Tag: National Basketball League

March 20, 2021

Irish Basketball Association Men’s Super League 1997-98

Final Standings 1997-98

	P	W	L	PF	PA	Pts
Star of the Sea	18	17	1			52
Denny Notre Dame	18	13	5			44
Marathon Sports St. Vincent’s	18	10	8			38
Killester	18	10	8			38
Dungannon	18	9	9			36
Longnecks Ballina	18	8	10			34
UCD Marian	18	7	11			32
Kerry Spring Water Killarney	18	6	12			30
Neptune	18	5	13			28
Garvey’s Tigers Tralee	18	5	13			28

[References: 15]

National Championships

Date	Home Team		Away Team
	Semi-Finals
15.03.1998	Star of the Sea	94	Killester	72
15.03.1998	Denny Notre Dame	97	Marathon Sp St. Vincent’s	70
	Final
15.03.1998	Star of the Sea	92	Denny Notre Dame	74

[References: 16]

Regular Season Results

Date	Home Team		Away Team
	Week 1
05.10.1997	Marathon Sports St. Vincemt’s	90	Dungannon Fliers	81
05.10.1997	Team Longnecks Ballina	74	Star of the Sea	90
05.10.1997	Killester	83	UCD Marian	73
05.10.1997	Kerry Spring Water Killarney	67	Denny Notre Dame	83
	Week 2
12.10.1997	UCD Marian	86	Neptune	80
12.10.1997	Garvey’s Tigers Tralee	91	Team Longnecks Ballina	81
12.10.1997	Killester	85	Denny Notre Dame	90
12.10.1997	Kerry Spring Water Killarney	74	Dungannon	75
12.10.1997	Star of the Sea	93	Marathon Sports St. Vincent’s	75
	Week 3
17.10.1997	Denny Notre Dame	80	UCD Marian	60
19.10.1997	Garvey’s Tralee Tigers	74	Marathon Sports St. Vincent’s	78
19.10.1997	Dungannon	83	Killester	78
19.10.1997	Longnecks Ballina	99	Neptune	69
19.10.1997	Star of the Sea	95	Kerry Spring Water Killarney	50
	Week 4
26.10.1997	Amev UCD-Marian	93	Dungannon	94
26.10.1997	Neptune	95	Denny Notre Dame	112
26.10.1997	Killester	84	Star of the Sea	98
26.10.1997	Kerry Spring Water Killarney	96	Garvey’s Tralee Tigers	80
26.10.1997	Marathon Sports St. Vincent’s	95	Longnecks Ballina	115
	Week 5
09.11.1997	Amev UCD-Marian	81	Star of the sea	90
09.11.1997	Denny Notre Dame	108	Dungannon	78
09.11.1997	Garvey’s Tigers Tralee	90	Killester	70
09.11.1997	Longnecks Ballina	81	Kerry Spring Water Killarney	77
09.11.1997	Neptune	84	Marathon Sports St. Vincent’s	87
	Week 6
16.11.1997	Denny Notre Dame	93	Star of the Sea	84
16.11.1997	Dungannon	76	Neptune	67
16.11.1997	Garvey’s Tigers Tralee	60	Amev-UCD Marian	82
16.11.1997	Longnecks Ballina	85	Killester	102
16.11.1997	Marathon Sports St. Vincent’s	109	Kerry Spring Water Killarney	95
	Week 7
23.11.1997	Denny Notre Dame	109	Garvey’s Tigers Tralee	83
23.11.1997	Killester	72	Marathon Sports St. Vincent’s	68
23.11.1997	Kerry Spring Water Killarney	89	Neptune	83
23.11.1997	Dungannon	77	Star of the Sea	87
23.11.1997	Longnecks Ballina	81	Amev UCD-Marian	77
	Week 8
30.11.1997	Marathon Sports St. Vincent’s	91	UCD-Marian	93
30.11.1997	Lomgnecks Ballina	78	Denny Notre Dame	92
30.11.1997	Garvey’s Tigers Tralee	70	Dungannon	72
30.11.1997	Killester	76	Kerry Spring Water Killarney	89
30.11.1997	Neptune	91	Star of the Sea	107
	Week 9
05.12.1997	Denny Notre Dame	99	Marathon Sports St. Vincent’s	85
07.12.1997	Kerry Spring Water Killarney	82	Amev UCD-Marian	81
07.12.1997	Dungannon	85	Longnecks Ballina	77
07.12.1997	Neptune	104	Killester	83
07.12.1997	Star of the Sea	92	Garvey’s tigers Tralee	89
	Week 10
21.12.1997	Denny Notre Dame	83	Kerry Spring Water Killarney	83
21.12.1997	Star of the Sea	108	Longnecks Ballina	94
21.12.1997	Amev UCD-Marian	90	Killester	82
21.12.1997	Garvey’s Tigers Tralee	86	Neptune	83
21.12.1997	Dungannon	74	Marathon Sports St. Vincent’s	85
	Week 11
04.01.1998	Marathon Sports St. Vincent’s	62	Star of the Sea	90
04.01.1998	Neptune	74	UCD-Marian	75
04.01.1998	Denny Notre Dame	78	Killester	85
04.01.1998	Longnecks Ballina	130	Garvey’s Tigers Tralee	97
	Week 12
11.01.1998	Marathon Sports St. Vincent’s	97	Garvey’s Tigers Tralee	87
11.01.1998	Neptune	103	Longnecks Ballina	86
11.01.1998	Amev UCD-Marian	82	Denny Notre Dame	99
11.01.1998	Killester	86	Dungannon	72
11.01.1998	Kerry Spring Water Killarney	82	Star of the Sea	106
11.01.1998	Neptune	95	Garvey’s Tigers Tralee	88
	Week 13
18.01.1998	Killester	119	Garvey’s Tigers Tralee	103
18.01.1998	Kerry Spring Water Killarney	85	Longnecks Ballina	92
18.01.1998	Dungannon	81	Denny Notre Dame	93
18.01.1998	Marathon Sports St. Vincent’s	78	Neptune	88
18.01.1998	Star of the Sea	124	Amev UCD-Marian	88
	Week 13 B
25.01.1998	Dungannon	71	Kerry Spring Water Killarney	75
	Week 14
01.02.1998	Denny Notre Dame	85	Neptune	82
01.02.1998	Dungannon	86	Amev UCD-Marian	85
01.02.1998	Longnecks Ballina	85	Marathon Sports St. Vincent’s	87
01.02.1998	Garvey’s Tigers Tralee	86	Kerry Spring Water Killarney	72
01.02.1998	Star of the sea	113	Killester	80
	Week 15
08.02.1998	Star of the Sea	100	Denny Notre Dame	83
08.02.1998	Amev UCD-Marian	99	Garvey’s Tigers Tralee	91
08.02.1998	Neptune	81	Dungannon	84
08.02.1998	Killester	98	Longnecks Ballina	82
08.02.1998	Kerry Spring Water Killarney	89	Marathon Sports St. Vincent’s	82
	Week 16
15.02.1998	Star of the Sea	110	Dungannon	90
15.02.1998	Marathon Sports St. Vincent’s	91	Killester	82
15.02.1998	Amev UCD-Marian	94	Longnecks Ballina	95
15.02.1998	Neptune	96	Kerry Spring Water Killarney	90
15.02.1998	Garvey’ds Tigers Tralee	117	Denny Notre Dame	100
	Week 17
22.02.1998	Amev-UCD Marian	95	Kerry Spring Water Killarney	81
22.02.1998	Garvey’s Tigers Tralee	68	Star of the Sea	81
22.02.1998	Killester	108	Neptune	94
22.02.1998	Longnecks Ballina	114	Dungannon	89
22.02.1998	Marathon Sports St. Vincent’s	100	Denny Notre Dame	69
	Week 18
01.03.1998	Amev UCD-Marian	73	Marathon Sports St. Vincent’s	86
01.03.1998	Denny Notre Dame	115	Longnecks Ballina	84
01.03.1998	Kerry Spring Water Killarney	76	Killester	109
01.03.1998	Dungannon	101	Garvey’s Tigers Tralee	83
01.03.1998	Star of the Sea	97	Neptune	77

