One of the coaches, Enda O’Brien commenced by thanking a number of people who have
been very supportive over the year. Firstly he thanked Glyn and Grainne Williams
for providing great food and a warm reception for the homecoming. At this stage
we would also like to acknowledge Paul Hamill who helped to prepare the hall for
the evening. Enda then thanked Ryan O’Neill and Eamon Farmer for all their help
in the Leisure Centre over the winter. Raymond McHugh, Principal St Macartans and
Seamus Meehan were acknowledged for their co-operation and support, as our home games
and quite an amount of training takes place in the SEM. Our home referees, Fiona,
Michael and Brendan were thanked for their contribution over the season. We would
also like to thank all our young members who helped so often as table officials.
It is great to see our older players helping out. Enda also acknowledged Peadar
McMahon, Emyvale.net and Ronan Kilmurray, Northern Standard for their extensive coverage.
Enda thanked all the coaches for their efforts and commitment to the club. Delma
Mulligan and Bronagh Hamill have had a fantastic season with their U13 Girls only
losing one league game. This had been to the Ulster Elks by one point, which was
enough to give the league title to the Jordanstown team. The same girls had just
taken the cup from Donagh. So while Donagh had to settle for second place in both
the league and cup it was a very enjoyable year. Verity O’Connor received the Player
of the Year award and Ellen Mulligan picked up the Most Improved Player award and
Amy Hamill was honoured when she was presented with an Ulster All Star award at the
finals.
Enda then thanked Sean Gallagher for his work with the U13 boys who had a brilliant
season. They had rubbed shoulders with the very best in boy’s basketball and managed
to finish second in the league. Unfortunately they didn’t reach the final in the
cup but there will be much to come from these boys! Michael O’Brien was awarded
the Player of the Year award and Oisin Campbell received the Most Improved Player.
James McKenna was awarded an Ulster All Star award.
He then thanked Tommy and Elaine O’Connor for their work with the U16 Girls. They
had a wonderful season finishing joint second in the league. They were however beaten
in the semi final by Letterkenny. The remarkable fact though is that twelve of the
fifteen strong panel are eligible to play U16 basketball next year. Aislinn McPhillips
was awarded the Player of the Year and Alanna O’Donoghue received the Most Improved
Player. Two of the U16 Girls made a presentation to the coaches on behalf of the
team to thank them for their work over the season.
Enda also welcomed our newest coach to the club, Pat Mohan who had worked with Tommy
and Enda coaching the U16 Boys. This had been a huge step up in class for the boys,
most of whom had won the Division II double the previous season. However, the gulf
in class between division II and division I was too great and we finished mid table.
Realistically we should and could have done better. A top four place was well within
our reach. However it was not to be but the steep learning curve and the experience
gained will stand to the boys. Christopher Kerr received the Player of the Year and
Anthony O Brien received the Most Improved Player.
This brought Enda to the final team the, U14 Girls. Bronagh Hamill had worked
her magic along with Enda on this girl’s team who now were the toast of the club.
They had just returned to Emyvale having captured the second part of the Ulster
Double, by beating Dungannon in the Cup Final by 4 points. They had secured the
League three weeks earlier by the narrowest of margins. The girls got a rapturous
reception which was well deserved and have cemented their place in the club’s history
books. A number of the girls on the team have now won four Ulster League and Cup
Doubles while others have won three which is a phenomenal achievement. We were very
proud that one of our players Rebecca Hughes received an All Star on the day. Another
notable achievement was the awarding of MVP of the final to Ellen O’Brien who had
an outstanding game. Rebecca Hughes who has been a great captain all year also received
the Player of the Year and Hannah Gallagher received the club’s Most Improved Player.
We would like to particularly thank Moran Travel not only for their courteous service
but also for sponsoring our league trophies. To Gussie, Geraldine and Walter a huge
thanks. Enda thanked all the parents for their support both financial and moral
and commented that without that support we would not have reached two Ulster finals
that day. He finished off by thanking the young players themselves for their effort
and commitment all winter. He pointed out that we are competing with largely populated
towns and it is testament to their talent and character that we are so successful.
With that the evening was wrapped up and the players and coaches will now take a
well deserved break.
