Killester Basketball Club

KILLESTER GETS THE CALL FROM

- 11890 -

Killester Basketball Club is delighted to announce a sponsorship partnership with 11890. Club Chairman Michael McCormack is delighted with the news.

“I am so happy with this sponsorship partnership and I must pay tribute to our PRO Declan King, Mark Grennell and Stephen O’Brien for putting the package together and to Nicola Byrne the Managing Director of 11890 for coming on board Irelands biggest Basketball Club. In this economic climate it is terrific for us as a club to be able to attract a sponsor of the caliber of 11890 and I can only hope that this is the start of a wonderful relationship with Nicola and her team at 11890”

11890 Founder and Managing Director Nicola Byrne is also delighted with the partnership. “I am very happy to be able to sponsor a club like Killester. Times are tough at the moment and I know how difficult it is to get sponsorship but I am really happy to be getting involved with Killester and can’t wait to get to some games in Clontarf”

Molloy's Golden Oldies win in Cardiff

The Ireland Over 50 team won the British Masters Basketball Championship in Cardiff last weekend. Led by MVP Paul Gallen (Rathmines) the Irish team defeated title holders Louisiana (50-37) in the first game, English team the 59ers (51-40), Glasgow (52-37) and Derby (35-22) to win the title for the second time in three years.

Former Irish international guard Eamonn Molloy (Killester) coached the team and was delighted with the performance throughout. “The win against Louisiana was huge, they are a very strong team but we defended very well and played to our strengths. “

A NEW ERA TO ARRIVE AT KILLESTER

Killester Basketball Club would like to thank DART Suburban Rail for its sponsorship of the club for the past six magnificent years.

Our thanks to Barry Kenny, Ray Kelly and Rita Butterly for their support and advice over the years that were some of the most successful in the clubs 42 year history.

Barry Kenny advised us twelve month's ago of their decision and since that we have been in contact with a number of prospective partners and despite the recessionary times we are confident that we will be able to announce new sponsors very shortly.

DART KILLESTER MENS SUPERLEAGUE

Summary of Season:

It was a great achievement to win the Northern Conference for the 3rd consecutive season.
I am delighted to have brought the team to the National Cup Finals for the second year running, we didn’t perform to our full potential on the day losing to UCC Demons.
I am also delighted to have brought the team to the Superleague Final in Letterkenny, Donegal. Having lost the services of Michael Bonaparte before the end of the regular season, I am extremely proud of the performance our team gave in securing a place in the league final. In Letterkenny we pushed UCC all the way to the final whistle but narrowly lost out on a victory.

Summary of Competitions:
Northern Conference Winners for 3rd year in succession. Record: 14 Wins / 4 Losses.
National Cup Runners Up. Lost final to UCC Demons.
Superleague Runners Up. Lost final to UCC Demons.
Thunder Cup Champions. Pre-season Tournament Winners in Worthing UK.

Player Achievements:
John Behan – Conference player of the month for Oct. ’08.
Michael Westbrooks – Conference player of the month for February ’09.
Patrick Kelly – Superleague Defensive player of the year ’08-09.

Special Thanks:

I would like to thank my staff members, Ed Randolph & Patricia McGrath for their commitment, hard work and great spirit throughout the season. I would also like to thank Jerome Westbrooks who continued to assist the management team despite his many other commitments.

I would like to thank & congratulate all the players for their commitment, hard work and great performances throughout the season.

I would also like to thank Mick McCormack, the committee members, our venue officers and officials, Mary Carrick, Thelma Stone & Helen McCormack who provided refreshments & food after our home games and of course all those club members who supported the team throughout the season.

Many Thanks.

Yours in Sport.

Mark Keenan.
Head Coach Dart Killester Senior Men’s Team

DART UNLUCKY IN LEAGUE FINAL

UCC Demons and Hotel Montenotte Glanmire both completed league and cup doubles in Letterkenny over the weekend.

Douglas Leichner’s Demons made it a memorable season of Cup, Nivea for Men Superleague and Southern Conference titles with a really hard earned 81-76 victory over a gallant DART Killester at the AURA Arena.

It was the first double in the clubs 42 year history and one that made Demons stalwart Jim Dineen very happy. “It was great for basketball that the two best teams in the country met in the final as they did in the cup and despite the fact that DART were under strength they pushed us all the way and even with 38 seconds to go it was still anybody’s game. I am so happy for Douglas, the players and the clubs hard working committee but most importantly the fans who made the long journey from Cork to Letterkenny a fruitful one. As usual they have been fantastic” said a glowing Dineen.

