fate that befell Davis on Monday, while at least three other clubs in the Men’s Super League – believed to be Ballincollig, Belfast Star, and Éanna – have also had player licences suspended after work visas did not come through for players within the 90 days of them arriving in the country.

Pictured: Grant Olsson scores a basket for Maigh Cuilinn despite the best efforts of Christian McDonnell and Murray Hendry of Malahide, during the Division One meeting between the sides in the University of Galway last Saturday. Photo: Iain McDonald.