Independence Day 1974
On Independence Day the Irish Consul in Boston arranged a reception/barbecue for the lads on Wollaston Beach. The KILLESTER squad sweltered in the 98 degree temperatures, while their temperatures soared even higher on viewing the scantily clad young ladies on the beach.
Then it was down to the real work, learning to play real basketball. When the lads saw the gymnasium in North Eastern University they were gobsmacked and when their hosts saw how they played basketball they felt they were more in need of guidance than competition and hence a month of intensive coaching began. Apart from the coaching the lads played quite a few friendly games. Unfortunately unlike the Scottish trip the scoresheets seem to have been mislaid. We wonder why. Despite running out of pocket money quite early, the guy's had a fabulous trip, met lots of new friends and we believe lots of female acquaintances.
After this trip Fr. McCarthy decided that he had a squad capable of winning a National League title within two to three years and he set about doing this with a squad that included Martin Grennell, Eamon and Brian Molloy, Liam and Frank Hackett, Bob Hartigan, John O'Connor John Kennedy, Sean Quinn, Tony Burke (who went on to greater things as one of this countries greatest ever referee's) Tom Wilkinson (former player and coach at Neptune), Dave and Ken Taylor, Brian and Paul Keogh, Peter Dunne, Pat Dent, Noel Keating (who went on to become Chief Executive of the IBA), Pete Ferrari, Kevin Costelloe, Jim O'Kelly (chief photographer in the Independent) and Tony Cronnelly who also moved south to Neptune.
KILLESTER started the 1974-5 season as underdogs as Cork was the hotbed of basketball, but some incredible performances including a six point win over Blue Demons when both were level with three games to play gave KILLESTER the impetus to win the title. They beat Marian and Neptune in their final two games to lift the National League title for the first time and the start of a new era had just begun. They retained the title the following year with a thrilling 63-60 win over arch rivals St Vincent's in a thrill a minute decider.
The following season McCarthy's boy's retained the title for three in a row, a feat that was to be equalled by the ladies in 1977, 78 and 79. Two three's in a row, will it ever be equalled let alone surpassed.
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