Category: Men’s National Basketball League Teams

Blue Demons | Men’s National Basketball League Team 1979-1993

National Basketball League Team 1979-1993

Home Court:

Colours:

Honours: NBL Division 1 League Winners (3) 1980-81, 1983-84, 1988-89 / NBL Division 1 Top Four Winners (3) 1980-81, 1984-85, 1987-88

Career Record (W-L-T): Total: 174-92 / Regular Season: 168-85 / Post-Season: 8-7

History: One of the most consistent teams in Irish Basketball during the Golden Era from 1979-1991, the Blue Demons, from Cork, won the League and Top 4 Double in 1980-81 and also won the League in 1983-84 and 1988-89, as well as the Top Four Playoffs in 1984-85 and 1987-88.

They reached the playoffs in both the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons during the short-lived Budweiser National League when both Division 1 and Division 2 were merged into one League with 2 Conferences. Both seasons were a disappointment by Blue demons standards and they dropped out of the League following the 1992-93 season.

They continue today as the UCC Demons after a merger with the University in Cork.

Name Changes: Blue Demons 1979-1981 / Team Britvic 1981-1985 / Dawn Milk Blue Demons 1985-1991 / Whirlpool Blue Demons 1991-1993

Year-by-Year Record

Year Regular Season Post-Season International
  Lge P W L Pts P W L Pos P W L
1979-80 NBL D1 18 14 4 28 2 1 1 2nd/F      
1980-81 NBL D1 18 17 1 34 2 2 0 1st/W      
1981-82 NBL D1 18 14 4 28 2 1 1 2nd/F      
1982-83 NBL D1 16 9 7 18 0 0 0 5th      
1983-84 NBL D1 18 14 4 28 1 0 1 1st/SF      
1984-85 NBL D1 18 13 5 26 2 2 0 2nd/W      
1985-86 NBL D1 18 8 10 16 0 0 0 6th      
1986-87 NBL D1 18 13 5 26 1 0 1 2nd/SF      
1987-88 NBL D1 18 13 5 26 2 2 0 3rd/W      
1988-89 NBL D1 18 14 4 28 1 0 1 1st/SF      
1989-90 NBL D1 18 8 10 16 0 0 0 5th      
1990-91 NBL D1 16 7 9 14 0 0 0 6th      
1991-92 NBL Bud 22 12 10 24 1 0 1 4th S /QF      
1992-93 NBL Bud 19 12 7 24 1 0 1 3rd S /QF      

NBL D1 = National Basketball League Division 1 / NBL Bud = Budweiser National Basketball League / Pos = Final Position / W = Top Four Playoff Winners / F = Top Four Finalists / SF = Top Four Semi-Finalists / QF = Playoff Quarter-Finalists /S = Southern Conference.

References: [1-22]

References

________________________________________________________

Bibliography

[1] Shannon, Kieran (2009) “Hanging from the Rafters: The story of Neptune and the Golden Age of Irish Basketball” Appendix Section 1: The Irish Men’s Game: The Complete Records: National League Tables and Top Four semi-finals and Finals. Pp. 516-527.

Magazine Articles

[2] (1984) “National League 1983-84”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. October 1984.

[3] (1985) “Final Standings”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. Autumn 1985.

[4] (1986) “National League Standings 1985-86”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. 1985-86 Season.

[5] (1987) “National League 1986-87”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. 1986-87 Season.

[6] (1989) “National League 1988-89 Final Standings”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. Number 12. 1988-89 Season. pg. 28

[7] (1990) “National League 1989-90 Final Standings”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. Number 15. March 1990 pp. 18

[8] (1991) “National League Tables 1990/91”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. Number 18. May 1991 pp. 14

Sources

[9] (1983) “Scene is set for top-four showdown”. Irish Press. Monday, March 16, 1983.

[10] (1988) “Dawn Milk leave it to last seconds”. Irish Press. Monday, March 21, 1988. pp. 12-13.

