Basketball Ireland Men’s National League Top Four / Champions Trophy Finals 1977-Present

Top Four / Champions Trophy Finals 1977-Present

YearWinnersRunners-Up
ABAI MNL D1Top Four Finals
1977-78Marian64St Vincent’s Dublin57
1978-79Blue Demons89Marian87
IBBA MNL D1Top Four Finals
1979-80St. Vincent’s Killarney104Blue Demons73
1980-81Blue Demons77St. Vincent’s Killarney74
1981-82Gleneagle Killarney100Team Britvic Blue Demons97 ot
1982-83St. Vincent’s Dublin83Sporting Belfast78
1983-84St. Vincent’s Dublin104Gleneagle Killarney76
1984-85Team Britvic Blue Demons77Burgerland Neptune74
1985-86Jameson St. Vincent’s89Premier Milk Killester81
1986-87Burgerland Neptune95Premier Milk Toppers Killester84
1987-88Dawn Milk Blue Demons89Burgerland Neptune88
1988-89Burgerland Neptune95Harp Ballina82
1989-90St. Vincent’s Dublin81 +Harp Ballina81
1990-91Burgerland Neptune92North Monastery 96ers91
Budweiser League PlayoffsIBA MNL Budweiser League
1991-92Connacht Gold Ballina91Jameson St. Vincent’s78
1992-93North Monastery 96ers79Jameson St. Vincent’s62
National ChampionshipIBA MNL Super League
1993-94Jameson St. Vincent’s82Garvey’s Tigers Tralee75
1994-95Marathon Sports St. Vincent’s103Delta Notre Dame88
1995-96Star of the Sea106Marathon Sports St. Vincent’s83
1996-97Star of the Sea90Neptune Camlec85
1997-98Star of the Sea92Denny Notre Dame74
1998-99Marathon Sports St. Vincent’s86Killester78
1999-2000Denny Notre Dame93St. Vincent’s Dublin74
2000-01 ^Season Not Completed
2001-02Frosties Tigers Tralee78DART Killester69
2002-03ITP Saints115Notre Dame84
Super League FinalBI MNL Super League
2003-04Tralee Tigers69DART Killester54
2004-05UCC Demons91Tralee Tigers81
2005-06Roma St. Vincent’s104Limerick Lions74
2006-07DART Killester95Merry Monk Ballina90
2007-08Abrekebabra Tigers Tralee66DART Killester62
2008-09UCC Demons81DART Killester76
2009-10DART Killester74UL Eagles64
2010-11DART Killester84Bord Gais Neptune80
2011-12UL Eagles70DCU Saints56
2012-13UCC Demons73DCU Saints62
Champions Trophy FinalsBI MNL Premier League
2013-14UCC Demons79Killester70
2014-15UCC Demons85Templeogue73
2015-16UCC Demons82Pyrobel Killester77
Champions TrophyBI MNL Super League
2016-17Garvey’s Tralee Warriors74Templeogue BC73 ot
2017-18Garvey’s Tralee Warriors73Black Amber Templeogue61
2018-19Templeogue BC77Belfast Star62
2019-20 &Season Not Completed
IBBA Men’s National League D1 Top Four Finals / BI MNL Super League Champions Trophy Finals 1977-Present [Ref: 1-61]

Note: + Title Awarded to Jameson St. Vincent’s. Harp Ballina refused to play overtime due to a controversial refereeing decision.

Note 2: ^ League abandoned 7 March 2001 due to outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease and Killester declared champions 29 March 2001

Note 3: & League abandoned in March 2020 due to COVID-19 Cornavirus Pandemic and Belfast Star declared winners 14 March 2020

Composite Standings 1977-Present

TeamPWL
UCC Demons / Blue Demons (Team Britvic)1192
DCU Saints / St. Vincent’s Dublin (Jameson, Marathon Sports, ITP)1697
Belfast Star / Star of the Sea431
Tralee Tigers (Abrekebabra / Garvey’s)532
Neptune (Burgerland / Camlec)734
Killester (Premier Miilk Toppers, DART)1239
Tralee Warriors (Garvey’s)220
St. Vincent’s Killarney (Gleneagle)422
UCD Marian / Marian211
North Monastery 96ers211
UL Eagles211
Notre Dame (Delta, Denny)312
Ballina Braves (Harp, Connacht Gold, Merry Monk)413
Griffith College Dublin Templeogue BC (Black Amber)413
Limerick Lions101
Sporting Belfast101
IBA Top four Finals / BI Champions Trophy Finals Composite Standings 1977-Present [Ref: Compiled from 1-61]

Report

The Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland instituted the Top Four Playoffs in 1977-78. Marian and Blue Demons were the first two winners. In 1979-80 the name of the organization was changed to the Irish Basketball Association (IBBA) to reflect the new paid imports from America. Between then an 1991 St. Vincent’s (Gleneagle) Killarney won it twice, St. Vincent’s (Jameson) Dublin four times, Blue Demons (Team Britvic) from Cork three times, and Neptune (Burgerland), also from Cork, three times.

In 1991-92 the two Men’s Divisions were merged into one Budweiser National League, won by Ballina (Connacht Gold) from Co. Mayo in 1991-92 and North Monastery 96ers, from Cork in 1992-93. The League was again split into two divisions in 1993-94 with the top division renamed the Men’s Super League.

From 1993-94 to 2002-03 the National Championship was won on four occasions by St. Vincent’s Dublin (Saints), Star of the Sea (Belfast) on three occasions and Notre Dame (Tallaght) and Tralee Tigers on one occasion each.

The Association rebranded as Basketball Ireland in 2003 and the two Conference (North and South) system was re-introduced (as in 1991 to 1993). The Super League Playoff Final was won three times between then and 2013 by both UCC Demons (Blue Demons merged with UCC) and DART Killester. Tralee Tigers won it twice and St. Vincent’s Dublin and UL eagles once.

In 2013-14 the Super League was renamed the Premier League for three seasons before reverting to the Super League name, and the National Championship renamed the Champions Trophy. It was won on three occasions by UCC Demons, twice by Garvey’s Tralee Warriors and once by Templeogue BC between 2013-14 and the present.

Connacht Gold Ballina – IBA Men’s National League Budweiser League champions 1991-92 [Ref: 62]

References

Sources / Newspapers

[1] A Special Correspondent (1978) “Weekend Results Round-Up: Basketball “ The Irish Times Monday, March 13, 1978. pg. [Internet] Available from: https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1978/0313/Pg003.html#Ar00300:05DC360C1C4D [Accessed 1 January 2020]

[2] A Special Correspondent (1979) “Basketball : Celtic now have tough relegation battle” The Irish Times Wednesday, March 14, 1979. pg. [Internet] Available from: https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1979/0314/Pg018.html#Ar01805:49C6C74AC6E84AB6CA4C26E74C16C74CF6E84CF6CA50C6E7 [Accessed 1 January 2020]

Bibliography

[3] Shannon, Kieran (2009) “Hanging from the Rafters: The story of Neptune and the Golden Age of Irish Basketball” Appendix Section 1: The Irish Men’s Game: The Complete Records: National League Tables and Top Four semi-finals and Finals. Pp. 516-527.

Magazine Articles

[4] (1984) “National League 1983-84”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. October 1984.

[5] (1985) “Final Standings”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. Autumn 1985.

[6] (1986) “National League Standings 1985-86”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. 1985-86 Season.

[7] (1987) “National League 1986-87”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. 1986-87 Season.

[8] (1989) “National League 1988-89 Final Standings”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. Number 12. 1988-89 Season. pg. 28

[9] (1990) “National League 1989-90 Final Standings”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. Number 15. March 1990 pp. 18

[10] (1991) “National League Tables 1990/91”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. Number 18. May 1991 pp. 14

Newspapers

[11] (1983) “Scene is set for top-four showdown”. Irish Press. Monday, March 16, 1983.

[12] (1988) “Dawn Milk leave it to last seconds”. Irish Press. Monday, March 21, 1988. pp. 12-13.

[13] (1989) “Neptune find right formula”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 20, 1989. pp. 14-15.

[14] (1990) “Ballina overtime ban hands it to Vincents”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 19, 1990. pp. 12-13.

[15] (1991) “Last gasp Neptune!”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 25, 1991. pp. 22-23.

[16] (1983) “Vincent’s, North Mon on top”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 21, 1983. pp. 14-15.

[17] (1984) “Top two titles stay in Dublin”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 19, 1984. pp. 16-17.

[18] (1985) “Formula finally right”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 18, 1985. pp. 16-17.

[19] (1986) “Dubliners basket top four honours”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 17, 1986. pp. 12-13.

[20] Anon. (1981) “Pride for the Blues | Div. One (Men)”. Irish Independent. Wednesday, March 25, 1981. pg. 13.

[21] (1992) “League title goes West”. Irish Examiner. Monday, April 13, 1992. pp. 12-13.

[22] Anon. (1993) “For the Record | Basketball”Sunday Independent, April 4, 1993. pg. 52

[23] (1994) “Rose Breen Orchestrates Victory”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 14, 1994. pp. 20-21.

[24] (1994) “Basketball”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 18, 1994. pp. 18-19.

[25] Anon. (1995) “Neptune squeeze through” Irish Examiner. Saturday, March 25, 1995 [Pg. 33 Irish Newspaper Archive]

[26] Anon. (1995) Kerry spring surprise” Sundat Independent. March 26, 1995. [Pg. 49 Irish Newspaper Archive]

Magazine Articles

[27] (1996) “Tralee Tops in Budweiser Superleague Marian: Back in big-time after unbeaten campaign”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. Number 33. April 1996. pg. 27

Newspapers

[28] (1997) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 17, 1997. pp. 26-27.

[29] (1998) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 2, 1998. pp. 20-21.

[30] (1998) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 16, 1998. pp. 34-35.

[31] (1999) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 29, 1999, pp. 40-41.

