Top Four / Champions Trophy Finals 1977-Present
| Year | Winners | Runners-Up | ||
| ABAI MNL D1 | Top Four Finals | |||
| 1977-78 | Marian | 64 | St Vincent’s Dublin | 57 |
| 1978-79 | Blue Demons | 89 | Marian | 87 |
| IBBA MNL D1 | Top Four Finals | |||
| 1979-80 | St. Vincent’s Killarney | 104 | Blue Demons | 73 |
| 1980-81 | Blue Demons | 77 | St. Vincent’s Killarney | 74 |
| 1981-82 | Gleneagle Killarney | 100 | Team Britvic Blue Demons | 97 ot |
| 1982-83 | St. Vincent’s Dublin | 83 | Sporting Belfast | 78 |
| 1983-84 | St. Vincent’s Dublin | 104 | Gleneagle Killarney | 76 |
| 1984-85 | Team Britvic Blue Demons | 77 | Burgerland Neptune | 74 |
| 1985-86 | Jameson St. Vincent’s | 89 | Premier Milk Killester | 81 |
| 1986-87 | Burgerland Neptune | 95 | Premier Milk Toppers Killester | 84 |
| 1987-88 | Dawn Milk Blue Demons | 89 | Burgerland Neptune | 88 |
| 1988-89 | Burgerland Neptune | 95 | Harp Ballina | 82 |
| 1989-90 | St. Vincent’s Dublin | 81 + | Harp Ballina | 81 |
| 1990-91 | Burgerland Neptune | 92 | North Monastery 96ers | 91 |
| Budweiser League Playoffs | IBA MNL Budweiser League | |||
| 1991-92 | Connacht Gold Ballina | 91 | Jameson St. Vincent’s | 78 |
| 1992-93 | North Monastery 96ers | 79 | Jameson St. Vincent’s | 62 |
| National Championship | IBA MNL Super League | |||
| 1993-94 | Jameson St. Vincent’s | 82 | Garvey’s Tigers Tralee | 75 |
| 1994-95 | Marathon Sports St. Vincent’s | 103 | Delta Notre Dame | 88 |
| 1995-96 | Star of the Sea | 106 | Marathon Sports St. Vincent’s | 83 |
| 1996-97 | Star of the Sea | 90 | Neptune Camlec | 85 |
| 1997-98 | Star of the Sea | 92 | Denny Notre Dame | 74 |
| 1998-99 | Marathon Sports St. Vincent’s | 86 | Killester | 78 |
| 1999-2000 | Denny Notre Dame | 93 | St. Vincent’s Dublin | 74 |
| 2000-01 ^ | Season Not Completed | |||
| 2001-02 | Frosties Tigers Tralee | 78 | DART Killester | 69 |
| 2002-03 | ITP Saints | 115 | Notre Dame | 84 |
| Super League Final | BI MNL Super League | |||
| 2003-04 | Tralee Tigers | 69 | DART Killester | 54 |
| 2004-05 | UCC Demons | 91 | Tralee Tigers | 81 |
| 2005-06 | Roma St. Vincent’s | 104 | Limerick Lions | 74 |
| 2006-07 | DART Killester | 95 | Merry Monk Ballina | 90 |
| 2007-08 | Abrekebabra Tigers Tralee | 66 | DART Killester | 62 |
| 2008-09 | UCC Demons | 81 | DART Killester | 76 |
| 2009-10 | DART Killester | 74 | UL Eagles | 64 |
| 2010-11 | DART Killester | 84 | Bord Gais Neptune | 80 |
| 2011-12 | UL Eagles | 70 | DCU Saints | 56 |
| 2012-13 | UCC Demons | 73 | DCU Saints | 62 |
| Champions Trophy Finals | BI MNL Premier League | |||
| 2013-14 | UCC Demons | 79 | Killester | 70 |
| 2014-15 | UCC Demons | 85 | Templeogue | 73 |
| 2015-16 | UCC Demons | 82 | Pyrobel Killester | 77 |
| Champions Trophy | BI MNL Super League | |||
| 2016-17 | Garvey’s Tralee Warriors | 74 | Templeogue BC | 73 ot |
| 2017-18 | Garvey’s Tralee Warriors | 73 | Black Amber Templeogue | 61 |
| 2018-19 | Templeogue BC | 77 | Belfast Star | 62 |
| 2019-20 & | Season Not Completed |
Note: + Title Awarded to Jameson St. Vincent’s. Harp Ballina refused to play overtime due to a controversial refereeing decision.
