Month: December 2020

December 29, 2020

Irish Indoor Bowling Association Inter-Zone Men’s Boomer Cup 2020

Results

Winners		Runners-Up
Preliminary Round
South Tyrone	61	Lisburn	46
Larne	64	North West	63
Mid Ulster	53	Western	42
Mid Antrim	69	South Down	44
Foyle	52	Belfast	41
Monaghan	61	Mid Tyrone	63
Round 1
South Tyrone	50	Larne	49
Mid Ulster	60	Mid Antrim	40
Monaghan	52	Foyle	35
Donegal	63	East Antrim	50
North Down	51	North Eat	49
Mid Down	58	Meath	40
Northern	56	West Down	45
Armagh	58	Oriel	50
Round 2
Mid Ulster	51	South Tyrone	42
Donegal	58	Monaghan	41
North Down	47	Mid Down	39
Armagh	61	Northern	41
Semi-Finals
Donegal	68	Mid Ulster	52
Armagh	63	North Down	44
Final
Donegal	57	Armagh	29

[Reference: 2]

Report

Donegal won their first ever Irish Indoor Bowling Association Inter-Zone Men’s Boomer Cup in 2020 after a 57-29 victory over Armagh in the Final. They had earlier beaten East Antrim 63-50, Monaghan 58-41 and Mid Ulster 68-52 to reach the Final.

Donegal - Irish Indoor Bowling Association Inter-Zone Boomer Cup Champions 2020 [Reference: 4] — Donegal – Irish Indoor Bowling Association Inter-Zone Boomer Cup Champions 2020 [Reference: 4]

References

Logos

[1] Irish Indoor Bowling Association (2020) Tournaments Inter-Zone Men’s Boomer Cup [Internet] Available from: [Accessed 28 December 2020]

Websites

[2] Irish Indoor Bowling Association (2020) Tournaments Inter-Zone Men’s Boomer Cup [Internet] Available from: https://0cc80fa7-3179-496d-98eb-2a2526e43222.filesusr.com/ugd/024943_ec145d86ce9941d59ef515924c677c4f.pdf [Accessed 28 December 2020]

[3] Irish Indoor Bowling Association (2020) Donegal Claim First Boomer Cup Title [Internet] Available from: https://www.iiba.co.uk/post/donegal-claim-first-boomer-cup-title [Accessed 28 December 2020]

Images

[4] Irish Indoor Bowling Association (2020) Donegal Claim First Boomer Cup Title [Internet] Available from: https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a27d24_f2db17209e5b431785ea7411e4cfc7e6~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_925,h_694,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/a27d24_f2db17209e5b431785ea7411e4cfc7e6~mv2.webp [Accessed 28 December 2020]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Frank Kingston.

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 28 December 2020

December 23, 2020

Irish Basketball Association Women’s Sprite Cup 1997-98

Results

Date	Home Team		Away Team
	Round 1
02.11.1997	Openet Naomh Mhuire	109	Sporting Belfast	41
02.11.1997	Lee Strand Tralee	57	Sligo Dairies	45
02.11.1997	Tolka Rovers	89	Riverisland Castleisland	58
02.11.1997	Snowcream Wildcats	95	Supermacs Limerick	53
	Quarter-Finals
07.12.1997	Blarney	73	Snowcream Wildcats	80
07.12.1997	Lee Strand Tralee	45	Meteors	62
07.12.1997	Openet Naomh Mhuire	58	Killester	50
07.12.1997	New Ross Bullets	31	Tolka Rovers	80
	Semi-Finals
24.01.1998	Openet Naomh Mhuire	64	Tolka Rovers	62 ot
24.01.1998	Snowcream Wildcats	71	Meteors	60
	Final
25.01.1998	Snowcream Wildcats	72	Naomh Mhuire	58

[Reference: 3]

MVP Award: Michelle Maguire (Wildcats).

Report

There were no surprises in the Irish Basketball Association Women’s Sprite Cup 1997-98 when the First Round Tipped-off in the first weekend of November, with Regional Team Sligo Dairies losing by 12 points to struggling Super League Team Lee Strand Tralee, while there were big wins for Openet Naomh Mhuire, Tolka Rovers and Snowcream Wildcats against Sporting Belfast, Riverisland Castleisland and Supermacs Limerick.

Meteors provided a minor shock in the Quater-Finals in the middle of December with a 17-point defeat of Lee Strand Tralee. Elsewhere there were wins for Snowcream Wildcats, Openet Naomh Mhuire and Tolka Rovers against Blarney, Killester and regional team New Ross Bullets respectively.

