National Leagues 372
The hunter becomes the hunted
UCD Marian has spent most of their history as a club playing the role of plucky underdog. This season they’ve got a huge target on their back. On Saturday the Dublin club goes for its first Irish cup title since 2011. Emmet Ryan sat down with two of their veterans as they look ahead to […]
It’s Zalgiris but not the one you were expecting
This Saturday morning will see Zalgiris go for glory in a cup final. Not a huge shock but this isn’t the Kaunas club, instead it’s Leixlip Zalgiris who are taking the floor. Emmet Ryan on the big named club making waves in Ireland Once a tiny rural village in Co. Kildare with around 2,000 people […]
Heavy hangs the head
Glanmire head into Sunday’s Irish women’s cup final looking to win the title for the fifth straight year. Having plugged for years to reach the top, now it’s the Cork club with a target on its back. Emmet Ryan on how history can’t be a distraction for the defending champions Way back in 2014, ancient […]
Why not Puff?
Puff Summers was supposed to be a banker. He had the grades, he’d gone to a great school, and he was set for a steady and impressive career behind a desk. In his heart he knew he belonged on the court. This Saturday Summers plays in the Irish Cup final for the first time, a […]
It’s a shame we gotta get old
It was pure heroism from Lehmon Colbert as UCC Demons ran with Templeogue for most of their Irish cup semi-final but time was eventually called on the Cork club’s chances as the reigning league champions put their foot down in the final frame. Emmet Ryan reports on getting old When you are used to being […]
The luckiest number
It was a clash of dominant men wearing 13 as UCD Marian took on Killester for a place in the Irish cup final. Royce Williams wore it for the orange of Killester, Mike Garrow in the yellow of UCD. On Saturday in Cork, they went to war. Emmet Ryan on a cracker in the Mardyke […]
Rachel and Maggie
Two of Ireland’s Under 18 centre tandem squared off in the semi finals of the Irish women’s cup on Saturday. Emmet Ryan on how Rachel Huisjdens and her DCU Mercy side were able to breeze past Maggie Byrne and NUIG Mystics The summer was great. It really, really, went well. An Irish national side that […]
Glanmire grind it out to book cup final spot
The drive for five is still alive as Glanmire saw off a game Brunell to book their place in the Irish women’s cup final. Emmet Ryan reports on a tougher than expected win for the four-time defending champions at the Mardyke They all count no matter what way you get a W. Glanmire weren’t expecting […]
The Woes of the Center Continues As Barcelona Lassa Dismantles Real Madrid
When games are played on the field or courts, people who do not understand, believe that skills alone are the determinants of the outcome. The real truth is that those are not the only determinants of the outcome of games. When a team believes they have a statement to make, when a group of people […]
Dejan and Kaloyan Ivanov – The Bulgarian Twin Towers
Nicolò Origgi looks at two Bulgarian brothers who are late bloomers as dominant big twins in Europe. Dejan and Kaloyan Ivanov have been knocking around a while but, as they hit their 30s, the twins are looking like new forces altogether According to genetics, twin brothers are a rarity in itself. The chances of them […]
Mitchell Watt – High Wattage
Nicolò Origgi delivers another gem of a player profile here as he looks at a young American plying his trade with the champions of Italy who just happens to share his name with another athlete of note What can a retired long jumper and a springy basketball player have in common besides a fair share […]
Luca Vitali – Sharing (the ball) is caring
Nicolò Origgi charts the road back to relevance for the once promising Luca Vitali. The Italian guard went from prospect to punchline but has fought his way back to relevance as he looks to breathe new life into Brescia in Serie A “A basket makes one guy happy, an assist makes two guys happy” – […]