Note 2: ^ League abandoned 7 March 2001 due to outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease and Killester declared champions 29 March 2001
Note 3: & League abandoned in March 2020 due to COVID-19 Cornavirus Pandemic and Belfast Star declared winners 14 March 2020
Composite Standings 1977-Present
| Team | P | W | L |
| UCC Demons / Blue Demons (Team Britvic) | 11 | 9 | 2 |
| DCU Saints / St. Vincent’s Dublin (Jameson, Marathon Sports, ITP) | 16 | 9 | 7 |
| Belfast Star / Star of the Sea | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Tralee Tigers (Abrekebabra / Garvey’s) | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Neptune (Burgerland / Camlec) | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| Killester (Premier Miilk Toppers, DART) | 12 | 3 | 9 |
| Tralee Warriors (Garvey’s) | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| St. Vincent’s Killarney (Gleneagle) | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| UCD Marian / Marian | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| North Monastery 96ers | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| UL Eagles | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Notre Dame (Delta, Denny) | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Ballina Braves (Harp, Connacht Gold, Merry Monk) | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| Griffith College Dublin Templeogue BC (Black Amber) | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| Limerick Lions | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Sporting Belfast | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Report
The Amateur Basketball Association of Ireland instituted the Top Four Playoffs in 1977-78. Marian and Blue Demons were the first two winners. In 1979-80 the name of the organization was changed to the Irish Basketball Association (IBBA) to reflect the new paid imports from America. Between then an 1991 St. Vincent’s (Gleneagle) Killarney won it twice, St. Vincent’s (Jameson) Dublin four times, Blue Demons (Team Britvic) from Cork three times, and Neptune (Burgerland), also from Cork, three times.
In 1991-92 the two Men’s Divisions were merged into one Budweiser National League, won by Ballina (Connacht Gold) from Co. Mayo in 1991-92 and North Monastery 96ers, from Cork in 1992-93. The League was again split into two divisions in 1993-94 with the top division renamed the Men’s Super League.
From 1993-94 to 2002-03 the National Championship was won on four occasions by St. Vincent’s Dublin (Saints), Star of the Sea (Belfast) on three occasions and Notre Dame (Tallaght) and Tralee Tigers on one occasion each.
The Association rebranded as Basketball Ireland in 2003 and the two Conference (North and South) system was re-introduced (as in 1991 to 1993). The Super League Playoff Final was won three times between then and 2013 by both UCC Demons (Blue Demons merged with UCC) and DART Killester. Tralee Tigers won it twice and St. Vincent’s Dublin and UL eagles once.
In 2013-14 the Super League was renamed the Premier League for three seasons before reverting to the Super League name, and the National Championship renamed the Champions Trophy. It was won on three occasions by UCC Demons, twice by Garvey’s Tralee Warriors and once by Templeogue BC between 2013-14 and the present.
References
Sources / Newspapers
[1] A Special Correspondent (1978) “Weekend Results Round-Up: Basketball “ The Irish Times Monday, March 13, 1978. pg. [Internet] Available from: https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1978/0313/Pg003.html#Ar00300:05DC360C1C4D [Accessed 1 January 2020]
[2] A Special Correspondent (1979) “Basketball : Celtic now have tough relegation battle” The Irish Times Wednesday, March 14, 1979. pg. [Internet] Available from: https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1979/0314/Pg018.html#Ar01805:49C6C74AC6E84AB6CA4C26E74C16C74CF6E84CF6CA50C6E7 [Accessed 1 January 2020]
Bibliography
[3] Shannon, Kieran (2009) “Hanging from the Rafters: The story of Neptune and the Golden Age of Irish Basketball” Appendix Section 1: The Irish Men’s Game: The Complete Records: National League Tables and Top Four semi-finals and Finals. Pp. 516-527.
