FORTY teams from 15 different counties have entered a new competition format catering for basketball clubs operating outside the national league. The draw for the Hula Hoops National Intermediate Cups was made on Thursday October 1st with the action set to get underway on October 24th.
Nine Cork teams have entered with seven from Dublin and four from Kerry. Antrim, Laois and Limerick will all be represented by three teams and two apiece from Donegal and Kildare went into the draws.
“This will be an All-Ireland Club competition to serve as one of the marquee events of our season,” said Basketball Ireland Secretary General Bernard O’Bernard. “It’s a very positive development for players who want to play on Irish basketball’s biggest stage – the National Basketball Arena”
The counties of Monaghan, Wicklow, Derry, Waterford, Clare, Sligo and Louth are also represented.
The Men’s and Women’s finals will take place as part of the National Cup Finals at the National Basketball Arena in January.
The women’s draw has thrown up a Limerick derby between St. Colm’s and Limerick Celtics. There are a number of novel pairings in the men’s draw where Shannon Jets of Clare travel to Kerry to face St. Brendan’s and Donegal Town host newly formed Dublin club Barrow Rovers.
Hula Hoops Men’s National Intermediate Cup 2015-2016
Round 1: To be played October 24/25
St. Brendan’s v Shannon Jets
St. Anthony’s Cork v UCD Marian
Limerick Celtics v Ballincollig BC
Team Brogue Tralee v Sligo All Stars
Gneeveguilla v Eanna BC
Donegal Town BC v Barrow Rovers Dublin
Mallow BC v BC Leixlip Nemunas
Drogheda Bullets v Ulster Elks
Killester BC v Dublin Raiders BC
Round 2: To be played November 21-22
Bray Bullets v Cork Celts
North Star v Waterford Vikings
Phoenix BC v Kildare Gliders
Portlaoise Panthers v St. Brendan’s / Shannon Jets
St. Anthony’s Cork/UCD Marian v Limerick Celtics/Ballincollig BC
Team Brogue Tralee/Sligo All Stars v Gneeveguilla v Eanna BC
Donegal Town BC/Barrow Rovers Dublin v Mallow BC/BC Leixlip Nemunas
Drogheda Bullets/Ulster Elks v Killester BC/Dublin Raiders BC
Quarter Final: To be played December 12-13
Semi Final: To be played January 8-10
Final: To be played January 29-31
Hula Hoops Women’s National Intermediate Cup 2015-2016
Round 1: To be played November 21-22
Ballincollig BC v BYE
Portlaoise Panthers v Donegal Town BC
St Anthony’s Cork v Firhouse BC
Muckno Lakers v Mallow BC
Brunell BC v Tridents Dublin
Carraig na bhFear v Phoenix BC
St Colm’s Limerick v Limerick Celtics
Clonaslee BC v St Brendan’s
Quarter Final: To be played December 12-13
Semi Final: To be played January 8-10
Final: To be played January 29-31