[32] (2000) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 20, 2000. pp. 38-39.

[33] (2001) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, February 26, 2001. pp. 28-29.

[34] (2002) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 25, 2002. pp. 74-75.

[35] (2003) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 24, 2003. pp. 34-35.

[36] (2004) “Basketball”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 15, 2004. pp. 26-27.

[37] (2005) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 21, 2005. pp. 36-37.

[38] (2005) “Basketball”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 14, 2005. pp. 28-29.

[39] (2007) “Basketball”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 26, 2007. pp. 30-31.

[40] (2008) “Basketball”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 31, 2008. pp. 26-27.

[41] (2009) “Basketball”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 30, 2009. pp. 28-29.

[42] (2010) “Basketball”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 8, 2010. pp. 30-31.

[43] (2011) “Basketball”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 7, 2011. pp. 24-25.

Websites

[44] Eurobasket (2014) Basketball Ireland Super League 2004-05 [Internet] Available from: www.eurobasket.com/Ireland/basketball-Super-League_2004-05.asp [Accessed 22 September 2016]

[45] Eurobasket (2014) Basketball Ireland Super League 2005-06 [Internet] Available from: www.eurobasket.com/Ireland/basketball-Super-League_2005-06.asp [Accessed 22 September 2016]

[46] Eurobasket (2014) Basketball Ireland Super League 2006-07 [Internet] Available from: www.eurobasket.com/Ireland/basketball-Super-League_2006-07.asp [Accessed 22 September 2016]

[47] Eurobasket (2014) Basketball Ireland Super League 2007-08 [Internet] Available from: www.eurobasket.com/Ireland/basketball-Super-League_2007-08.asp [Accessed 22 September 2016]

[48] Eurobasket (2014) Basketball Ireland Super League 2008-09 [Internet] Available from: www.eurobasket.com/Ireland/basketball-Super-League_2008-09.asp [Accessed 22 September 2016]

[49] Eurobasket (2014) Basketball Ireland Super League 2009-10 [Internet] Available from: www.eurobasket.com/Ireland/basketball-Super-League_2009-10.asp [Accessed 22 September 2016]

[50] Eurobasket (2014) Basketball Ireland Super League 2010-11 [Internet] Available from: www.eurobasket.com/Ireland/basketball-Super-League_2010-11.asp [Accessed 22 September 2016]

[51] Eurobasket (2014) Basketball Ireland Super League 2011-12 [Internet] Available from: www.eurobasket.com/Ireland/basketball-Super-League_2011-12.asp [Accessed 22 September 2016]

[52] Eurobasket (2014) Basketball Ireland Super League 2012-13 [Internet] Available from: www.eurobasket.com/Ireland/basketball-Super-League_2012-13.asp [Accessed 22 September 2016]

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

Newspapers

[54] Anon. (2014) “Basketball”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 24, 2014. pp. 52-53.

Websites

[55] Basketball Ireland Comortais (2015) Men’s Champions Trophy 2014-15 [Internet] Available from: http://bi.comortais.com/competition.aspx?oId=1001&id=1211 [Accessed 27 October 2016]

[56] Basketball Ireland (2016) Men’s Premier 2015-16 [Internet] Available from: http://www.basketballireland.ie/menspremier/ [Accessed 21 September 2016]

[57] Basketball Ireland (2016) Men’s Champions Trophy 2015-16 [Internet] Available from: http://www.basketballireland.ie/championstrophy/ [Accessed 21 September 2016]

[58] Basketball Ireland (2018) Mens Champions Trophy [Internet] Available from: http://www.basketballireland.ie/championstrophy [Accessed 28 March 2017]

[59] Basketball Ireland (2018) Mens Champions Trophy [Internet] Available from: http://www.basketballireland.ie/menschampionstrophy [Accessed 12 March 2018]

[60] Basketball Ireland (2018) MSL Champions Trophy [Internet] Available from: http://www.basketballireland.ie/league/138821/ [Accessed 23 April 2019]

[61] Basketball Ireland (2020) MNCC confirms winner of Basketball Ireland Men’s Super League [Internet] Available from: https://www.basketballireland.ie/news-detail/10061709/mncc-confirms-winner-of-basketball-ireland-mens-super-league/ [Accessed 28 April 2020]

Note: Copies of The Irish Independent, Irish Press & Irish Examiner are available to view online at the Irish Newspaper Archive: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ which is a subscription service.

Images

[62] Folan, John | Irish Basketball Memories of the 80s And 90s Facebook Group (2020) Post to Page, January 27, 2020″Fantastic team loved going to see them play” [Internet] Available from: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/84031072_1023908997993251_8391839803976450048_n.jpg?nc_cat=104&_nc_sid=ca434c&_nc_ohc=eZjapq8zlu4AX9QUva&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=03447b305a695c8d4a572078f382a059&oe=5E9F44CB [Accessed 25 March 2020][Adjusted]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Rob Gihbu and John Folan.

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 27 May 2020

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2020

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

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