Magazine Articles
[4] (1984) “National League 1983-84”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. October 1984.
[5] (1985) “Final Standings”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. Autumn 1985.
[6] (1986) “National League Standings 1985-86”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. 1985-86 Season.
[7] (1987) “National League 1986-87”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. 1986-87 Season.
[8] (1989) “National League 1988-89 Final Standings”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. Number 12. 1988-89 Season. pg. 28
[9] (1990) “National League 1989-90 Final Standings”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. Number 15. March 1990 pp. 18
[10] (1991) “National League Tables 1990/91”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. Number 18. May 1991 pp. 14
Newspapers
[11] (1983) “Scene is set for top-four showdown”. Irish Press. Monday, March 16, 1983.
[12] (1988) “Dawn Milk leave it to last seconds”. Irish Press. Monday, March 21, 1988. pp. 12-13.
[13] (1989) “Neptune find right formula”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 20, 1989. pp. 14-15.
[14] (1990) “Ballina overtime ban hands it to Vincents”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 19, 1990. pp. 12-13.
[15] (1991) “Last gasp Neptune!”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 25, 1991. pp. 22-23.
[16] (1983) “Vincent’s, North Mon on top”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 21, 1983. pp. 14-15.
[17] (1984) “Top two titles stay in Dublin”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 19, 1984. pp. 16-17.
[18] (1985) “Formula finally right”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 18, 1985. pp. 16-17.
[19] (1986) “Dubliners basket top four honours”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 17, 1986. pp. 12-13.
[20] Anon. (1981) “Pride for the Blues | Div. One (Men)”. Irish Independent. Wednesday, March 25, 1981. pg. 13.
[21] (1992) “League title goes West”. Irish Examiner. Monday, April 13, 1992. pp. 12-13.
[22] Anon. (1993) “For the Record | Basketball”Sunday Independent, April 4, 1993. pg. 52
[23] (1994) “Rose Breen Orchestrates Victory”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 14, 1994. pp. 20-21.
[24] (1994) “Basketball”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 18, 1994. pp. 18-19.
[25] Anon. (1995) “Neptune squeeze through” Irish Examiner. Saturday, March 25, 1995 [Pg. 33 Irish Newspaper Archive]
[26] Anon. (1995) Kerry spring surprise” Sundat Independent. March 26, 1995. [Pg. 49 Irish Newspaper Archive]
Magazine Articles
[27] (1996) “Tralee Tops in Budweiser Superleague Marian: Back in big-time after unbeaten campaign”. IBA Official Basketball Magazine. Number 33. April 1996. pg. 27
Newspapers
[28] (1997) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 17, 1997. pp. 26-27.
[29] (1998) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 2, 1998. pp. 20-21.
[30] (1998) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 16, 1998. pp. 34-35.
[31] (1999) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 29, 1999, pp. 40-41.
[32] (2000) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 20, 2000. pp. 38-39.
[33] (2001) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, February 26, 2001. pp. 28-29.
[34] (2002) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 25, 2002. pp. 74-75.
[35] (2003) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 24, 2003. pp. 34-35.
[36] (2004) “Basketball”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 15, 2004. pp. 26-27.
[37] (2005) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 21, 2005. pp. 36-37.
[38] (2005) “Basketball”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 14, 2005. pp. 28-29.
[39] (2007) “Basketball”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 26, 2007. pp. 30-31.
[40] (2008) “Basketball”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 31, 2008. pp. 26-27.
[41] (2009) “Basketball”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 30, 2009. pp. 28-29.
[42] (2010) “Basketball”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 8, 2010. pp. 30-31.
[43] (2011) “Basketball”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 7, 2011. pp. 24-25.
