Final Standings
| P | W | L | PF | PA | Pts | |
| Sligo Dairies (C – D1C) | 18 | 14 | 4 | 46 | ||
| Waterford Crystal (D1C) | 18 | 13 | 5 | 44 | ||
| Burger King Limerick (D1C) | 18 | 12 | 6 | 42 | ||
| Tolka Rovers (D1C) | 18 | 10 | 8 | 38 | ||
| Mid Sutton-Baldoyle | 18 | 10 | 8 | 38 | ||
| Riverisland Castleisland | 18 | 8 | 10 | 34 | ||
| Team Oscar Tridents | 18 | 5 | 13 | 28 | ||
| St. Gall’s | 18 | 0 | 18 | 18 |
Division 1 Championship
| Date | Home Team | Away Team | ||
Semi-Finals | ||||
| 14.03.1998 | Waterford Crystal | 87 | Limerick | 75 |
| 14.03.1998 | Sligo Dairies | 74 | Tolka Rovers | 67 |
Final | ||||
| 15.03.1998 | Waterford Crystal | 90 | Sligo Dairies | 68 |
Note: Division 1 was merged with the Super League in 1998 and recreated as a second level in 2001. There was no second level at National League level from 1998-2001.
Regular Season Results
| W/E | Home Team | Away Team | ||
| Week 1 | ||||
| 05.10.1997 | St. Galls | 71 | Sligo Dairies | 83 |
| 05.10.1997 | Burger King Limerick | 73 | Tolka Rovers | 76 |
| 05.10.1997 | Riverisland Castleisland | 98 | Team Oscar Tridents | 84 |
| 05.10.1997 | Waterford Crystal | 88 | Mid Sutton-Baldoyle | 75 |
| Week 2 | ||||
| 11.10.1997 | Team Oscar Tridents | 103 | St. Galls | 60 |
| 11.10.1997 | Sligo All Stars | 100 | Tolka Rovers | 75 |
| 11.10.1997 | Riverisland Castleisland | 77 | Mid Sutton Baldoyle | 83 |
| 12.10.1997 | Waterford Crystal | w/o | Burger King Limerick | scr # |
| Week 3 | ||||
| 19.10.1997 | Sligo All Stars | 103 | Riverisland Castleisland | 69 |
| 19.10.1997 | Waterford Crystal | 95 | Burger King Limerick | 87 |
| 19.10.1997 | Team Oscar Tridents | 91 | Mid Sutton Baldoyle | 78 |
| 19.10.1997 | Tolka Rovers | 101 | St. Galls | 89 |
| Week 4 | ||||
| 26.10.1997 | Riverisland Castleisland | 97 | Tolka Rovers | 93 |
| 26.10.1997 | Team Oscar Tridents | 82 | Sligo Dairies | 104 |
| 26.10.1997 | Mid Sutton Baldoyle | 91 | Waterford Crystal | 70 |
| 26.10.1997 | Burger King Limerick | 102 | St. Galls | 75 |
| Week 5 | ||||
| 09.11.1997 | Team Oscar Tridents | 86 | Waterford Crystal | 107 |
| 09.11.1997 | Tolka Rovers | 85 | Sligo Dairies | 102 |
| 09.11.1997 | Burger King Limerick | 94 | Mid Sutton Baldoyle | 82 |
| 09.11.1997 | St. Galls | 66 | Riverisland Castleisland | 85 |
| Week 6 | ||||
| 16.11.1997 | Sligo Dairies | 74 | Waterford Crystal | 72 |
| 16.11.1997 | Mid Sutton-Baldoyle | 82 | Team Oscar Tridents | 67 |
| 16.11.1997 | Riverisland Castleisland | 75 | Burger KIng Limerick | 81 |
| 16.11.1997 | Tolka Rovers | 118 | St. Galls | 59 |
| Week 7 | ||||
| 23.11.1997 | Team Sligo Dairies | 88 | Mid Sutton-Baldoyle | 84 |
| 23.11.1997 | Burger King Limerick | 65 | Oscar Tridents | 72 |
| 23.11.1997 | St. Galls | 60 | Riverisland Castleisland | 71 |
| 23.11.1997 | Waterford Crystal | 112 | Tolka Rovers | 106 ot |
| Week 8 | ||||
| 30.11.1997 | Team Oscar Tridents | 89 | Team Sligo Dairies | 97 |
| 30.11.1997 | Waterford Crystal | 95 | St. Galls | 75 |
| 30.11.1997 | Burger King Limerick | 81 | Riverisland Castleisland | 72 |
| 30.11.1997 | Tolka Rovers | 83 | Mid Sutton-Baldoyle | 84 |
| Week 9 | ||||
| 07.12.1997 | Sligo Dairies | 74 | Burger King Limerick | 90 |