[11] (1989) “Neptune find right formula”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 20, 1989. pp. 14-15.

[12] (1990) “Ballina overtime ban hands it to Vincents”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 19, 1990. pp. 12-13.

[13] (1991) “Last gasp Neptune!”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 25, 1991. pp. 22-23.

[14] (1983) “Vincent’s, North Mon on top”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 21, 1983. pp. 14-15.

[15] (1984) “Top two titles stay in Dublin”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 19, 1984. pp. 16-17.

[16] (1985) “Formula finally right”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 18, 1985. pp. 16-17.

[17] (1986) “Dubliners basket top four honours”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 17, 1986. pp. 12-13.

[18] Anon. (1981) “Pride for the ‘Blues”. Irish independent. Wednesday, March 25, 1981. pg. 13

Magazine Articles

[19]1992) “Budweiser Superleague Finals”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. Number 21. April 1992 pp. 17

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Sources

[21(1992) “Ballina attain Holy Grail in thriller”. Irish Independent. Monday, April 13, 1992. pp. 32.

[22(1992) “League title goes West”. Irish Examiner. Monday, April 13, 1992. pp. 12-13.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish, North American & World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 24 September 2019

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2019

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved.

St. Vincent’s Killarney | Men’s National Basketball League Team 1979-1987

Men’s National Basketball League Team 1979-1987

Home Court:

Colours:

Honours: NBL Division 1 Champions 1979-80 / NBL Division 1 Top 4 Winners 1979-80

Career Record (W-L-T): Total: / Regular Season:

History: Became the first Irish Basketball Club to pay American imports to play in 1979, which was against the rules of the Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland, but when the Association saw how many fans it was bringing in, they changed the rules allowing two paid imports per National League team, changing the name of the organisation to the Irish Basketball Association to reflect this. This decision by St. Vincent’s and the IBA ushered in the Golden Era of Irish Basketball which lasted until 1991.

They won the League that season (1979-80) as well as the Top 4 Playoffs, and competed at or near the top for the next four seasons, reaching the top four playoffs each year from 1979-80 to 1983-84 and winning the League and Playoffs again in 1981-82. In 1984-85 they were relegated finishing second last in Division 1. Their last season in the National League was in 1986-87 where they finished joint last in Division 2.

They have an important place in Irish Basketball history, and set the standard for all Killarney and Kerry Basketball teams to follow.

Name Changes: St. Vincent’s Killarney 1979-1981, Gleneagle Killarney 1981-1987 (Sponsored by Gleneagle Hotel)

Year-by-Year Record

v

Year Regular Season Post-Season International
  Lge P W L Pts P W L Pos P W L
1979-80 NBL D1 18 16 2 32 2 2 0 1st/W      
1980-81 NBL D1 18 12 6 24 2 1 1 2nd/F      
1982-83 NBL D1 16 10 6 20 1 0 1 3rd/SF      
1983-84 NBL D1 18 11 7 22 2 1 1 4th/F      
1984-85 NBL D1 18 4 14 8 0 0 0 9th/R      
1985-86                        
1986-87 NBL D2 16 3 13 6 0 0 0 8th      

NBL D1 = National Basketball Division 1 / NBL D2 = National Basketball League Division 2 / Pos = Final Position / W = Top Four Playoff Winners / F = Top Four Finalists / SF = Top Four Semi-Finalists / R = Relegated

References:

Bibliography

[1] Shannon, Kieran (2009) “Hanging from the Rafters: The story of Neptune and the Golden Age of Irish Basketball” Appendix Section 1: The Irish Men’s Game: The Complete Records: National League Tables and Top Four semi-finals and Finals. Pp. 516-527.

Magazine Articles

[2] (1984) “National League 1983-84”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. October 1984.

[3] (1985) “Final Standings”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. Autumn 1985.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Denis Culhane

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish, North American & World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 24 September 2019

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2019

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved.