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 on October 1/2. 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 1st.
“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”, says head coach John Dowling, very much looking forward to getting back on the court.
“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.
Women’s super league
The MissQuote.ie Women’s Super League gets underway on the same afternoon.
For local sides, that means a trip to O’Loughlin Gaels for St. Paul’s Killarney as they take on Marble City Hawks while SETU Carlow head Virginia to take on Division One newcomers Mcevoy’s Cavan Eagles on Sunday 2 October, preceded by a meeting with Killarney Cougards on Saturday 1 October to start the league proper.
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 “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 2nd, 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 8th. 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 1st. 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.
Basketball Ireland National League Round 1 Fixtures
Saturday, 1st 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
- 19:30 Griffith College Templeogue v NUIG Maree
InsureMyVan.ie Men’s Division One North Conference
- 17:00 Team Northwest v Abbey Seals Dublin Lions
- 18:00 Moy Tolka Rovers v Portlaoise Panthers
- 19:00 Malahide v Ulster University
InsureMyVan.ie Men’s Division One South Conference
- 14:00 SETU Carlow v Killarney Cougars
- 17:00 Dwyers of Cork Fr.Matthews v Limerick Celtics
- 19:30 Scotts Lakers SPK v Limerick Sport Eagles
InsureMyVan.ie Men’s Division One Cross-Conference
- 19:30 Drogheda Wolves v SETU Waterford Vikings
MissQuote.ie Women’s Super League
- 16:00 Waterford Wildcats v Ulster University
- 17:00 The Address UCC Glanmire v Killester
- 17:30 Trinity Meteors v NUIG Maree
- 19:00 Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics v Fr. Mathews
MissQuote.ie Women’s Division One North Conference
- 17:00 Griffith College Templeogue v Moy Tolka Rovers
- 19:00 Oblate Dynamos v Swords Thunder
MissQuote.ie Women’s Division One South Conference
- 17:00 Limerick Sport Huskies v Portlaoise Panthers
- 19:00 Marble City Hawks v St. Pauls Killarney
Sunday, 2nd October
MissQuote.ie Women’s Super League
- 14:45 Singleton SuperValu Brunell v DCU Mercy
MissQuote.ie Women’s Division One
- 15:00 McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles v SETU Carlow
- 15:15 Limerick Celtics v Phoenix Rockets