In the Finals at the National Basketball Arena over the Weekend of 23rd to 25th January 1998, Michelle Maguire was awarded the MVP Award as she scored 24 points in the Final as did Jillian Hayes, as the Wildcats remained unbeaten throughout the season, defeating Naomh Mhuire 72-58. In the Semi-Finals Openet Naomh Mhuire overcame Tolka Rovers in overtime while the Wildcats won by 11 against Meteors.

About Basketball Ireland / Irish Basketball Association Cups

The Irish Basketball Association ran the National Cup for the Top Two Divisions as well as any regional teams that wished to enter in both Men’s and Women’s as well as Junior (Under 19) Cup for both Men and Women. The Cups were Knockout (single elimination) from the First Round. They were replaced by Super League and Division 1 Cups when the Association rebranded as Basketball Ireland in 2003. The Junior (U19) Cups were replaced by Under 20 and Under 18 Cups. Other Cups included the Irish Wheelchair Basketball Cup and introduced in the late 2010s the National Intermediate Cup Competition (Tier 3).

References

Newspapers

[1] Anon. (1997) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, November 3, 1997. Pg. 34

[2] Anon. (1997) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, December 15, 1997. Pg. 32-33.

[3] Anon. (1998) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, January 26, 1998, Pg. 31

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Ann Hanley (Killester).

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 19 December 2020

December 22, 2020

Irish Schools Basketball Association ESB Schoolboys U17 Inter-Regional Championship 1997-98

Finals

Date	Home Team		Away Team
	Cup Final
30.11.1997	Dublin North	63	Dublin South	87

[Reference: 1]

Report

In an All-Dublin Final, Dublin South won against Dublin North in the Irish Schools Basketball Association Under 17 Inter-Regional Championships at the end of November 1997.

About Irish Schools Basketball

Following Reorganisation of Irish Schools Basketball in the early 1990s there were 9 Regions in total accross the whole island. As well as playing Leagues at Grades from Senior (U19) to Cadet/Cadette (U16), Second Year (U15) and First Year (U14), which qualified Schools for the All-Ireland League Playoffs, there was a single-elimination (knockout) Cup played on an All-Ireland basis from Round 1, and Inter-Regional Representative Competitions.

References

Newspapers

[1] Anon. (1997) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, December 1, 1997. Pg. 30

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Evie (Our Lady’s Templeogue).

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 19 December 2020

December 22, 2020

Irish Basketball Association Men’s Sprite Cup 1997-98

Results

Date	Home Team		Away Team
	Round 1
02.11.1997	Denny Notre Dame	97	Kerry Spring Water Kilarney	73
02.11.1997	Amev UCD Marian	83	Star of the Sea	87
02.11.1997	Waterford Crystal	88	Longnecks Ballina	90
02.11.1997	Killester	82	Garvey’s Tigers Tralee	90
02.11.1997	Riverisland Castleisland	90	Marathon Sports St. Vincent’s	91
02.11.1997	Blue Demons	86	St. Galls	64
02.11.1997	Tolka Rovers	84	Dungannon	70
02.11.1997
	Quarter-Finals
14.12.1997	Marathon Sports St. Vincent’s	92	Tolka Rovers	95
14.12.1997	Denny Notre Dame	90	Blue Demons	64
14.12.1997	Neptune	86	Longnecks Ballina	74
14.12.1997	Garvey’s Tigers Tralee	76	Star of the Sea	97
	Semi-Finals
24.01.1998	Neptune Evening Echo	85	Tolka Rovers	78
24.01.1998	Denny Notre Dame	77	Star of the Sea	74
	Final
25.01.1998	Denny Notre Dame	79	Neptune Evening Echo	73

[References: 3]

MVP: Lennie McMilian (Denny Notre Dame).

Men’s Plate

Date	Home Team		Away Team
	Plate Quarter–Finals
02.11.1997	Sligo All-Stars	91	Burger King Lmerick	77
02.11.1997	Oscar Tridents	71	Mid Sutton-Baldoyle	91
	Plate Final
14.12.1997	Kerry Spring Water Killaney	87	Riverisland Castleisland	70

[Reference: 2]

Report

In Round 1 of the Irish Basketball Association Men’s Sprite Cup in 1997-98 there were narrow wins for Super League teams Marathon Sports St. Vincent’s over Riverisland Castleisland and Longnecks Ballina against Waterford Crystal. Regional Cork team Blue Demons had a 22-point win over St. Galls (Divsion 1) and Division 1 team Tolka Rovers shocked high-flying Super League team Dungannon. Garvey’s Tigers Tralee, Denny Notre Dame and Star of the Sea won the three All-Super League ties. The Plate Quarter-Finals saw victories for Sligo All-Stars and Mid Sutton-Baldoyle.

