Salute for Mallow’s ambassador of basketball, Marie Breen
GLANMIRE SPORTS STAR AWARD FOR SUPER TROOPER OF THE BASKETBALL COURT
A BRILLIANT career for an exceptional talent, sums up Mallow born sports woman Marie Breen.
Add up all her medals with the country’s number one basketball club, Team Montenotte, and they confirm a terrific innings following a remarkable run of success.
Little wonder, Breen’s workrate, consistency and leadership sets her apart as one of the country’s leading exponents of the game. Earlier in the year, her club, Team Montenotte, cemented their place in Irish basketball history with a record sixth Women’s National Cup.
On doing so, the Glanmire based club completed a second three-in-arow by defeating Pyrobel Killester before adding the league to complete a double for the third consecutive season.
Such consistency and achievement saw Marie acknowledged on selected as monthly winner to the Glanmire Community and Sports Star Awards at a function in the Fitzgerald’s Vienna Woods Hotel.
“I played underage with Mallow up to 18 years, enjoying tremendous success. On furthering my education at UCC, the only team playing Superleague in Cork at the time was Glanmire so I made the move and never looked back”, she said.
“For me, I’ve won five national leagues and four cups; overall, it’s some achievement for the club. Glanmire is a phenomenal club, the drive and determination to succeed is something other clubs don’t possess”.
Defensively, Breen is regarded as exceptional, her vision and passing seen as the ideal teammate because she always willing to share the ball with a colleague.
“The triple double is outstanding, just to win a cup is difficult, the talent is available, the training important as is the work outside training to obtain an extra edge. Likewise, the mix of experience and youth is so important”, she said.
Looking ahead, Breen is unsure of committing herself to another season in top flight basketball.
“I had a lot of bother with my back, a tricky one after incurring two slipped discs, it required me taking a full year out to recover before I returned for the past two seasons. Its all about figuring out how I can push myself ”, she said.
“Today, Cork is the home of basketball, there is a fierce tradition and it’s getting stronger.
“I represented Ireland, that keeps you going and to wear the green jersey is special”.
Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr. Joe Kavanagh and Deputy Co. Mayor, Padraig O’Sullivan, led the congratulations to Marie’s consistency and run of success.
“Marie is a fabulous sports person and a great ambassador for Cork and Glanmire.
“Hopefully, she will continue to maintain an interest in sport”, said Deputy Mayor Kavanagh.
Joining Marie at the function were Mallow family members including parents Mary and Gerard and sister Joanne.