Leichner was overcome with emotion after the game. “The players stepped up at crucial stages, our defence was tremendous and it’s just testament to our players that they have managed to win everything on offer this season”

“I am so happy for guys like our captain Shane Coughlan, who have been with the club for so long and can say they were in the side that created history for the club. Our US players have been excellent but our core Irish players have been so consistent throughout the season.”

Colin O’Reilly, who was named Player of the Year on Saturday, rounded off an excellent campaign with the treble justifying his decision to return to Ireland after the financial crisis which hit Icelandic basketball.

“It was well worth coming back for this, it’s a perfect ending to a perfect season for us,”

“DART are the only team that beat us this season and I think both sides showed today that the two best teams made the final.” added O’Reilly.

DART coach Mark Keenan was wholesome in his praise for Demons. “Doug is a wonderful coach and has done a great job with a superb bunch of players but I am so proud of my guy’s. We were without Mike Bonaparte, Kieran O’Brien, Jonny Grennell and Michael Goj but the rest of the team just stepped up and I think they did themselves and the club proud. This was our last game as DART Killester as our six year deal is over. I would like to personally thank everyone in Irish Rail for the support over the years that saw us win every honour available to us during that tenure” said an obviously disappointed Keenan.

Mark Scannell’s Hotel Montenotte Glanmire beat DCU Mercy 87-67 in a game that saw them come back from 49-38 down at half time.

Women’s player of the year Niamh Dwyer summed up what it was like to win the game against their arch rival’s DCU Mercy.

“It’s unbelievable, to turn around an 11 point deficit and win by 20 shows just how unbelievable a performance it was. We have had our ups and downs all season but we are so resilient when it matters most”

“We have always stepped up when we needed to,” added the game’s MVP Dwyer. “I think our decision making is excellent and we thrive on big occasions. Finals brings out the best in us. We weren’t the most consistent this year but to add the double to the treble we won last year is such a great feeling”

Sligo All Stars beat St Paul’s Killarney 64-61 to take the women’s Division 1 title while Ballon from Carlow were the men’s winners beating Titan’s from Galway 79-59.

DART KILLESTER MEN IN 3RD LEAGUE FINAL IN A ROW!!

It’s a long way to Letterkenny seems to be the underlying theme of basketball’s elite teams as they head up to virgin basketball territory for the league finals this weekend. Despite numerous efforts and lots of letter writing between the clubs and Basketball Ireland the association has stuck to its guns and the sports most important competitions will go ahead in County Donegal today.

The NIVEA FOR MEN superleague and Women’s superleague finals have certainly drawn together the countries top talent in the Northwestern town and hopefully the locals will come out and see what is best in men’s and women’s basketball this afternoon.

The men’s decider is a repeat of the Cup final that saw UCC Demons get the better of their Dublin rivals DART Killester. The sides have met three times this year with Douglas Leichner’s side leading 2-1 but he will not be taking anything fror granted against Mark Keenan's side that is without Mike Bonaparte, Jonathan Grennell, Kieran O’Brien and Michael Goj.

“The UCC Demons have a huge challenge ahead of us. In the Semi finals, DART Killester easily disposed of a sound Neptune squad. DART’s Coach Mark Keenan is a splendid tactician and will have his Dublin side ready for the contest. Killester is led by Paddy Kelly, Peter Madsen, John Behan as well as American Jim Grabowski. They play very good defense while offensively, they are a very potent unit. At any given moment, the Killester side can explode and score in bunches. One of DART’s many strengths is their depth and teamwork. We look forward to a highly competitive contest for the coveted title”.

His opposite number Mark Keenan has had to contend with an injury crisis since the New Year but he is delighted to have Michael Westbrooks back. “It is fortunate that we have such a strong bench, there are very few teams that could afford to be without so many players during the season and survive to make it to both finals but that is testament to the quality of the people that we have on the squad” said Keenan. “We have practiced well this week since the wins against Neptune and I just couldn’t ask for more from my players”

Demons have to be the favourites to complete the double with two quality Americans and the brilliant Colin O’Reilly. They also have a terrific leader in Shane Coughlan but it will be interesting to see how DART react to adversity in a venue that couldn’t be more neutral.

The women’s final also sees the cream of the crop with Hotel Montenotte Glanmire playing their great rivals DCU Mercy.