Tolka Rovers, Denny Notre Dame, Neptune and Star of the Sea progressed through to the Semi-Finals when the Quarter-Finals were played in mid-December. Only the Tolka Rovers v Marathon Sports St. Vincent’s tie was close with the visitors winning by 3 points, 95 to 92. In the Plate Final played the same weekend an All -Kerry affair saw Kerry Spring Water Killarney triumph 87-70 against Riverisland Castleisland, with 25 points contributed by S Polownski and 23 by V Daly.

In the Finals Weekend over the 23rd-25th January at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght, Denny Notre Dame triumphed 79-73 against Neptune Evening Echo in the Final, where Lennie McMillian received the MVP Award for his 16 point contribution. In the Semi-Finals Notre Dame had knocked out Star of the Sea in a huge battle between the two top teams all season, and Neptune Evening Echo won by seven over Tolka Rovers.

About Basketball Ireland / Irish Basketball Association Cups

The Irish Basketball Association ran the National Cup for the Top Two Divisions as well as any regional teams that wished to enter in both Men’s and Women’s as well as Junior (Under 19) Cup for both Men and Women as well as a Junior B (U19) Regional Cup for both Men and Women. The Cups were Knockout (single elimination) from the First Round. They were replaced by Super League and Division 1 Cups when the Association rebranded as Basketball Ireland in 2003. The Junior (U19) Cups were replaced by Under 20 and Under 18 Cups. Other Cups included the Irish Wheelchair Basketball Cup and introduced in the late 2010s the National Intermediate Cup Competition (Tier 3).

References

Newspapers

[1] Anon. (1997) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, November 3, 1997. Pg. 34.

[2] Anon. (1997) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, December 15, 1997. Pg. 32-33.

[3] Anon. (1998) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, January 26, 1998, Pg. 31

Acknowledgements

Thanks to John Folan.

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 19 December 2020

December 22, 2020

Irish Basketball Association Men’s Division 1 1997-98

Final Standings

	P	W	L	PF	PA	Pts
Sligo Dairies (C – D1C)	18	14	4			46
Waterford Crystal (D1C)	18	13	5			44
Burger King Limerick (D1C)	18	12	6			42
Tolka Rovers (D1C)	18	10	8			38
Mid Sutton-Baldoyle	18	10	8			38
Riverisland Castleisland	18	8	10			34
Team Oscar Tridents	18	5	13			28
St. Gall’s	18	0	18			18

[Reference: 1]

Division 1 Championship

Date	Home Team		Away Team
	Semi-Finals
14.03.1998	Waterford Crystal	87	Limerick	75
14.03.1998	Sligo Dairies	74	Tolka Rovers	67
	Final
15.03.1998	Waterford Crystal	90	Sligo Dairies	68

[Reference: 2]

Note: Division 1 was merged with the Super League in 1998 and recreated as a second level in 2001. There was no second level at National League level from 1998-2001.

