The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
St Marys Castleisland team up with Garvey’s SuperValu for new basketball season
FOLLOWING the recent news that St. Mary’s basketball club will be competing in the women’s Super League in the 20/21 season the club are now delighted to announce that they have secured Garvey’s SuperValu Castleisland as main sponsor and will be known as Team Garvey’s St. Mary’s.
The club has a long association with Garvey’s who were sponsors of their National league men’s team from 2003 to 2014 during which time the team secured a national cup and two national league titles as well as several southern conference titles.
Last season saw Garvey’s come on board as home game sponsor for the division one ladies team and this season they have agreed to be main sponsor for the super league side while Tom McCarthy has agreed to be home game sponsor. Club Chairman Eamon Egan is delighted with the sponsorship deals, “we are very fortunate to have both sponsors on board in these uncertain times, both Garvey’s and Tom McCarthy’s have been loyal sponsors of the club for many years and we are delighted to see that continue,” he said.
Although the team, who were runners up in last season’s league, did not get to play the planned relegation/promotion game against Marble City Hawks at the end of last season due to
COVID-19, they were invited to express their interest in stepping up to the top league. At a recent meeting of the WNLC it was voted that St. Mary’s would be promoted regardless.
This coming season Super league will have a Conference system, North and South. Teams will play their Conference opponents on a home and away basis, with one match against teams from the opposite Conference. The Southern Conference is made up of Waterford Wildcats, Glanmire, Fr. Matthew’s, Brunell, Marble City Hawks and Team Garvey’s St. Mary’s
While the Northern conference will consist of Leixlip, IT Carlow, DCU Mercy, Trinity Meteors, Pyrobel Killester and Maree. The season is due to tip off on the weekend of October 17.
The club is currently planning some fundraising ahead of the season; this will include a draw and a camp in late August which will feature international coaches including Team Garvey’s super league coach Liam Culloty. A list of squad members will be announced in the coming weeks.