Pride of the Northside

THE chairman of a Northside basketball club said he is filled with enormous pride at every game he attends.

Colm Kelly was speaking after Killester Basketball Club, the Pride of the Northside, were crowned inaugural winners of the Basketball Ireland (BI) Men’s Premier League.

“To see the dedication and professionalism from the floor staff right through to the coaching staff and players alike is truly amazing,

? Mr Kelly told Northside People.

“Killester Basketball Club has always had a focus on developing basketball from a young age.

“This focus has encouraged children from the age of five to learn and play the game of basketball with one day hoping to play for the club at the highest level.

“Having a Champion Premier League team is a real testament to the strength of each coach, volunteer and sponsor at every level and shows that with dedication and belief good things can happen.

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Mr Kelly added:

“True teamwork is beautiful to watch but even better to experience!”

Killester won the title after wins at home to last year’s Superleague champions, UL Eagles, and away to last year’s cup winners Bord Gais Neptune.

Killester’s rookie coach Jonny Grennell showed that he and his team had the temperament to be champions when they went to Cork and beat UCC Demons by 23 points. But in the most difficult of circumstances they had to record back-to-back wins in less than 20 hours to lift their eight league title in the club’s 47-year history.

They had to win one of their weekend games and at least get a bonus point in the second but the men in orange and black went one better and beat UL Eagles 80-60 and Bord Gais Neptune 63-44.

Having beaten UL on the Saturday it was always going to be difficult on Sunday against Bord Gais Neptune and this showed in the first quarter as Killester looked a tired outfit and couldn’t find their range. They trailed 11-7 at the end of the first quarter.

With Darren Townes on fire for the home side they stretched into a 20-12 lead with five minutes to go in the second quarter. Neptune eventually led 29-24 at half time but the bad news was that Killester’s prolific scorer John Behan was out after picking up a hamstring injury.

Killester looked hungrier in the third quarter and with scores from Mike Bonaparte, Isaac Westbrooks and Ciaran Roe they turned a five-point deficit into a six-point lead midway through the third quarter.

Townes went on to four fouls at the start of the fourth quarter and that was the beginning of the end for the home fans as the visiting crowd found their voices. Back-to-back baskets by Bonaparte shot Killester 10 ahead.

Townes picked up his fifth foul with five minutes to go but the champions elect were now 16 up. Grennell gave his bench a run as they finished it off with a 19-point victory, 63-44 and the North Dubliners’ celebrations began.

Mike Westbrooks said they had to do it the hard way.

“I never realised just how difficult playing two important games so close together would be,

? he said.

“We were still shattered when we got to Cork and we struggled to get the bodies going in the first quarter and trailed.

“We improved in the second quarter and we really got it together in the fourth quarter. Our defence has been our blueprint all season and it was there again.

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Kieran O’Brien, who won his third league title, two with Killester and one with Neptune, said:

“This year is special as we had to do it the hard way. Neptune really gave us a tough game but we managed to forget about the tired legs and turn it around and close it out in the fourth quarter.

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Jonny Grennell who has four league winners’ medals with the club, said:

“The win against UL was fine and there was a great atmosphere in Clontarf. I don’t think I have heard anything like the noise in the place for both games.

“The Cork match was ugly, but we fought so well. Our defence was once again superb and we did enough on offence to win it.

“It is never easy getting over the finish line but I think we proved that we are a good team, particularly down the stretch, and we only lost one game in the league all season and that is some achievement.

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Mr Grennell added:

“Everyone wants to be League Champions, the best team in the league with the best record. Going forward now into the Champions Trophy we will continue to stay focused and hope to build on the momentum we have already created.

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O’Neill’s Irish International Sports Company, Killester’s kit sponsor, congratulated the players and management on their triumph, while club sponsor, Pyrobel, said it was a magnificent achievement for the club.