Regular Season Results

W/E	Home Team		Away Team
	Week 1
05.10.1997	St. Galls	71	Sligo Dairies	83
05.10.1997	Burger King Limerick	73	Tolka Rovers	76
05.10.1997	Riverisland Castleisland	98	Team Oscar Tridents	84
05.10.1997	Waterford Crystal	88	Mid Sutton-Baldoyle	75
	Week 2
11.10.1997	Team Oscar Tridents	103	St. Galls	60
11.10.1997	Sligo All Stars	100	Tolka Rovers	75
11.10.1997	Riverisland Castleisland	77	Mid Sutton Baldoyle	83
12.10.1997	Waterford Crystal	w/o	Burger King Limerick	scr #
	Week 3
19.10.1997	Sligo All Stars	103	Riverisland Castleisland	69
19.10.1997	Waterford Crystal	95	Burger King Limerick	87
19.10.1997	Team Oscar Tridents	91	Mid Sutton Baldoyle	78
19.10.1997	Tolka Rovers	101	St. Galls	89
	Week 4
26.10.1997	Riverisland Castleisland	97	Tolka Rovers	93
26.10.1997	Team Oscar Tridents	82	Sligo Dairies	104
26.10.1997	Mid Sutton Baldoyle	91	Waterford Crystal	70
26.10.1997	Burger King Limerick	102	St. Galls	75
	Week 5
09.11.1997	Team Oscar Tridents	86	Waterford Crystal	107
09.11.1997	Tolka Rovers	85	Sligo Dairies	102
09.11.1997	Burger King Limerick	94	Mid Sutton Baldoyle	82
09.11.1997	St. Galls	66	Riverisland Castleisland	85
	Week 6
16.11.1997	Sligo Dairies	74	Waterford Crystal	72
16.11.1997	Mid Sutton-Baldoyle	82	Team Oscar Tridents	67
16.11.1997	Riverisland Castleisland	75	Burger KIng Limerick	81
16.11.1997	Tolka Rovers	118	St. Galls	59
	Week 7
23.11.1997	Team Sligo Dairies	88	Mid Sutton-Baldoyle	84
23.11.1997	Burger King Limerick	65	Oscar Tridents	72
23.11.1997	St. Galls	60	Riverisland Castleisland	71
23.11.1997	Waterford Crystal	112	Tolka Rovers	106 ot
	Week 8
30.11.1997	Team Oscar Tridents	89	Team Sligo Dairies	97
30.11.1997	Waterford Crystal	95	St. Galls	75
30.11.1997	Burger King Limerick	81	Riverisland Castleisland	72
30.11.1997	Tolka Rovers	83	Mid Sutton-Baldoyle	84
	Week 9
07.12.1997	Sligo Dairies	74	Burger King Limerick	90
07.12.1997	Riverisland Castleisland	122	Waterford Crystal	113 ot
07.12.1997	St. Galls	81	Mid Sutton-Baldoyle	82
07.12.1997	Tolka Rovers	87	Oscar Tridents	73
	Week 10
21.12.1997	St. Galls	85	Team Oscar Tridents	107
21.12.1997	Waterford Crystal	66	Burger King Limerick	71
21.12.1997	Mid Sutton-Baldoyle	93	Riverisland Castleisland	79
21.12.1997	Tolka Rovers	98	Sligo Dairies	111
	Week 11
04.01.1998	Tolka Rovers	85	Burger King Limerick	103
04.01.1998	Sligo Dairies	122	St. Galls	74
04.01.1998	Mid Sutton-Baldoyle	72	Waterford Crystal	75
04.01.1998	Oscar Tridents	64	Riverisland Castleisland	100
	Week 12
11.01.1998	Riverisland Castleisland	89	Sligo Dairies	101
11.01.1998	Burger King Limerick	74	Waterford Crystal	82
11.01.1998	Mid Sutton-Baldoyle	102	Oscar Tridents	87
11.01.1998	St. Galls	71	Tolka Rovers	117
	Week 13
18.01.1998	Sligo Dairies	83	Team Oscar Tridents	85
18.01.1998	Waterford Crystal	104	Mid Sutton-Baldoyle	84
18.01.1998	Tolka Rovers	102	Riverisland Castleisland	95
18.01.1998	St. Galls	71	Burgerland Limerick	98
	Week 14
01.02.1997	Sligo Dairies	85	Tolka Rovers	81
01.02.1997	Waterford Crystal	106	Oscar Tridents	87
01.02.1997	Riverisland Castleisland	129	St. Galls	81
01.02.1997	Mid Sutton-Baldoyle	67	Burger King Limerick	51
	Week 15
08.02.1998	St. Galls	74	Tolka Rovers	115
08.02.1998	Oscar Tridents	51	Mid Sutton-Baldoyle	81
08.02.1998	Waterford Crystal	91	Team Sligo Dairies	85
08.02.1998	Burger King Limerick	112	Riverisland Castleisland	89
	Week 16
15.02.1998	Mid Sutton-Baldoyle	106	Sligo Dairies	87
15.02.1998	Tolka Rovers	109	Waterford Crystal	78
15.02.1998	Team Oscar Tridents	99	Burger King Limerick	110
15.02.1998	Riverisland Castleisland	112	St. Galls	71
	Week 17
22.02.1998	Team Sligo Dairies	111	Team Oscar Tridents	85
22.02.1998	Riverisland Castleisland	80	Burger King Limerick	89
22.02.1998	St. Galls	62	Waterford Crystal	127
22.02.1998	Mid Sutton-Baldoyle	88	Tolka Rovers	92
	Week 18
22.02.1998	Burger King Limerick	61	Sligo Dairies	98
22.02.1998	Waterford Cyrstal	67	Riverisland Castleisland	61
22.02.1998	Mid Sutton-Baldoyle	121	St. Galls	82
22.02.1998	Team Oscar Tridents	76	Tolka Rovers	79

[References: 3-27]

Report

Sligo All Stars (aka Sligo Dairies for sponsorship reasons) were out in front of the Irish Basketball Association Budweiser Men’s Division 1 at the end of October with four wins from four games. Waterford Crystal were hot on their heels with three wins and one loss.

