The 2017 Basketball Ireland Annual Awards have been announced to recognise the sporting excellence of players, coaches, officials, administrators, clubs and schools across the country over the past year.
Over 40 awards will be presented at a special ceremony at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght on Saturday, June 10th to winners from across the country.
Claire Rockall has been named the Women’s Super League Player of the Year to follow up on a season that saw her win Player of the Month twice and secure an All-Star award for her performances with Ambassador UCC Glanmire.
The Women’s Super League Young Player of the Year goes to Courtyard Liffey Celtics’s player Sorcha Tiernan for her superb performances throughout the year.
Staying with Courtyard Liffey Celtics and Head Coach Mark Byrne has been awarded the Coach of the Year award off the back of the team’s success, securing the play off title in Letterkenny at the beginning of April.
Trae Pemberton is the Men’s Super League Player of the Year off the back of an incredible season with Garvey’s Tralee Warriors, which saw them scoop the Champions Trophy. Fellow club player, Ryan Leonard, has been named as the Men’s Super League Young Player of the year following a hugely impressive display for the Kerry side, while Warriors Head Coach Mark Bernsen makes it a Kerry treble by scooping the Men’s Super League Coach of the Year.
In the Women’s Division One meanwhile, Kelly O’Hallahan of Marble City Hawks has been named as the Women’s Division One Player of the Year, with Enya Maguire of Ulster University Elks named as the Division’s Young Player of the Year. Marble City Hawks Head Coach, Julian O’Keeffe has scooped the Coach of the Year award following a fantastic season with the Kilkenny side.
In the Men’s Division one meanwhile, BFG Neptune’s star, Tanner Brooks has been named as the Men’s Division One Player of the Year, with Maree’s Eoin Rockall bagging the title of Young Player of the Year for the second year in-a-row, and the Galway side’s coach, John Finn also taking his second accolade in as many years, winning the Coach of the Year award.
Elsewhere, in a year where they are celebrating their 50th anniversary, Killester Basketball Club has been awarded the Club of the Year accolade.