| 07.12.1997 | Riverisland Castleisland | 122 | Waterford Crystal | 113 ot |
| 07.12.1997 | St. Galls | 81 | Mid Sutton-Baldoyle | 82 |
| 07.12.1997 | Tolka Rovers | 87 | Oscar Tridents | 73 |
| Week 10 | ||||
| 21.12.1997 | St. Galls | 85 | Team Oscar Tridents | 107 |
| 21.12.1997 | Waterford Crystal | 66 | Burger King Limerick | 71 |
| 21.12.1997 | Mid Sutton-Baldoyle | 93 | Riverisland Castleisland | 79 |
| 21.12.1997 | Tolka Rovers | 98 | Sligo Dairies | 111 |
| Week 11 | ||||
| 04.01.1998 | Tolka Rovers | 85 | Burger King Limerick | 103 |
| 04.01.1998 | Sligo Dairies | 122 | St. Galls | 74 |
| 04.01.1998 | Mid Sutton-Baldoyle | 72 | Waterford Crystal | 75 |
| 04.01.1998 | Oscar Tridents | 64 | Riverisland Castleisland | 100 |
| Week 12 | ||||
| 11.01.1998 | Riverisland Castleisland | 89 | Sligo Dairies | 101 |
| 11.01.1998 | Burger King Limerick | 74 | Waterford Crystal | 82 |
| 11.01.1998 | Mid Sutton-Baldoyle | 102 | Oscar Tridents | 87 |
| 11.01.1998 | St. Galls | 71 | Tolka Rovers | 117 |
| Week 13 | ||||
| 18.01.1998 | Sligo Dairies | 83 | Team Oscar Tridents | 85 |
| 18.01.1998 | Waterford Crystal | 104 | Mid Sutton-Baldoyle | 84 |
| 18.01.1998 | Tolka Rovers | 102 | Riverisland Castleisland | 95 |
| 18.01.1998 | St. Galls | 71 | Burgerland Limerick | 98 |
| Week 14 | ||||
| 01.02.1997 | Sligo Dairies | 85 | Tolka Rovers | 81 |
| 01.02.1997 | Waterford Crystal | 106 | Oscar Tridents | 87 |
| 01.02.1997 | Riverisland Castleisland | 129 | St. Galls | 81 |
| 01.02.1997 | Mid Sutton-Baldoyle | 67 | Burger King Limerick | 51 |
| Week 15 | ||||
| 08.02.1998 | St. Galls | 74 | Tolka Rovers | 115 |
| 08.02.1998 | Oscar Tridents | 51 | Mid Sutton-Baldoyle | 81 |
| 08.02.1998 | Waterford Crystal | 91 | Team Sligo Dairies | 85 |
| 08.02.1998 | Burger King Limerick | 112 | Riverisland Castleisland | 89 |
| Week 16 | ||||
| 15.02.1998 | Mid Sutton-Baldoyle | 106 | Sligo Dairies | 87 |
| 15.02.1998 | Tolka Rovers | 109 | Waterford Crystal | 78 |
| 15.02.1998 | Team Oscar Tridents | 99 | Burger King Limerick | 110 |
| 15.02.1998 | Riverisland Castleisland | 112 | St. Galls | 71 |
| Week 17 | ||||
| 22.02.1998 | Team Sligo Dairies | 111 | Team Oscar Tridents | 85 |
| 22.02.1998 | Riverisland Castleisland | 80 | Burger King Limerick | 89 |
| 22.02.1998 | St. Galls | 62 | Waterford Crystal | 127 |
| 22.02.1998 | Mid Sutton-Baldoyle | 88 | Tolka Rovers | 92 |
| Week 18 | ||||
| 22.02.1998 | Burger King Limerick | 61 | Sligo Dairies | 98 |
| 22.02.1998 | Waterford Cyrstal | 67 | Riverisland Castleisland | 61 |
| 22.02.1998 | Mid Sutton-Baldoyle | 121 | St. Galls | 82 |
| 22.02.1998 | Team Oscar Tridents | 76 | Tolka Rovers | 79 |
Report
Sligo All Stars (aka Sligo Dairies for sponsorship reasons) were out in front of the Irish Basketball Association Budweiser Men’s Division 1 at the end of October with four wins from four games. Waterford Crystal were hot on their heels with three wins and one loss.
A month later at the end of November, Team Sligo Dairies were still undefeated with 8 wins, two ahead of nearest challengers Waterford Crystal, with three teams on 4 wins: Riverisland Castleisland, MSB (Mid Sutton-Baldoyle) and Burger King Limerick.