A month later at the end of November, Team Sligo Dairies were still undefeated with 8 wins, two ahead of nearest challengers Waterford Crystal, with three teams on 4 wins: Riverisland Castleisland, MSB (Mid Sutton-Baldoyle) and Burger King Limerick.

Sligo Dairies dropped their first game of the season in Week 9 to Burger KIng Limerick who won by a surprising 16 points as they moved into a three-way tie for second on 6 wins with Waterford Crystal and MSB, three behinf Sligo Dairies by the end of 1997. Three other teams were still n contention for the playoffs with Riverisland Castleisland on five wins, and Tolka Rovers and Team Oscar Tridents on four each. Only St. Galls of Belfast out of the running with ten straight defeats.

By the last weekend of league action in January 1998, Sligo Dairies were still on top although had just lost their second game of the season to Oscar Tridents, who were second last. Waterford Crystal remained in contention with three wins in January, leaving them on 9-4. Burger King Limerick (8-5) and MSB (7-6) were the other two playoff placed teams.

At the end of the season, Sligo Dairies had held on to win the League with 14 wins from 18 games, one win ahead of Waterford Crystal and two ahead of Burger King Limerick. Tolka Rovers sneaked into the Division 1 Championship ahead of Mid Sutton-Baldoyle after both finished on 10-8. Riverisland Castleisland (8-10), Oscar Tridents (5-13) and St. Galls (0-18) took the bottom three spots.

In the Division 1 Championship Waterford Crystal overcame Sligo Dairies 90-68 in the Final, after they had knocked out Burger King Limerick and Tolka Rovers respectively in the Semi-Finals. All four were promoted to the Super League for 1998-99.

About the Basketball National Leagues

The Men’s Division 1 was the 2nd Level of the IBA National Basketball League from 1993-2003. There was automatic Promotion and Relegation to and from the Super League.

The Second Level was merged with the Super League after the 1997-98 season and re-established in 2001. Ballina won the Playoff Final in 2001-02, and completed the double in 2002-03.

References

Newspapers

[1] Anon. (1998) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 2, 1998. pp. 20-21.

[2] Anon. (1998) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 16, 1998. pp. 34-35

[3] Anon. (1997) “Factfile: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, October 6, 1997. Pg. 30

[4] Anon. (1997) “Factfile: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, October 13, 1997. Pg. 34

[5] Anon. (1997) “Ballina want McClean on the Plane from Spain” Irish Independent. Friday, October 17, 1997. Pg. 18

[6] Anon. (1997) “Factfile: Basketball” Irish Independent. Saturday, October 18, 1997. Pg. 22

[7] Anon. (1997) “Factfile: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, October 20, 1997. Pg. 32

[8] Anon. (1997) “McClean helps to sink Neptune” Irish Independent. Monday, October 20, 1997. Pg. 32

[9] Anon. (1997) “Factfile: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, October 27, 1997. Pg. 34

[10] Anon. (1997) “Factfile: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, November 10, 1997. Pg. 34.

[11] Anon. (1997) “Factfile: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, November 17, 1997. Pg. 34.

[12] Anon. (1997) “Factfile: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, November 24, 1997. Pg. 30.

[13] Anon. (1997) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, December 1, 1997. Pg. 30

[14] Anon. (1997) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, December8, 1997, Pg. 33

[15] Anon. (1997) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, December 22, 1997, Pg. 40

[16] Anon. (1998) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, January 5, 1998, Pg. 23

[17] Anon. (1998) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, January 12, 1998, Pg. 31

[18] Anon. (1998) “Neptune looking up as Augusto points the way” Irish Independent. Monday, January 19, 1998, Pg. 30

[19] Anon. (1998) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, January 26, 1998, Pg. 31

[20] Anon. (1998) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, February 2, 1998, Pg. 20

[21] Anon. (1998) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, February 9, 1998, Pg. 26

[22] Anon. (1998) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, February 16, 1998, Pg. 32

[23] Anon. (1998) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, February 23, 1998, Pg. 28