[References: 2-20; 23]

Report

Javan Dupree led Star of the Sea of Belfast to their first ever Irish Basketball Association Men’s Super League National Championship in 1997-98, running up a 17-1 regular season record (their only loss was a 93-84 loss to Denny Notre Dame in Week 6, which put the Tallaght side on top of the table on 6-0). After going 9-0 in the first half Denny faltered over Christmas and New Year’s, with back to back losses to Kerry Spring Water Killarney and Killester. Notre Dame stuck with Star through Week 14, just a game behind the Belfast side going into the big clash between the two in Week 15, which Star won 100-83 with 29 points by C Guitlar, 24 by G Maguire and 19 by Adrian Fulton. Another loss the following week for Denny meant the League title was wrapped up by Star in Week 16, and they went on to win the National Championships with a 92-74 victory over their nearest challengers on March 15th, Gareth Maguire scoring 23, C Guitlar 20 and John Leahy 18. Denny’s Americans, Randall Mounts (27) and Lennie McMillan were unable to stop them.

Starof the Sea 1998 [Reference: 24][Picture Credit: John Folan]

References

Newspapers

[1] Anon. (1997) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, October 6, 1997. pp. 30.

[2] Anon. (1997) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, October 13, 1997. pp. 34

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

[4] Anon. (1997) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, October 20, 1997. pp. 32

[5] Anon. (1997) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, October 27, 1997. pp. 34.

[6] Anon. (1997) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, November 10, 1997. pp. 34.

[7] Anon. (1997) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, November 17, 1997. pp. 34

[8] Anon. (1997) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, November 24, 1997. pp. 30

[9] Anon. (1997) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, December 1, 1997. pp. 30.

[10] Anon. (1997) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, December 8, 1997. pp. 33.

[11] Anon. (1997) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, December 15, 1997. pp. ??.

[12] Anon. (1997) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, December 22, 1997. pp. ??

[13] Anon. (1998) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, January 5, 1998. pp. 23

[14] Anon. (1998) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, January 12, 1998. pp. 31

[15] Anon. (1998) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, January 19, 1998. pp. 31

[16] John Taylor (1998) “Neptune looking up as Augusto points the way”. Irish Independent. Monday, January 26, 1998. pp. 30

[17] Anon. (1998) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, February 2, 1998. pp. 20

[18] Anon. (1998) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, February 9 , 1998. pp. 26

[19] Anon. (1998) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, February 16 , 1998. pp. 32

[20] Anon. (1998) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, February 23, 1998. pp.28

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

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

[23] Anon. (1998) “Sports Round-Up: Basketball” Irish Times. Saturday, December 6, 1997. pg. 34 [Website Reference: https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1997/1206/Pg034.html#Ar03403 ]

Images

[24] Irish Basketball Memories of the 80s and 90s (2018) Photo to Page by John Folan, July 24, 2018 “What more can you say but
STAR” [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=644547202596101&set=gm.1921626407860829 [Accessed 20 March 2021]

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: 20 March 2021

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

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 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.