Killester Basketball Club

**** PRESS RELEASE **** - Jan 18th 11.06am

DART LADIES FACE TOUGH TASK AT HOME!

Dart Killester ladies team return home to play local northside rivals DCU Mercy. Mercy have gotten the better of Dart's ladies twice so far this season. Dart Killester will be hoping to pull off some what of a shock result against second place DCU.

Both teams will be looking forward to getting back to league play after the disappointment of the cup semi final weekend. While the senior team for Dart was not in action the U20's which make up all but two of the senior team were and feel they didnt do themselves justice on the day. The girls will be looking to put that performace behind them this weekend and show what they are capable of. DCU on the other side will be hoping to put there shock defeat to the back of their minds as they look to the league title for comfort.

Dart Killester know the task ahead is a very difficult one and has been made more so with the loss of the inspirational Fiona Carrick due to a knee injury. Also Elaine Stone and Louise Gray will miss out due to other commitments.

Coach Grennell spoke to us and said " I know it's going to be difficult as Mercy have a lot of class players and they will be very upset after the defeat on Sunday but, I think with the girls we have left, they are determined to put in a real performace. All I can ask is that we play hard and try to do the right things both ends of the floor and see what happens on the day. "

DCU Mercy are coming into the game with a full strength squad, so there Coach Mark Ingle should be very confident.

The game is in the IWA in clontarf at 6pm. Please come down and lend the girls some support!

**** PRESS RELEASE **** Fri 4th Jan - 16.07

DART LADIES TRAVEL TO PLAY WILDCATS

DART KILLESETR's ladies will go to play Wildcats in search of a much needed win.
The ladies are hoping to start 08' in a positive fashion after having such a tough finish to the first half of the season.

While Dart are glad to have Ali Maguire and Fiona Carrick return to the team after missing the last game before christmas they are still without Hannah Fraiser and Elaine Stone. The signs are good with both the girls. Hannah particiapted in practice on Thursday and was able to do some stuff which indictaes she is a little closer to a full return than Elaine who is expected to have her first practice on Tuesday. Both will travel with the team on Saturday which is a big boost to team morale.

For wildcats they might see the return of ex Killester player Catriona White who amazingly is 1 week back into practice after having a baby 5 weeks ago. We would like to wish Catriona all the best and congratualtions on a healthy baby boy named Matthew.

This is a big game for the girls as they chase that fourth and final playoff spot which would be a huge achievment after having such a tough first half to the season.

Check back to see game report and result!!!

**** PRESS RELEASE **** NOV 2nd - 11.50am

DART KILLESTERS LADIES TRAVEL TO UL

In what promises to be an extremely tough game, DART KILLESTER go to Limerick to play a very good UL side. UL Cuurently top the table after beating DCU Mercy at home and Meteors last week. The reigning champions are in good form and have a lot of strength and dept.

This game will see the return of Louise Gray to Limerick for the first game since she left for college in Dublin. Louise is very excited to go back and play this game as she has been talking all week about how much she is looking forward to getting home.

Also on the other side, Carmel Kissane last years captain for DART KILLESTER will be lining out for UL. Carmel who has been a wonderful player for the club the past number of years has been forced to move as her work and study commitments have her outside Dublin more often that not. Carmel was chatting to the website and said " It still feels a little strange to look down and not see ORANGE gear " but she is enjoying herself and her basketball in UL and we would like to wish her all the best for the rest of the season!

On the injury front for the Dart Ladies, Fiona Carrick and Sarah McGrath both sat out practice last night but both intend to play a full part on saturday. Sarah is troubled by a sore knee and Fiona is suffering from illness but it will take more than that to keep those two determined players out of a game.

The girls are looking for a good performace to dispell the memories of last weeks encounter with DCU. Best of luck on saturday to the girls!

**** PRESS RELEASE **** OCT 25th - 22.45pm

LADIES LOOKING FORWARD TO REMATCH WITH DCU

The Dart Killester ladies travel to North City rivals DCU Mercy on Sunday at 3pm in what could be a terrific game. The teams met on the opening weekend this season in the Arena with DCU coming out on top. DCU had a comfortable enough win being far more experienced and stronger but this Dart team is much changed in terms of belief and coming into this game the girls have all settled into their roles and are more comfortable at the superleague level, which was more than evident after back to back wins the past two weekends.

Dart Killester have no injury worries at all coming into the game, as Sarah McGrath is back to her quick aggressive self in training after missing all of last week with strep throat. More positive news for the girls is that Elaine Stone is going full tilt in practice. It is killing Elaine to be missing out on these games through injury so hopes to be much more involved come the game on Sunday.

Coach O’Connor is hopeful the girls can give a good account of themselves on Sunday saying “The girls have worked so hard the past few weeks, and have been playing well so they really have nothing to fear going into DCU on Sunday.”

This game promises to be a close encounter so we would like to wish all the girls the best and if you can please go along and support the team at 3pm in DCU on Sunday!

**** PRESS RELEASE **** Oct 18th - 12.11pm

DART’S LADIES HOST THE ‘CATS IN FIRST HOME GAME

DART KILLESTER would like to welcome Waterford Wildcats back to the IWA, Clontarf. Wildcats come in off the back of a loss to a tough DCU team while Dart Killester are coming in on a high after wrapping up their first league win last weekend against Tolka Rovers. The two teams met in preseason and it was a very close affair. It is set up to be a competitive game and one that will surely entertain as Dart’s young guns test themselves against the superb Michelle Aspell and her Wildcats.

The news on the injury front from Dart Killester’s coach John O’Connor seems to be all good as Elaine Stone has resumed training and hopes to be in the reckoning for this weekends encounter. The preseason game Vs Waterford was where Elaine sustained the original injury so she is keen to get back out on the floor. Coach O’Connor is aware that some of the girls have little niggling injuries as a result of the physical side of the women’s superleague but nothing that should be a worry come game time. On the Wildcats side, everything seems to be ok on the injury front.

Coach O’Connor is looking forward to this game saying, “after a hard fought win away last weekend we hope to get on a run now, although it will be very difficult as Waterford have shown they are a very good team, losing out late to Glanmire and leading a lot of the way against DCU.”

On another note American Caitlin Malcolm celebrates her birthday today October 18th. Caitlin turns 22 today! Caitlin spoke to us yesterday and said “other than a new pair of shoes there is nothing more I would want for my birthday than a good performance and a win on Saturday for the team.” Caitlin is the oldest on the team by a whopping 2 YEARS as Fiona Ward also celebrates her birthday tomorrow October 19th and she turns 20! The club would like to wish both the girls best wishes on their birthdays!

The game is at home in the IWA this Saturday the 20th of October @ 6pm. Let’s get out and support the girls

**** PRESS RELEASE **** Oct 11th - 3.51pm

DART LADIES FACE OFF AGAINST NORTH CITY RIVALS TOLKA

The Dart Killester ladies are hoping to kick start their league campaign away from home this Saturday versus Tolka Rovers. With both team’s being winless 3 games into the new season, it promises to be a battleground in Tolka Rovers gym with emotions sure to be high. Both team’s will be looking at this to be their chance to get that illusive first win.

On the injury front for your DART KILLESTER ladies, Elaine Stone is still missing with a slipped disc in her back as a result of an early comeback attempt from her previous neck injury. Elaine should return to training on Tuesday and be fit for the following weekend’s fixture.
While this is the only injury DART will be without the services of back up centre Ciara Fitzpatrick as she has left the team due to college commitments.

Coach O’Connor took a moment out from his preparation for the Saturday’s game to tell us, “ I am hopeful this weekend that we finally get our season off the mark. Being so young I think our confidence has slipped a little but a win on Saturday could change all that around and help us push on for the season “.

When asked how his preparation for the game was going O’Connor responded with “ the girls have all worked extremely hard this week as with most weeks but now that all the distractions of college beginning and debs being finished with, the team has been together as a whole and we can totally focus on the opponent in front of us! “

So please come down to support your DART KILLESTER Ladies team at 6.00pm in Tolka Rovers Sports complex.

**** PRESS RELEASE **** OCT 4th - 11.09pm

KILLESTER YOUNGSTERS TAKE ON GLANMIRE GIANTS

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

Representatives from all seven Women Super League clubs were in attendance at the weekend to help promote the start of the Women’s Super League on Saturday, September 29 & Sunday, September 30.
The following players featured in a special photoshoot ahead of the opening set of fixtures fixed for the National Basketball Arena. WSL

Players featured:
DCU Mercy; Mary Fox
Bausch & Lomb Wildcats; Jenny Kelly
Dart Killester; Shauna O’Connor
UL Aughinish; Fiona Scally
Team Montenotte Hotel Cork; Denise Walshe
Meteors; Julie Kavanagh
Tolka Rovers; Catriona Darling
A total of seven games will take place over the weekend and will see some mouth-watering encounters including UL Aughinish v Bausch & Lomb Wildcats and DART Killester take on reigning champions DCU Mercy.

Each team will play two games over the course of the weekend and the fixtures have been determined by last season’s league standings.

On the Saturday night there will be a banquet held for all players, coaching staff and media to celebrate the end of the Year of Women’s Basketball.

It promises to be the perfect opening to a captivating season of Irish Women’s Basketball!!

Dart Killester's ladies finished up their preperation for the 2007/2008 Superleague season with a good win yesterday against Wildcats in St. Davids. A much improved performance from the Killester girls has left the team in good spirits going into next weekends Superleague season launch.

More good news for the team is that Elaine Stone who suffered a nasty neck injury during the game got the all clear in the hospital late last night.

The game finshed up 71-61, but it was a much closer game throughout with the lead changing hands a number of times. New american Caitlin Malcom led all scorers with 22points while Aisling Sullivan and Shauna O'Connor finished with 20 and 18 respectively.

DART Killester is delighted to announce the signing of Caitlin Malcolm from Brandeis University. The 6ft centre has been the star of her college team for the past three years and was recommended to DART Killester by one of our former great players Colin Tabb.

DART Coach John O’Connor is delighted with his new acquisition. “Caitlin is a super athlete who can score and rebound while defensively she is top notch. Colin has seen her play and feels that she will fit into the team and the club. It was important for us that with such a young squad {all are under 20} that we got a player that would fit in and having spoken to her and her coach as well as some other coaches in her division I am convinced that we have that player in Caitlin

A terrific third quarter performance that saw John O’Connor’s young guns go from 39-36 to take a 16 point lead was enough to give DART Killester an excellent victory in the first of the girl’s pre-season games against a gallant and very sporting Elizabethtown College.

O’Connor had a squad of under 20’s and last nights performance certainly augurs well for the future providing O’Connor can recruit a good American to knit into the side. Leah Westbrooks will be a huge loss as she heads off on a four year scholarship to Mount St Mary but on last nights showing there are plenty there willing to fill her shoes.

DART KILLESTER Fiona Carrick 13, Shauna O’Connor 12, Leah Westbrooks 12, Aisling O’Sullivan 12