Ballina’s legends a glorious symbol of basketball’s lost years

At half-time in tonight’s National Cup final, Irish basketball will warm itself in the glow of a glorious past, when an iconic Ballina side is introduced to the crowd 25 years on from the classic final victory over Neptune in Cork.

After years spent butting their heads on a glass ceiling, the side spearheaded by a trio of McHales — Liam, Sean, and Anthony — and orchestrated by Paul McStay finally claimed a national title.

Hundreds of their kinfolk had travelled down from Mayo for the occasion.