Killester on hunt for a big double
THE National Basketball Arena is sold out for tomorrow’s InsureMyVan Men’s Superleague final between Killester and Griffith College Eanna and The MissQuote Women’s Champions Trophy, both live on TG4.
The all-Dublin men’s final has the makings of a super spectacle, as Jonny Grennell told The Irish Daily Star.
“The reality of being one game away probably only hit us after the Demons game,” he says.
Killester’s captain Ciaran Roe has played for both clubs:
“I played all of my underage basketball with Eanna, so I know how great a club they are.”
It will be a massive encounter for both teams, according to Eanna coach Darren McGovern.
“Éanna have been on a great run of results and Killester have too, with some impressive wins and performances to end the season.
“Jonny Grennell has developed his team into a strong unit and likewise, we have worked extremely hard to get ourselves into this position.
“I am expecting both sets of fans to be treated to some excellent basketball.
“Killester, like ourselves, have a brilliant mix of top Irish talent and international players.”
Killester Women, meanwhile, are going for their third trophy in two years tomorrow as they lock horns with SETU Wildcats.
Grennell tells us that his team is ready:
“For us, I think we need to make sure we do not get out worked.
“Wildcats are excellent in the finer details of the game. Loose balls, offensive rebounds, extra possessions.
“They play at a high tempo. We need to make sure that we limit their extra possessions.
Who does he see winning it?
“One final game — let’s go for a Killester win.”
Killester captain Mimi Clarke has some interesting thoughts on how the destination of the trophies is decided:
“I think it’s such a shame that the race to become Super League Champions does not get more exposure and hype.
“This season there was a bit of excitement as we were neck and neck with Liffey Celtics going into the final weekend of games, which resulted in a one-off League decider.
Medals
“It was amazing to be a part of and to come out on top was even better, but looking back at previous seasons, it seems very underwhelming for the Super League Champions to receive their trophy and medals after a regular league game with no celebration.
“At the end of the day, the team that wins the Super League shows they are the most consistent, and that deserves more praise than it receives.”
Wildcats coach Tommy O’Mahony is looking forward to tomorrow’s clash:
“We are delighted to be in the final as it has been a long time since Wildcats have made it this far.
“The girls have worked so hard to get here and are anxious to make it count.
“We know Killester pose a big threat being league champions and having some outstanding players but we feel we have the players willing to step up for the occasion.”
The word from Basketball Ireland is tickets for tomorrow are sold out .
“I just don’t know what’s happened. When I was playing and we won the All-Ireland in 1991, people were saying it was 23 years since we’d won one,’’ he said.
“You’d be thinking ‘Jesus Christ, 23 years!’, but then it was 10 years since we won an Ulster, 15, 20, 25...
“Pete McGrath stepped down after we lost to Longford in 2002 and that did feel like the end of an era.
“It was a real comedy of errors that day. Mickey Linden and Michael Walsh actually got lost on the way to the match.
Wrong
“They drove down and took a wrong road somewhere, ended up halfway to Tullamore, didn’t turn up until we were already out on the field.”
Down teams became used to losing, but it never sat well with Laverty.
He was a serial winner with Kilcoo and, even on dark days with Down, often stood out.
It was actually Monaghan who blooded him in intercounty management, with Seamus McEnaney bringing him on board as a coach in 2020.
“He has a very big presence. He commands great respect in the dressing room.
“He commands the players’ respect on the training pitch. And he just has a way about him that players love,” said McEnaney.
“He far from thinks he knows it all. He does know an awful lot and he likes to pretend he doesn’t know as much as he does, but he is a very shrewd fella.
“Lav is a very passionate man. He is seriously driven. He is a brilliant man to motivate players.”
To play in the All-Ireland series this summer, Down need to reach the Ulster final.
They’re on the opposite side of the draw to Donegal, Derry and Tyrone and should start with a