Blue Demons | Men’s National Basketball League Team 1979-1993

National Basketball League Team 1979-1993

Home Court:

Colours:

Honours: NBL Division 1 League Winners (3) 1980-81, 1983-84, 1988-89 / NBL Division 1 Top Four Winners (3) 1980-81, 1984-85, 1987-88

Career Record (W-L-T): Total: 174-92 / Regular Season: 168-85 / Post-Season: 8-7

History: One of the most consistent teams in Irish Basketball during the Golden Era from 1979-1991, the Blue Demons, from Cork, won the League and Top 4 Double in 1980-81 and also won the League in 1983-84 and 1988-89, as well as the Top Four Playoffs in 1984-85 and 1987-88.

They reached the playoffs in both the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons during the short-lived Budweiser National League when both Division 1 and Division 2 were merged into one League with 2 Conferences. Both seasons were a disappointment by Blue demons standards and they dropped out of the League following the 1992-93 season.

They continue today as the UCC Demons after a merger with the University in Cork.

Name Changes: Blue Demons 1979-1981 / Team Britvic 1981-1985 / Dawn Milk Blue Demons 1985-1991 / Whirlpool Blue Demons 1991-1993

Year-by-Year Record

Year Regular Season Post-Season International
  Lge P W L Pts P W L Pos P W L
1979-80 NBL D1 18 14 4 28 2 1 1 2nd/F      
1980-81 NBL D1 18 17 1 34 2 2 0 1st/W      
1981-82 NBL D1 18 14 4 28 2 1 1 2nd/F      
1982-83 NBL D1 16 9 7 18 0 0 0 5th      
1983-84 NBL D1 18 14 4 28 1 0 1 1st/SF      
1984-85 NBL D1 18 13 5 26 2 2 0 2nd/W      
1985-86 NBL D1 18 8 10 16 0 0 0 6th      
1986-87 NBL D1 18 13 5 26 1 0 1 2nd/SF      
1987-88 NBL D1 18 13 5 26 2 2 0 3rd/W      
1988-89 NBL D1 18 14 4 28 1 0 1 1st/SF      
1989-90 NBL D1 18 8 10 16 0 0 0 5th      
1990-91 NBL D1 16 7 9 14 0 0 0 6th      
1991-92 NBL Bud 22 12 10 24 1 0 1 4th S /QF      
1992-93 NBL Bud 19 12 7 24 1 0 1 3rd S /QF      

NBL D1 = National Basketball League Division 1 / NBL Bud = Budweiser National Basketball League / Pos = Final Position / W = Top Four Playoff Winners / F = Top Four Finalists / SF = Top Four Semi-Finalists / QF = Playoff Quarter-Finalists /S = Southern Conference.

References: [1-22]

References

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Bibliography

[1] 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

[2] (1984) “National League 1983-84”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. October 1984.

[3] (1985) “Final Standings”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. Autumn 1985.

[4] (1986) “National League Standings 1985-86”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. 1985-86 Season.

[5] (1987) “National League 1986-87”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. 1986-87 Season.

[6] (1989) “National League 1988-89 Final Standings”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. Number 12. 1988-89 Season. pg. 28

[7] (1990) “National League 1989-90 Final Standings”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. Number 15. March 1990 pp. 18

[8] (1991) “National League Tables 1990/91”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. Number 18. May 1991 pp. 14

Sources

[9] (1983) “Scene is set for top-four showdown”. Irish Press. Monday, March 16, 1983.

[10] (1988) “Dawn Milk leave it to last seconds”. Irish Press. Monday, March 21, 1988. pp. 12-13.

[11] (1989) “Neptune find right formula”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 20, 1989. pp. 14-15.

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

[13] (1991) “Last gasp Neptune!”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 25, 1991. pp. 22-23.

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

[15] (1984) “Top two titles stay in Dublin”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 19, 1984. pp. 16-17.

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

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

[18] Anon. (1981) “Pride for the ‘Blues”. Irish independent. Wednesday, March 25, 1981. pg. 13

Magazine Articles

[19]1992) “Budweiser Superleague Finals”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. Number 21. April 1992 pp. 17

Sources

[21(1992) “Ballina attain Holy Grail in thriller”. Irish Independent. Monday, April 13, 1992. pp. 32.

[22(1992) “League title goes West”. Irish Examiner. Monday, April 13, 1992. pp. 12-13.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish, North American & World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 24 September 2019

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2019

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

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