[24] Anon. (1998) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, March 2, 1998, Pg. 20

[3] Anon. (1997) “Sports Round Up” Irish Times. Monday, November 24, 1997. pg. 28 [Internet] Available online at: https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1997/1124/Pg028.html#Ar02800 [Accessed 19 December 2020]

[4] Anon. (1997) “Sports Round Up” Irish Times. Monday, December 1, 1997. pg. 30 [Internet] Available from: https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1997/1201/Pg030.html#Ar03000 [Accessed 19 December 2020]

Websites

[1] Basketball Ireland (2018) History [Internet] Available from: http://www.basketballireland.ie/history/ [Accessed 26 May 2018]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to John Folan.

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 19 December 2020

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Resereved.

December 21, 2020

Irish Schools Basketball Association U15 Boys Inter-Regional Championship 1997-98

Finals

Date	Home Team		Away Team
	Plate Final
30.11.1997	South West	43	North West	24
	Cup Final
30.11.1997	South	41	Dublin North	36

[Reference: 1]

Report

South won the Irish Basketball Association Schoolboys Under 15 Inter-Regional Championships in 1997, triumphing 41-36 against Dublin North in the Cup Final. The Plate Final was won by South West who defeated North West.

About Irish Schools Basketball

References

Newspapers

[1] Anon. (1997) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, December 1, 1997. Pg. 30

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Evie (Our Lady’s Templeogue).

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 19 December 2020

December 21, 2020

Irish Basketball Association Sprite U19 Junior Women’s National Cup 1997-98

Finals

Date	Home Team		Away Team
	Semi-Finals
24.01.1998	SHS Tullamore Cyclones	87	Naomh Mhuire	72
24.01.1998	Castlebar Mother Hubbard Rockets	60	Blarney	48
	Final
25.01.1998	SHS Tullamore Cyclones	82	Castlebar Mother Hubbard Rockets	64

[Reference: 2]

MVP: Susan Moran (Tullamore).

Pool Results

Date	Home Team		Away Team
	Pool 1 Final
23.11.1997	SHS Tullamore	67	Supermacs Limerick	42
	Pool 2 Final
23.11.1997	Blarney	57	Killester	43
	Pool 3 Final
23.11.1997	Naomh Mhuire	63	Portlaoise	49
	Pool 4 Final
23.11.1997	Rockets Castlebar	48	Meteors Dublin	44

[Reference: 2]

Report

Susan Moran deservedly won the MVP Award in the Irish Basketball Association Women’s Junior U19 Cup in 1997-98, scoring a phenomenal 53 points in the Final for SHS Tullamore Cyclones as they defeated Castlebar Mother Hubbard Rockets 82-64 in an all-regional Final at the National Basketball Arena. The Finals were preceeeded a Preliminary Round with Four Pools, the winners of which met in the Semi-Finals: SHS Tullamore Cyclones (67-42 v Supermacs Limerick), Blarney (57-43 v Killester), Naomh Mhuire(63-49 v Portlaoise) and Castlebar Rockets (48-44 v Meteors). In the Semi-Finals at the NBA Tullamore knocked out Naomh Mhuire and Castlebar Rockets defeated Blarney.

About Basketball Ireland / Irish Basketball Association Cups

References

Newspapers

[1] Anon. (1997) “Factfile: Basketball” Irish Independent. Sunday, November 16, 1997. Pg. 60.

[2] Cliona Foley (1997) “Garvey’s Grizzled by Sizzling Denny” Irish Independent. Monday, November 24, 1997. Pg. 30.

[3] Anon. (1998) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, January 26, 1998, Pg. 31

[4] Anon. (1997) “Sports Round Up” Irish Times. Monday, November 24, 1997. pg. 28 [Internet] Available online at: https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1997/1124/Pg028.html#Ar02800 [Accessed 19 December 2020]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Ann Hanley, Killester and Ireland National Team.

