Sport

Fixtures confirmed for 2022/23 National League season

THE InsureMyVan.ie Men’s National League and MissQuote.ie Women’s National League fixtures have been confirmed for the 2022/23 season.

The first round of games will commence October 1^st/2^nd. The reigning InsureMyVan.ie Super League champions Garvey’s Tralee Warriors begin the defence of their title with a difficult local derby at home against Flexachem KCYMS on Saturday October 1^st. Head coach John Dowling is looking forward to getting back on the court:

“We are delighted to have our first game at home as champions. It’s important to celebrate these achievements when they happen and we’re expecting a capacity crowd for this local derby. We’re excited for our fans to see our new recruits, both professional and young local players. The team and club are aware that if we are to be successful again this year it’s going to be harder. The league is stronger than ever and we have a target on our back, but our guys love to compete, so we can’t wait to get started.”

2021/22 InsureMyVan.ie Super League and InsureMyHouse.ie National Cup finalists Neptune are hoping the addition of Irish senior men’s international Jordan Blount can help propel them to trophy success. They also face a derby day straight off the bat, welcoming newly promoted InsureMyVan.ie Division One champions UCC Demons to Neptune Stadium.

The MissQuote.ie Women’s Super League gets underway on the same afternoon. Holders The Address UCC Glanmire will also have home comforts to aid them. Killester are the opposition for Mark Scannell’s team. Last season’s MissQuote.ie Super League coach of the year added:

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"To say we are excited to get the season started would be an understatement. The addition of basketballireland.tv and live game tracking through the Swish app is going to be huge for the league and for the players. On the court we’ve had a bit of change, but we are where we are. We’ve added two good players from the United States and we are training extremely hard and learning every day. The first game against Killester is three weeks away and we have a lot of work to do between now and then but it’s incredibly exciting to be at home on opening night and we relish the challenge of defending our Super League crown in the months ahead.”

Plenty of envious eyes will be on Trinity Meteors and new coach Niall Berry, as he pairs Ireland senior women’s internationals Claire Melia and Dayna Finn together for the year ahead. Finn will come up against a familiar face on opening day - her sister Hazel Finn lines out for their opposition NUIG Mystics, who were promoted as MissQuote.ie Division One champions.

The headline news in MissQuote.ie Division One is the addition of five fresh faces for the upcoming season. Two teams will play at this level for the first time. McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles welcome SETU Carlow to Virginia on Sunday October 2^nd, while Abbey Seals Dublin Lions will have to wait to begin their charge. They travel to another new entrant, Moy Tolka Rovers in round two on Saturday, October 8^th. The aforementioned Moy Tolka Rovers will be battled hardened by then, they open up on the road against Griffith College Templeogue. The remaining returning teams are St. Paul’s Killarney, who play Marble City Hawks to start the season and Oblate Dynamos, who host a Dublin derby with Swords Thunder.

The most competitive National League this season could be InsureMyVan.ie Division One, as the majority of the 14 teams will believe they can challenge for honours in the upcoming campaign. SETU Carlow’s meeting with Killarney Cougars will get the league underway on Saturday October 1^st. Later that evening, Dwyers of Cork Fr. Matthews play Limerick Celtics in a clash which produced an excellent game of basketball last season and the first day of fixtures is rounded off by the meeting of Scotts Lakers SPK and Limerick Sport Eagles.

Full 2022/23 Season Fixture Lists are attached.

Basketball Ireland National League Round 1 Fixtures:

Saturday, 1^st October

InsureMyVan.ie Men’s Super League North Conference

18:30 Belfast Star v Bright St.Vincents

19:00 UCD Marian v Killester

19:00 DBS Éanna v EJ Sligo All-Stars

InsureMyVan.ie Men’s Super League South Conference

16:00 Tradehouse Central Ballincollig v Moycullen

18:30 C&S Neptune v UCC Demons

19:30 Garvey’s Tralee Warriors v Flexachem KCYMS

InsureMyVan.ie Men’s Super League Cross-Conference