The sold-out signs went up early for Saturday's InsureMyHouse.ie Men's Pat Duffy Cup final and the two competing head coaches feel that it’s another example of the growing presence of basketball in Ireland.
Darren McGovern of DBS Éanna, who are appearing in their second final in three years, and Charlie Crowley, head coach of first-time finalists University of Galway Maree, have been impressed with the fanfare ahead of their meeting at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght.
"I think throughout the years basketball has really grown tremendously, especially since Covid," McGovern told 2FM’s Game On.
"We’ve really gotten as many children and young people involved in the sport and that’s been excellent to see.
"At senior level, the crowds that have been going to Super League matches in the men’s and the women’s has been extraordinary over the last two years."
"It’s definitely on the rise," Crowley added. "Here in the west of Ireland it’s getting bigger. I think our juvenile [section] has tripled this year alone."
On the big game itself, both head coaches have identified different sections of the contest for possible purple patches.
Not surprisingly given it’s their first appearance, Crowley has said that the Connacht outfit must be out of the blocks fast.
"I think it’ll be who starts the better, gets accustomed to it more.
"They’ve obviously been there before so that will give them the slight edge on paper but we’ll try our best."
His side have put up totals of 91 [Flexachem Killorglin CYMS], 92 [Belfast Star] and 86 [Bright, St Vincent’s] en-route to the final, and Crowley said that their attacking philosophy will not be changing in Tallaght.
"The great Mary Rockwall coached me basketball, so there’s only one way I kind of really know how to play it. We just call it the Maree way, how we play.
"There are certain coaches who kind of read into different things. I’m not a good enough coach to know these different type of systems so I just teach what’s in front of me and do whatever I know.
"We go out there to try and play entertaining basketball."
McGovern’s side, meanwhile, have come through real battles with Garveys Tralee Warriors [85-79], Energywise Ireland Neptune [97-93] and Emporium Cork Basketball [77-71], and for his side, it will be all about being in the game entering those final minutes.
"That’s a lot to do with putting ourselves in those positions and then being lucky. We have a lot of talented players; they make their own luck.
"This is a national cup final, a start is really important but the finish is the most important part of it. If we can get ourselves in that position, we’ll be happy to be in a fight at the end of the game to try and win it."