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 19 December 2020

December 21, 2020

Irish Basketball Association Women’s Super League 1997-98

Final Table

	P	W	L	PF	PA	Pts
Avonmore Snowcream Wildcats (C – NC)	16	16	0			48
Openet Naomh Mhuire (NC)	16	13	3			42
Tolka Rovers (NC)	16	12	4			40
Meteors (NC)	16	10	6			36
Blarney Spring	16	8	8			32
Killester	16	7	9			30
Supermacs Limerick	16	5	11			26
Riverisland Castleisland	16	1	15			18
Lee Strand Tralee	16	1	15			18

[Reference: 1]

Top Four Playoffs

Date	Home Team		Away Team
	Semi-Finals
	Snowcream Wildcats	65	Meteors	43
	Tolka Rovers	64	Naomh Mhuire	61 ot
	Final
	Snowcream Wildcats	82	Tolka Rovers	68

[Reference: 2]

Regular Season Results

Date	Home Team		Away Team
	Week 1
05.10.1997	Snowcream Wildcats	75	Killester	51
05.10.1997	Lee Strand Tralee	51	Blarney	64
05.10.1997	Meteors	75	Limerick	40
05.10.1997	Riverisland Castleisland	72	Tolka Rovers	94
	Week 2
12.10.1997	Lee Strand Tralee	50	Riverisland Castleisland	58
12.10.1997	Killester	51	Meteors	72
12.10.1997	Snowcream Wildcats	72	Openet Naomh Mhuire	64
12.10.1997	Limerick	62	Tolka Rovers	64
	Week 3
19.19.1997	Meteors	48	Snowcream Wildcats	52
19.10.1997	Openet Naomh Mhuire	104	Lee Strand Tralee	58
19.10.1997	Riverisland Castleisland	49	Limerick	70
19.10.1997	Tolka Rovers	83	Blarney	45
	Week 4
26.10.1997	Supermacs Limerick	49	Killester	46
26.10.1997	Meteors	66	Blarney	45
26.10.1997	Openet Naomh Mhuire	79	Riverisland Castleisland	62
26.10.1997	Tolka Rovers	72	Snowcream Wildcats	78
	Week 5
09.11.1997	Lee Strand Tralee	39	Meteors	72
09.11.1997	Snowcream Wildcats	107	Supermacs Limerick	34
09.11.1997	Riverisland Castleisland	42	Killester	70
09.11.1997	Blarney	53	Openet Naomh Mhuire	98
	Week 6
16.11.1997	Riverisland Castleisland	67	Blarney	91
16.11.1997	Killester	56	Tolka Rovers	77
16.11.1997	Snowcream Wildcats	106	Lee Strand Tralee	42
16.11.1997	Supermacs Limerick	47	Openet Naomh Mhuire	68
	Week 7
23.11.1997	Tolka Rovers	70	Meteors	69
23.11.1997	Blarney	60	Snowcream Wildcats	105
23.11.1997	Killester	47	Openet Naomh Mhuire	74
23.11.1997	Supermacs Limerick	83	Lee Strand Tralee	50
	Week 8
30.11.1997	Meteors	56	Openet Naomh Mhuire	62
30.11.1997	Lee Strand Tralee	56	Tolka Rovers	89
30.11.1997	Killester	58	Blarney	56
30.11.1997	Riverisland Castleisland	67	Snowcream Wildcats	146
	Week 9
07.12.1997	Lee Strand Tralee	58	Killester	79
07.12.1997	Supermacs Limerick	69	Blarney	74
07.12.1997	Meteors	97	Riverisland Castleisland	57
07.12.1997	Tolka Rovers	70	Openet Naomh Mhuire	73
	Week 10
21.12.1997	Tolka Rovers	107	Riverisland Castleisland	53
21.12.1997	Killester	53	Snowcream Wildcats	90
21.12.1997	Supermacs Limerick	97	Meteors	84
21.12.1997	Blarney	59	Lee Strand Tralee	44
	Week 11
04.01.1998	Meteors	73	Killester	38
04.01.1998	Openet Naomh Mhuire	56	Snowcream Wildcats	67
04.01.1998	Riverisland Castleisland	63	Lee Strand Tralee	67
04.01.1998	Tolka Rovers	86	Supermacs Limerick	58
	Week 12
11.01.1998	Blarney	68	Tolka Rovers	57
11.01.1998	Lee Strand Tralee	52	Openet Naomh Mhuire	76
11.01.1998	Snowcream Wildcats	83	Meteors	61
11.01.1998	Supermacs Limerick	90	Riverisland Castleisland	64
	Week 13
18.01.1998	Snowcream Wildcats	83	Tolka Rovers	58
18.01.1998	Killester	77	Supermacs Limerick	63
18.01.1998	Riverisland Castleisland	61	Openet Naomh Mhuire	119
18.01.1998	Blarney	54	Meteors	56
	Week 14
01.02.1998	Openet Naomh Mhuire	91	Supermacs Limerick	59
01.02.1998	Lee Strand Tralee	40	Snowcream Wildcats	84
01.02.1998	Tolka Rovers	66	Killester	60
01.02.1999	Blarney	97	Riverisland Castleisland	50
	Week 15
08.02.1998	Supermacs Limerick	53	Snowcream Wildcats	83
08.02.1998	Meteors	80	Lee Strand Tralee	41
08.02.1998	Killester	61	Riverisland Castleisland	39
08.02.1998	Openet Naomh Mhuire	63	Blarney	53
	Week 16
15.02.1998	Openet Naomh Mhuire	66	Killester	35
15.02.1998	Meteors	55	Tolka Rovers	81
15.02.1998	Snowcream Wildcats	81	Blarney	62
15.02.1998	Lee Strand Tralee	50	Supermacs Limerick	57
	Week 17
22.02.1998	Openet Naomh Mhuire	57	Tolka Rovers	59
22.02.1998	Killester	94	Lee Strand Tralee	56
22.02.1998	Riverisland Castleisland	51	Meteors	81
22.02.1998	Blarney	94	Supermacs Limerick	52
	Week 18
01.03.1998	Openet Naomh Mhuire	52	Meteors	62
01.03.1998	Snowcream Wildcats	123	Riverisland Castleisland	26
01.03.1998	Tolka Rovers	95	Lee Strand Tralee	46
01.03.1998	Blarney Spring	57	Killester	71

[References: 3-27]

Report

Wildcats of Waterford won the first Super League title in 1997-98 defeating Tolka Rovers 82-68 in the Final.

Snowcream Wildcats from Waterford were on top of the Irish Basketball Association Women’s Super League at the end of October 1997, with four wins from four games. Tolka Rovers and Meteors were both a game behind on three wins and one loss, although Opent Naomh Mhuire from Inchicore in Dublin had a game in hand with two wins from three. What made Wildcats position even more outstanding was three of those wins came agianst their three nearest challengers, for all of whom it was their only loss.

By the end of November, Snowcream Wildcats were still undefeated, with maximum points from 8 games, their eighth game being a 146-67 demolition of Riverisland Castleisland, Jillian Hayes contributing 30 points in the game. Tolka Rovers and Openet Naomh Mhuire could not be counted out however with 6 wins from 7 games each in second place. Meteors were a bit further back in fourth with 4 wins from seven games.

At the years end Snowcream Wildcats were still undefeated with 9 wins, two ahead of Tolka Rovers and Naomh Mhuire, with Naomh Mhuire having a game in hand. Tolka Rovers narrow three-point loss at home to the women from Inchicore in Week 9 damahing their title hopes. Meteors were still hanging in there in fourth with 6 wins.

By the last weekend of league action in January before the Cup Finals Weekend, Snowcream Wildcats had kept their unbeaten record, stretching it to 12 wins. Openet Naomh Mhuire occupied second on 9 wins, with Tolka Rovers and Meteors tied in third on eight wins each.

At the end of the season at the End of February / Beginning of March, Snowcream Wildcats finished off their League campaign with an astonishing 123 to 26 victory over Riverisland Castleisland, to top the table with a perfect 16 wins from 16, three wins ahead of Openet Naomh Mhuire in second, with Tolka Rovers in third on 12-6 and Meteors finishing off the season in fourth with 10-6, sneaking into the playoffs ahead of Blarney Spring with a win over Opent Naomh Mhuire on the last day as Blarney lost to Killester.

The National Championship in the National Basketball Arena on the 14th to 15th March saw Snowcream Wildcats win all three major Competitions with an 82-68 triumph over Tolka Rovers in the Final after a 65-43 defeat of Meteors in the Semi-Finals. The other Semi-Final was a 64-61 win for Tolka Rovers in overtime versus Opent Naomh Mhuire.

The following year the Super League dropped to five teams as Naomh Mhuire lost their sponsor and Riverisland Castleisland and Lee Strand Tralee, who had struggled all season dropped out. The loss of Blarney was another big blow to the league.

About the National Basketball Leagues

The Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland was founded in 1947 and set up the first National League for men in 1971. In 1979 the League brought in professional players from America and the ABAI became the Irish Basketball Association and also started up the first Women’s League with a 1st and 2nd Division.

In 1997 the two Divisions were merged into one Women’s Super League, with a Regional League bbelow this, which in 2003 reverted back to two Divisions – Super League and Division 1 – with another rebranding of the Association to Basketball Ireland.

References

Newspapers

[1] (1998) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 2, 1998. pp. 20-21.

[2] (1998) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 16, 1998. pp. 34-35.