Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland All-Ireland Senior County Championships 1952-1973

ABAI All-Ireland County Championships Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland Basketball

Finals 1952-1973

YearWinnersRunners-Up
1952Dublin38Roscommon36
1953Dublin
1954Dublin
1955Roscommon
1956Cork
1957Kerry34Antrim31
1958Antrim49Roscommon34
1959Kilkenny
1960Antrim
1961Roscommon52Antrim48
1962Antrim
1963Antrim67Kerry53
1964AntrimDublin
1965AntrimDublin
1966Dublin68Antrim45
1967Dublin
1968CorkAntrim
1969Kerry
1970Kerry
1971Cork61Dublin57
1972Dublin77Kerry55
1973Sligo64Kerry59
ABAI All-Ireland Senior County Championship Finals 1953-1973 [Reference: 1-23]

Report

The Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland was formed in 1945. Prior to this Basketball had only been played in the Army as they were the only places where there were gyms. The first Leagues were played in Dublin in 1945 and by the 1950s there were All-Ireland Championships organised on a County basis much like the GAA.

The All-Ireland Senior Championship was a single-elimination tournament, played out on a Provincial basis with the four Provincial winners meeting in the All-Ireland Semi-Finals.

Antrim (6 Wins), Dublin (4 Wins), Kerry & Cork (3 Wins Apiece) and Roscommon (2 Wins) were the most successful counties. Only Kilkenny in 1959 were to break the stranglehold of these five counties, prior to Sligo’s win over Kerry in the last ever All-Ireland County Championships in 1973.

In 1973, a National Basketball League based on clubs was organised and this brought an end to the era of All-Ireland County Championships.

References

Sources

[1] Anon. (1952) “Basketball” Irish Press. Wednesday, December 31, 1950. pg. 8

[2] Anon (1953) “Basketball” Irish Independent Thursday, December 31, 1953. pg. 9

[3] Anon (1954) “Basketball” Irish Independent Friday, December 31, 1954. pg. 6-7

[4] Anon (1955) “Basketball” Irish Independent Saturday, December 31, 1955. pg. 10-11

[5] Anon (1956) “Basketball” Irish Independent Monday, December 31, 1956. pg. 10-11

[6] Anon (1957) “Basketball” Irish Independent Tuesday, December 31, 1957. pg. 10

[7] Anon (1958) “Basketball” Irish Independent Wednesday, December 31, 1958. pg. 10

[8] Anon (1959) “Basketball” Irish Independent Thursday, December 31, 1959. pg. 12

[9] Anon (1960) “Basketball” Irish Independent Saturday, December 31, 1960. pg. 14-15

[10] Anon (1961) “Senior Title for Roscommon” Irish Independent Wednesday, May 3, 1961. pg. 20-21

[12] Anon (1963) “Kerry Foiled Of Making History” Irish Independent Monday, April 22, 1963. pg. 8-9

[13] Anon (1964) “Basketball” Irish Independent Wednesday, December 30, 1964. pg. 12-13

[15] O’Connor, Tony (1966) “Basketball” Irish Press Friday, April 15, 1966. pg.

[16] Anon (1967) “Basketball” Irish Independent Saturday, December 30, 1967. pg. 14-15

[16] ‘Rebounder’ (1968) “Basketball: At Last Victory for Cork in All-Ireland Senior, Junior Finals” Evening Echo, Tuesday, December 17, 1968. pg.

[17] Anon (1968) “Basketball” Irish Independent Tuesday, December 31, 1968. pg. 12-13

[18] Anon (1969) “Basketball” Irish Independent Wednesday, December 31, 1969. pg. 12

[19] Anon (1970) “Basketball” Irish Independent Thursday, December 31, 1970. pg. 12-13

[20] Anon (1971) “Basketball” Irish Independent Friday, December 31, 1971. pg. 14-15

[21] Anon. (1971) Cork capture All-Ireland While Na Mistealaigh Take Lota Tournament” Evening Echo. Tuesday, April 20, 1971. pg. 12.

[22] Anon (1972) “Basketball” Evening Press Monday, March 13, 1972. pg. 15

[23] A Special Correspondent (1073) “Sligo win the big one: First All-Ireland Title” Sligo Champion, Friday, March 16, 1973. pg. 14.

Social Media

[24] Irish Basketball Memories of the 1980s and 1990s Facebook Page (2020) Junior Ryan: Answer to Post by Enda Mulcahy, 28 February 2020 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1060954243928054/permalink/2942221669134626/ [Accessed 28 February 2020]

[25] Irish Basketball Memories of the 1980s & 1990s Facebook Page (2020) Rob Gihbu, Reply to Post by Enda Mulcahy, 29 February 2020 [Internet] Available from: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/s851x315/89035704_10213399588744251_1758018135312564224_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_sid=dbeb18&_nc_ohc=c8NN_DnWk5kAX8GVo-G&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&_nc_tp=7&oh=9f7edd9b8d198cb58e31ae3431837cc5&oe=5EBF47E0 [Accessed 29 February 2020]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Rob Gihbu [Reference: 25] & Junior Ryan (Cork 1971) [Reference: 24].

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish, British, North American, and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 29 February 2020

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2020.

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

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