Weekend basketball previews
Singletons Supervalu Brunell (Cork) v Team Boardwalk Glanmire (Cork), 10.30am
Two Cork superpowers will battle out this intriguing Women’s U18 final with Glanmire fancied to dethrone the champions.
The inspirational Edel Thornton will lead Brunell, winners of this championship for the past two years. Brunell had to show true grit to see off Dublin outfit Meteors in the semi-final, with Thornton scoring a staggering 42 points.
For coach Kieran O’Leary this final will be a true test of his side’s credentials.
“For the first time at this level we are going into a final as underdogs as Glanmire defeated us already this season but I am sure we will not relinquish our title without a fight,” Kieran said.
Glanmire brought in the expertise of former head coach Mark Scannell this season to help them in their quest to win this title and he is keenly looking forward to the final.
“Many people have given us the favourites tag because of a game we won last September against Brunell, but, from experience, that will count for nothing in this final as both teams will have improved since then,” Scannell said.
Thornton’s class will give the Brunell faithful hope but Glanmire’s strength in depth may give them a slight advantage.
Team Boardwalk Glanmire
In the words of Letterkenny Blaze coach Ian McGeever, this is the biggest day in his club’s short history as they bid to win their first ever men’s U18 National Cup title.
Templeogue stand between Letterkenny Blaze and their place in history as coach McGeever looks forward to the final.
“It should be a great game as Templeogue are a great club with some very decent players and we will have to be tuned in from tip off to stay with them,” Ian said.
The Blaze have two sharpshooters in Cian and Tadhg Hickey, both current Internationals. Templeogue will be led by the inspirational Sean Flood as coach Conor James looks ahead to an intriguing decider.
“We are going into this final as underdogs but we have great belief in our ability and I am hoping my players believe in it,” Conor said.
This final will be hotly contested as both teams play the game at high tempo but the class of the Hickey brothers will give the Donegal side a slight advantage.
Letterkenny Blaze.
It’s been 13 years since Cork club Neptune have contested a national final at this level and this afternoon they will go head-to-head with Dublin side Kubs.
Neptune were impressive in their semi-final win over Belfast Star and coach Ronan O’Sullivan is hoping for a repeat performance.
“I honestly believe there are no favourites when it comes to cup finals because at the end of the day it’s 40 minutes of basketball and sometimes teams fail to show up,” O’Sullivan said.
This season, after a year playing in England with Barking Abbey, Neptune welcome back the talented Roy Downey as captain.
“One of the reasons Roy came back from England was for this day as his lifetime ambition is to lead Neptune to a national title and now he has his opportunity to do it on the big stage,” added Ronan.
The mood in the Kubs camp is positive as coach Eoin Chubb hopes to lead to his team to a national title. Kubs defeated championship favourites Killester in the semi-final and Chubb believes a similar performance will be required against Neptune.
“Neptune are a very talented side and we will have to be on top of our game from tip off to stop their various threats,” Eoin said.
Neptune.
When you have lost four consecutive national finals you begin to think your day in the sun will never come.
For Titans coach Paul Freeman the thought of losing another one is unthinkable but, in his own words, it’s a possibility if they are not ready to play.
“It’s been a frustrating few years for our club but the bottom line is that we have departed from the capital empty handed on too many occasions,” Paul said.
Freeman, who has also been sidelined with a knee injury in recent months, believes now is the time to deliver at this level.
“It’s time to do the business and I have told the team they must not let our dedicated fans down and all the great volunteers we have at our club,” added Freeman.
The Galway side will look to the skills of captain Paulius Peldzius and, with a good shooter in Glen Hynes, they will go into this final as hot favourites.
Kilkenny coach Damien Brett is excited by the challenge that awaits his team.
“Not many basketball pundits gave us a chance when we played Castleisland in the semi-final but we prepared hard and we intend giving Titans a battle from start to finish,” Damien said.
This season Kilkenny signed American Puff Summers, a former team-mate of Freeman in Ballina’s SuperLeague days, now a resident in Ireland and he has brought the team to another level according to coach Brett.
“Puff is great guy and I can see how our players have bought into his professional approach but it’s the manner he has brought us to this final that’s impressed all in our club,” Brett said.
This is a game that will keenly contested but surely the wait can be ended for Titans, but they need to be wary of the Kilkenny challenge.
Titans.
Another all-Cork clash, with holders Singletons Supervalu Brunnel strongly fancied to defeat Team Boardwalk Glanmire.
Brunell have the core of their Premier League squad playing in this game and coach Gary Blount is confident his team can retain their title.
“We have trained hard and ready to go but Glanmire have a decent side and we will not be taking them for granted,” Blount said.
In Edel Thornton, Megan O’Leary and Amy Waters they have a very talented side that will pose their opponents plenty of problems if they are allowed to play their usual run and gun game.
Glanmire coach Paul Kelleher is no under illusions of the task that awaits his team.
“We know that Brunell are an excellent side but I am pleased with the progress my side has made in recent months,” Kelleher said.
Kelleher believes his team are maturing – as their quarter-final win over Killester suggests – and a similar performance may suffice against the champions.
“We have to stop Brunell doing what they do best and hopefully we will be good enough to stay the pace with them in what should be a high tempo game from start to finish,” added Kelleher.
Not a final for the faint-hearted, but the class of Brunell should see them defeat their Cork rivals.
Singletons Supervalu Brunell
The National Basketball Arena hasn’t been kind to Tralee Imperials in years gone but their coach, Liam Culloty, will be determined to go one better this year.
Oblate Dynamos shocked Imperials in last year’s final and he is hoping his team can produce their best form against women’s Division 1 joint league leaders Portlaoise Panthers.
“We have prepared well and hopefully we will not have to suffer the same disappointment that we had last year,” Liam said.
The teams have met twice this season and won a game apiece and Culloty believes it’s a hard game to call.
“I am adamant we need to be at our best as Portlaoise have some quality players but we are an experienced unit and I am hoping that will work in our favour,” added Culloty.
The mood in the Portlaoise camp is sheer elation, as they get ready for what coach Peter O’Sullivan describes as the biggest day in the clubs history.
“All our players and supporters are buzzing, full in the knowledge this is what we always wanted to achieve and to win this title would be a dream come true for all of us,” Peter said. “I honestly think there is little to choose between the teams and it will be all on the day who wants it most.”
The Kerry side have an experienced core of players, with Sinead Mackessy, Emma Sherwood, Carolyn O’Mahony and Lynn Jones all having played at this level for many years.
Not an easy game to call, but Tralee Imperials will not want to return to the Kingdom empty-handed.
Tralee Imperials
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