Sligo Dairies dropped their first game of the season in Week 9 to Burger KIng Limerick who won by a surprising 16 points as they moved into a three-way tie for second on 6 wins with Waterford Crystal and MSB, three behinf Sligo Dairies by the end of 1997. Three other teams were still n contention for the playoffs with Riverisland Castleisland on five wins, and Tolka Rovers and Team Oscar Tridents on four each. Only St. Galls of Belfast out of the running with ten straight defeats.
By the last weekend of league action in January 1998, Sligo Dairies were still on top although had just lost their second game of the season to Oscar Tridents, who were second last. Waterford Crystal remained in contention with three wins in January, leaving them on 9-4. Burger King Limerick (8-5) and MSB (7-6) were the other two playoff placed teams.
At the end of the season, Sligo Dairies had held on to win the League with 14 wins from 18 games, one win ahead of Waterford Crystal and two ahead of Burger King Limerick. Tolka Rovers sneaked into the Division 1 Championship ahead of Mid Sutton-Baldoyle after both finished on 10-8. Riverisland Castleisland (8-10), Oscar Tridents (5-13) and St. Galls (0-18) took the bottom three spots.
In the Division 1 Championship Waterford Crystal overcame Sligo Dairies 90-68 in the Final, after they had knocked out Burger King Limerick and Tolka Rovers respectively in the Semi-Finals. All four were promoted to the Super League for 1998-99.
About the Basketball National Leagues
The Men’s Division 1 was the 2nd Level of the IBA National Basketball League from 1993-2003. There was automatic Promotion and Relegation to and from the Super League.
The Second Level was merged with the Super League after the 1997-98 season and re-established in 2001. Ballina won the Playoff Final in 2001-02, and completed the double in 2002-03.
References
Newspapers
[1] Anon. (1998) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 2, 1998. pp. 20-21.
[2] Anon. (1998) “Basketball”. Irish Independent. Monday, March 16, 1998. pp. 34-35
[3] Anon. (1997) “Factfile: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, October 6, 1997. Pg. 30
[4] Anon. (1997) “Factfile: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, October 13, 1997. Pg. 34
[5] Anon. (1997) “Ballina want McClean on the Plane from Spain” Irish Independent. Friday, October 17, 1997. Pg. 18
[6] Anon. (1997) “Factfile: Basketball” Irish Independent. Saturday, October 18, 1997. Pg. 22
[7] Anon. (1997) “Factfile: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, October 20, 1997. Pg. 32
[8] Anon. (1997) “McClean helps to sink Neptune” Irish Independent. Monday, October 20, 1997. Pg. 32
[9] Anon. (1997) “Factfile: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, October 27, 1997. Pg. 34
[10] Anon. (1997) “Factfile: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, November 10, 1997. Pg. 34.
[11] Anon. (1997) “Factfile: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, November 17, 1997. Pg. 34.
[12] Anon. (1997) “Factfile: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, November 24, 1997. Pg. 30.
[13] Anon. (1997) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, December 1, 1997. Pg. 30
[14] Anon. (1997) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, December8, 1997, Pg. 33
[15] Anon. (1997) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, December 22, 1997, Pg. 40
[16] Anon. (1998) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, January 5, 1998, Pg. 23
[17] Anon. (1998) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, January 12, 1998, Pg. 31
[18] Anon. (1998) “Neptune looking up as Augusto points the way” Irish Independent. Monday, January 19, 1998, Pg. 30
[19] Anon. (1998) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, January 26, 1998, Pg. 31
[20] Anon. (1998) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, February 2, 1998, Pg. 20
[21] Anon. (1998) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, February 9, 1998, Pg. 26
[22] Anon. (1998) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, February 16, 1998, Pg. 32
[23] Anon. (1998) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, February 23, 1998, Pg. 28
[24] Anon. (1998) “A-Z of Weekend Sport: Basketball” Irish Independent. Monday, March 2, 1998, Pg. 20
[3] Anon. (1997) “Sports Round Up” Irish Times. Monday, November 24, 1997. pg. 28 [Internet] Available online at: https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1997/1124/Pg028.html#Ar02800 [Accessed 19 December 2020]
[4] Anon. (1997) “Sports Round Up” Irish Times. Monday, December 1, 1997. pg. 30 [Internet] Available from: https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1997/1201/Pg030.html#Ar03000 [Accessed 19 December 2020]
Websites
[1] Basketball Ireland (2018) History [Internet] Available from: http://www.basketballireland.ie/history/ [Accessed 26 May 2018]
Acknowledgements
Thanks to John Folan.
About this document
Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the
Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive
Last Updated: 19 December 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 Resereved.