Websites
[44] Eurobasket (2014) Basketball Ireland Super League 2004-05 [Internet] Available from: www.eurobasket.com/Ireland/basketball-Super-League_2004-05.asp [Accessed 22 September 2016]
[45] Eurobasket (2014) Basketball Ireland Super League 2005-06 [Internet] Available from: www.eurobasket.com/Ireland/basketball-Super-League_2005-06.asp [Accessed 22 September 2016]
[46] Eurobasket (2014) Basketball Ireland Super League 2006-07 [Internet] Available from: www.eurobasket.com/Ireland/basketball-Super-League_2006-07.asp [Accessed 22 September 2016]
[47] Eurobasket (2014) Basketball Ireland Super League 2007-08 [Internet] Available from: www.eurobasket.com/Ireland/basketball-Super-League_2007-08.asp [Accessed 22 September 2016]
[48] Eurobasket (2014) Basketball Ireland Super League 2008-09 [Internet] Available from: www.eurobasket.com/Ireland/basketball-Super-League_2008-09.asp [Accessed 22 September 2016]
[49] Eurobasket (2014) Basketball Ireland Super League 2009-10 [Internet] Available from: www.eurobasket.com/Ireland/basketball-Super-League_2009-10.asp [Accessed 22 September 2016]
[50] Eurobasket (2014) Basketball Ireland Super League 2010-11 [Internet] Available from: www.eurobasket.com/Ireland/basketball-Super-League_2010-11.asp [Accessed 22 September 2016]
[51] Eurobasket (2014) Basketball Ireland Super League 2011-12 [Internet] Available from: www.eurobasket.com/Ireland/basketball-Super-League_2011-12.asp [Accessed 22 September 2016]
[52] Eurobasket (2014) Basketball Ireland Super League 2012-13 [Internet] Available from: www.eurobasket.com/Ireland/basketball-Super-League_2012-13.asp [Accessed 22 September 2016]
[53] Basketball Ireland (2018) History [Internet] Available from: http://www.basketballireland.ie/history/ [Accessed 26 May 2018]
Newspapers
[54] Anon. (2014) “Basketball”. Irish Examiner. Monday, March 24, 2014. pp. 52-53.
Websites
[55] Basketball Ireland Comortais (2015) Men’s Champions Trophy 2014-15 [Internet] Available from: http://bi.comortais.com/competition.aspx?oId=1001&id=1211 [Accessed 27 October 2016]
[56] Basketball Ireland (2016) Men’s Premier 2015-16 [Internet] Available from: http://www.basketballireland.ie/menspremier/ [Accessed 21 September 2016]
[57] Basketball Ireland (2016) Men’s Champions Trophy 2015-16 [Internet] Available from: http://www.basketballireland.ie/championstrophy/ [Accessed 21 September 2016]
[58] Basketball Ireland (2018) Mens Champions Trophy [Internet] Available from: http://www.basketballireland.ie/championstrophy [Accessed 28 March 2017]
[59] Basketball Ireland (2018) Mens Champions Trophy [Internet] Available from: http://www.basketballireland.ie/menschampionstrophy [Accessed 12 March 2018]
[60] Basketball Ireland (2018) MSL Champions Trophy [Internet] Available from: http://www.basketballireland.ie/league/138821/ [Accessed 23 April 2019]
[61] Basketball Ireland (2020) MNCC confirms winner of Basketball Ireland Men’s Super League [Internet] Available from: https://www.basketballireland.ie/news-detail/10061709/mncc-confirms-winner-of-basketball-ireland-mens-super-league/ [Accessed 28 April 2020]
Note: Copies of The Irish Independent, Irish Press & Irish Examiner are available to view online at the Irish Newspaper Archive: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ which is a subscription service.
Images
[62] Folan, John | Irish Basketball Memories of the 80s And 90s Facebook Group (2020) Post to Page, January 27, 2020″Fantastic team loved going to see them play” [Internet] Available from: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/84031072_1023908997993251_8391839803976450048_n.jpg?nc_cat=104&_nc_sid=ca434c&_nc_ohc=eZjapq8zlu4AX9QUva&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=03447b305a695c8d4a572078f382a059&oe=5E9F44CB [Accessed 25 March 2020][Adjusted]
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Rob Gihbu and John Folan.
About this document
Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the
Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive
Last Updated: 27 May 2020
(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2020
You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved.