Finals 1952-1973

Year	Winners		Runners-Up
1952	Dublin	38	Roscommon	36
1953	Dublin
1954	Dublin
1955	Roscommon
1956	Cork
1957	Kerry	34	Antrim	31
1958	Antrim	49	Roscommon	34
1959	Kilkenny
1960	Antrim
1961	Roscommon	52	Antrim	48
1962	Antrim
1963	Antrim	67	Kerry	53
1964	Antrim		Dublin
1965	Antrim		Dublin
1966	Dublin	68	Antrim	45
1967	Dublin
1968	Cork		Antrim
1969	Kerry
1970	Kerry
1971	Cork	61	Dublin	57
1972	Dublin	77	Kerry	55
1973	Sligo	64	Kerry	59

Report

The Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland was formed in 1945. Prior to this Basketball had only been played in the Army as they were the only places where there were gyms. The first Leagues were played in Dublin in 1945 and by the 1950s there were All-Ireland Championships organised on a County basis much like the GAA.

The All-Ireland Senior Championship was a single-elimination tournament, played out on a Provincial basis with the four Provincial winners meeting in the All-Ireland Semi-Finals.

Antrim (6 Wins), Dublin (4 Wins), Kerry & Cork (3 Wins Apiece) and Roscommon (2 Wins) were the most successful counties. Only Kilkenny in 1959 were to break the stranglehold of these five counties, prior to Sligo’s win over Kerry in the last ever All-Ireland County Championships in 1973.

In 1973, a National Basketball League based on clubs was organised and this brought an end to the era of All-Ireland County Championships.

References

Sources

[1] Anon. (1952) “Basketball” Irish Press. Wednesday, December 31, 1950. pg. 8

[2] Anon (1953) “Basketball” Irish Independent Thursday, December 31, 1953. pg. 9

[3] Anon (1954) “Basketball” Irish Independent Friday, December 31, 1954. pg. 6-7

[4] Anon (1955) “Basketball” Irish Independent Saturday, December 31, 1955. pg. 10-11

[5] Anon (1956) “Basketball” Irish Independent Monday, December 31, 1956. pg. 10-11

[6] Anon (1957) “Basketball” Irish Independent Tuesday, December 31, 1957. pg. 10

[7] Anon (1958) “Basketball” Irish Independent Wednesday, December 31, 1958. pg. 10

[8] Anon (1959) “Basketball” Irish Independent Thursday, December 31, 1959. pg. 12

[9] Anon (1960) “Basketball” Irish Independent Saturday, December 31, 1960. pg. 14-15

[10] Anon (1961) “Senior Title for Roscommon” Irish Independent Wednesday, May 3, 1961. pg. 20-21

[12] Anon (1963) “Kerry Foiled Of Making History” Irish Independent Monday, April 22, 1963. pg. 8-9

[13] Anon (1964) “Basketball” Irish Independent Wednesday, December 30, 1964. pg. 12-13

[15] O’Connor, Tony (1966) “Basketball” Irish Press Friday, April 15, 1966. pg.

[16] Anon (1967) “Basketball” Irish Independent Saturday, December 30, 1967. pg. 14-15

[16] ‘Rebounder’ (1968) “Basketball: At Last Victory for Cork in All-Ireland Senior, Junior Finals” Evening Echo, Tuesday, December 17, 1968. pg.

[17] Anon (1968) “Basketball” Irish Independent Tuesday, December 31, 1968. pg. 12-13

[18] Anon (1969) “Basketball” Irish Independent Wednesday, December 31, 1969. pg. 12

[19] Anon (1970) “Basketball” Irish Independent Thursday, December 31, 1970. pg. 12-13

[20] Anon (1971) “Basketball” Irish Independent Friday, December 31, 1971. pg. 14-15

[21] Anon. (1971) Cork capture All-Ireland While Na Mistealaigh Take Lota Tournament” Evening Echo. Tuesday, April 20, 1971. pg. 12.

[22] Anon (1972) “Basketball” Evening Press Monday, March 13, 1972. pg. 15

[23] A Special Correspondent (1073) “Sligo win the big one: First All-Ireland Title” Sligo Champion, Friday, March 16, 1973. pg. 14.

Social Media

[24] Irish Basketball Memories of the 1980s and 1990s Facebook Page (2020) Junior Ryan: Answer to Post by Enda Mulcahy, 28 February 2020 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1060954243928054/permalink/2942221669134626/ [Accessed 28 February 2020]

[25] Irish Basketball Memories of the 1980s & 1990s Facebook Page (2020) Rob Gihbu, Reply to Post by Enda Mulcahy, 29 February 2020 [Internet] Available from: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/s851x315/89035704_10213399588744251_1758018135312564224_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_sid=dbeb18&_nc_ohc=c8NN_DnWk5kAX8GVo-G&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&_nc_tp=7&oh=9f7edd9b8d198cb58e31ae3431837cc5&oe=5EBF47E0 [Accessed 29 February 2020]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Rob Gihbu [Reference: 25] & Junior Ryan (Cork 1971) [Reference: 24].

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish, British, North American, and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 29 February 2020

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2020.

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