BiE caught up with the best in Irish Basketball at the official launch of the men’s and women’s Premier Leagues. The draws for this year’s national cup competitions were also made.
Ballineurope spoke with Darren Townes of Bord Gáis Neptune, Terrance King of UCD Marian, Lehmon Colbert of UCC Demons, and Kathryn Fahy of UL Huskies at the launch of the Irish Premier Leagues for 2013-14.
Check out our photos from the launch on Facebook.
The event also saw the draws for the men’s and women’s cup competitions.
Irish men’s National Cup first round draw
C&S UCC Demons vs UCD Marian
Moycullen vs Bord Gais Neptune
Dublin Inter vs UL Eagles
Killester vs Belfast Star
Templeogue vs DCU Saints
The winners of Moycullen vs Neptune and Templeogue vs DCU Saints will meet in the second round. The winner of that game will join the other three first round winners in the semi-finals. If that sounds needlessly complicated, there is some logic to the format. Basketball Ireland wanted to ensure that every team in the men’s Premier League plays at least one home game in the cup. The first round will see teams play home and away and the one-off second round game will fix the odd number.
Neptune are the defending cup champions and Moycullen’s Ronan O’Sullivan recognises the difficult task ahead. “We have Neptune in the cup so will be heading back to Cork and playing against a lot of the guys I know, it is a tough draw but it will be exciting,” says O’Sullivan.
Conor Meany of UCD Marian sees the clash with Demons, winners of the end of season Champions Trophy last year as a tough draw. “Demons are one of the early favourites with Colin O’Reilly back as their player coach, he is obviously one of the best players around,” says Meany “We’ll give them a good shot, just try and stay in it in Cork really and then get them back up to Dublin and I believe we can give them a good go.”
Irish women’s National Cup draw
Preliminary round
DCU Mercy vs WIT Wildcats
Quarter Finals
UL Huskies vs Ulster Rockets
Killester vs Liffey Celtics
DCU Mercy/WIT Wildcats vs Singleton Supervalu Brunell
Team Montenotte Hotel vs Meteors
DCU Mercy’s Lyndsay Peat knows her team has a difficult route to cup success this season, having been drawn in the preliminary round. “You are always tentative about the cup, we drew WIT Wildcats so I am excited to get kicking off. The cup demands you to be at your best each time out. It’s a preliminary tie so we are early which will focus us so I’m happy,” says Peat. “It’s still UL to beat.”
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