Glanmire's Mark Scannell is hoping that his side can successfully defend their title. “Everyone is in good form and we are looking forward to the game. We play very well away from home. We are usually at our best on the road and in fact we haven’t lost a game away from home in two years” said Scannell. “We really respect DCU Mercy and hopefully it will be an epic final”

Mark Ingle is also quietly confident ahead of this afternoon's decider. “We are at full strength and we are trying to win our first title under the Lemongrass banner and our second title in three years” said Ingle. “We hope that we can come out on top; there is only one degree between the sides who have been involved in three of the last four finals”

The women’s Division one final sees St Paul’s Killarney face a mammoth journey from Killarney to Letterkenny coming up against Sligo All Stars while the men’s decider is between Ballon from Carlow against Titan’s from Galway.

FIRST LEG OF SEMI A SUCCESS

The first legs of the Nivea for Men Superleague semi finals produced contrasting games with UCD Marian playing out a thrilling 78-78 draw with UCC Demons while DART Killester beat Neptune 85-63 in the two Dublin Cork battles.

The clash of the colleges at Belfield provided edge of the seat stuff with the home fans providing the extra man for Cormac Connors side

UCD coach Connor was happy with his guy’s and is looking forward to the return leg in Cork. “It was a super game, UCC Demons are an incredible side and I would have probably taken a defeat by a couple of points to make sure we were travelling down to Cork with something to play for. However, I am so proud of my players for digging out a result like that and we are travelling to the Mardyke with plenty to play for”.

Irish international Colin O’Reilly contributed 25 points for Demons and believes UCD will pose a huge threat based on this display. “A game like this has justified the introduction of the two legged game and it was certainly dramatic,” said O’Reilly

In the other game DART Killester proved much too strong for Neptune and despite being short a number of players such as Mike Bonaparte, Kieran O’Brien, Michael Goj and Michael Westbrooks (who picked up an injury in the warm up) they impressed.

Mark Keenan was delighted with his side’s performance, particularly away from home. “We worked so hard during the week and I knew from our practices that the guy’s were up for this game. The lads made light of the fact that we were short so many players and dug deep for a great win but we are only half way there.

DART KILLESTER MEN IN PLAYOFFS

Dart Killester Men this weekend start their bid to reclaim the league title that they so narrowly missed out on last season. The league playoff format has changed this season to a two legged semi final with both teams in the semi's hosting each other at their home venue. As Northern Conference champions, Dart Killester are an automatic 1st seed and had a 'bye' into the semi final stage. As Dart Killester rested up and fine tuned last weekend this weekends opponent's Neptune had a qtr final tie with the Northern Conference outfit Belfast Star which by all accounts was a controversial affair but Neptune came out on top.

As Dart are the number 1 seeds they will travel this weekend to Cork to play the 1st Leg in the Neptune Stadium at 8pm. The return fixture will be played in the IWA, Clontarf on the 21st of March at 8pm.

Dart Killester and Neptune have already met 3 times this season, twice in the league and Neptune were the teams opponents in the National Cup Semi Final also. Dart Killester have been lucky enough to come out on top in all three of these meetings but not one game has been an easy match. Neptune with their win last Saturday Vs Star look to be hitting a real pruple patch of form and playing at home makes them very dangerous. Dart Killester however will be confident having seen off Neptune three times already. Dart Killester will be without Michael Bonaparte as he will not recover from his stress fracture in his shin. However the team has been coming together nicely and with Captain Jonathan Grennell now back from his trip away and Michael Westbrooks being recently awarded PLAYER OF THE MONTH for Feburary in the Nothern Conference things seems to be in right in the camp, also having homecourt in the 2nd Leg should be enough to see them go through.

DART KILLESTER vs NEPTUNE BC.

1st Leg: Neptune Stadium

Sat, 14th of March @ 8pm

Photo's from Cup Final

UCC DEMONS 98 DART Killester 85

UCC Demons are the toasts of Irish basketball following a superb win in the men’s national cup finals against DART Killester.

Demons recovered from a shocking start that saw them down 17-6 to the defending champions in the first quarter to totally dominate the game from then on even though they only took the lead for the first time 40-38 on the stroke of half time. This was the 25th anniversary of the cup and Demons coach Douglas Leichner must be counting his blessings that Colin O’Reilly’s proposed move to Iceland fell through due to the recession in that country as O’Reilly put in a superb display that ended with 26 points as the games top scorer and the MVP award.

“This was Demons basketball, fast breaking and good defence. It was probably our most total display of the year although not in the first quarter but from then on we really got it together” said O’Reilly who spent four years on scholarship in the United States.

Having led by 11 early on DART Killester fell away in the second quarter as UCC Demons took it 23-17 to lead 40-38 with a Niall Murphy basket on the buzzer. The first time they had led in the game.

The third quarter saw the game go Demons way with superb performances from O’Reilly, Shane Coughlan, Murphy and the Americans Ryne Hamblet and in particular Jerrah Young who dominated at both ends and ended the game with 23 points and 11 rebounds.

Club supremo Jim Dineen summed up what Jerrah means to the club “He is so strong, he works at both ends of the court and I am sure he could do the same if he was playing rugby or American football or any other sport, he is such an athlete”.

At the end of the third quarter it was 64-52 to the Cork side and there was no way back for DART as Demons put on an exhibition that met with the approval of their legion of travelling fans.

Team captain Shane Coughlan spoke of the elation in the Cork camp as they took their 5th cup “We had a bad start but we got it together in the second and third quarters. Colin O’Reilly was special. What a player, what a game he had. They just couldn’t stop him and the Americans Jerrah and Ryne really showed what they are made of. That’s our fifth cup and it is one I will always remember” said Coughlan.

The sides meet again on Saturday in a cross conference game as the conference leaders in the NIVEA FOR MEN SUPERLEAGUE in Cork and DART Killester coach Mark Keenan has a lot of soul searching to do ahead of that game if he is to lift his wounded warriors. “I am devastated, I really thought we would do it and we started so well but their zone defence killed us, we just didn’t cope with it. We now have to pick ourselves up and train hard and go to Cork and give of our best because today we certainly didn’t” said a disconsolate Keenan.

MEN’S NATIONAL CUP FINAL

It’s UCC Demons against DART Killester for the biggest prize in Irish Basketbal. The National Cup in it’s 25th year at the National Basketball Arena tomorrow at 3-15 and what a game it should be. Demons and DART are the teams of the year and whereas DART went on an 11-0 unbeaten run at the start of the season including victory over tomorrow’s opponents they have been a little off colour of late while Demons are really on song as DART coach Mark Keenan pointed out to me.

“Douglas Leichner has done a great job and his side has been superb since we beat them, they are winning by twenty points a game which is phenomenal. Colin O’Reilly is averaging 25 points per game and had 40 on Saturday against HOOPS so he is one we will have to watch but we are working on that but they are not a one man team ”

“We have had a bad patch since our loss to DCU Saint’s but we had a good performance against Elks on Saturday and had six players in double figures and that is what I hope will stand to us tomorrow. We have trained well all week and we are really up for the challenge”

“We are expecting a huge support decked out in Orange even though we are the away team and will be in white but I think we are quietly confident” said the Killester coach.

Killester Basketball Club Special Olympic Group with our mens and womens Superleague teams at the annual christmas party!!!

TOP OF THE TABLE - DART KILLESTER vs UCC DEMONS

The Irish Wheelchair Complex in Clontarf should be packed to capacity Saturday night as the NIVEA FOR MEN Superleagues two unbeaten sides DART Killester and UCC Demons go head to head in what should be the game of the season so far.

The two players who have impressed as their teams remain unbeaten are DART Killester's John Behan and UCC Demons Colin O’Reilly.

Behan comes from a real sporting stock with all his family playing either soccer or basketball. But it was his grandfather, the famous Billy Behan who played with Manchester United and Ireland who set the trend. After his illustrious playing career the late Billy went on to become United’s Irish scout for many years sending over the likes of Johnny Giles, Paul McGrath, Ashley Grimes, Gerry Daly etc. In fact Billy sent over twenty seven players who went on to become Irish Internationals

The young Behan is now back concentrating on basketball after completing his Business degree in Trinity and is working at Grant Thornton Accountants. “It is great to have the time to play the game again. I was back last year but this year I am really focussed and I can’t wait for Saturday's game. We have only played one game in Clontarf this season so far against Limerick and there was a great atmosphere. The crowd got behind us from the start and hopefully they will do the same Saturday ” said Behan.

“It is great to be 5-0 going into the game but we still have a lot to give, when the chemistry is right and we are all on the same page I think we will be very good and I hope that happens sooner rather than later. We have been grinding out results so far. We have got to come out early and play solid defence and hopefully the crowd will be our extra man” added Behan.

Colin O’Reilly is back from Iceland and is delighted with the way things are going at UCC Demons. “It is a great set up, the coach (Douglas Leichner) is very organised and there is a good balance in the squad. He has us playing proper basketball, starting from our defence”

And how does he think the game will go?. “It will be the usual game between the two sides, really tough. We both have the best Irish players in the league so it will be Irish against Irish and American against American so it should be a great game” said O’Reilly.