With five wins, one defeat and a place at the top of Domino’s Men’s Super League, Limerick Celtics are shooting for the stars.
BUT for head coach Tony Hehir, the real victory may be happening beyond the scoreboard.
Besides making a significant mark on Irish basketball, Limerick Celtics are giving the rest of the country plenty of reasons to turn heads.
With an 88-69 victory over Garvey’s Tralee Warriors on October 30, Celtics gave the Warriors little room to breathe.
Coming out all guns blazing, Tony Hehir’s side registered 27 points in the opening quarter and wasted no time establishing their dominance.
Philip Kearney led the team with 21 points, securing a convincing 19-point victory. With five wins from six games, the club is enjoying a promising start to the season. Yet, for the club’s head coach and the secretary, the achievement has been years in the making.
Extending well beyond the numbers on the scoreboard, for Hehir, Limerick Celtics represents years of hard work poured into building a team capable of competing at the highest level of Irish basketball.
“Reaching the top of the Super League table is huge for Limerick Celtics,” said Hehir. “We have put huge time and effort into producing our own home-grown players, and we are now beginning to see all of this hard work result in good performances and results in Ireland’s top men’s basketball league.”
It is a formula built on home-grown ambition with carefully chosen additions. Hehir credits the recruitment of professional players Sebastian Cole, Peter Turay and Tiras Morton, whose contributions have made a major impact on the team.
Hehir adds, “The addition of Callum Keys, Hubert Gocek and Max Turski from our underage boys’ teams has helped bring more depth and a new level of team chemistry to an already very united group of players.”
And if there is one thing that transforms a group of talented players into a winning team, it is chemistry, something the Celtics coach believes his players have found both on and off the court.
Limerick Eagles’ Challenge
Celtics are not the only ones putting Limerick basketball on the map. With Limerick Eagles also establishing themselves among the league’s top contenders, the city’s basketball rivalry is becoming every bit as compelling as the competition itself.
A recent derby between the two sides attracted a substantial crowd, demonstrating the growing local appetite for the sport.
“It’s great to have a local rivalry. We all witnessed the huge turnout in UL Arena, and hopefully, this could inspire more young people to get involved in the sport,” said Hehir.
For the Celtics, building a legacy matters as much as lifting trophies. With high-quality weekly sessions led by experienced coaches and multiple league competitions, Hehir believes there are plenty of opportunities for aspiring players to get involved.
“Basketball is Ireland’s biggest indoor sport and, at present, the quality of entertainment on display on weekends in Limerick is second to none.”
The Head Coach believes the sport deserves far greater recognition in media circles, pointing to strong attendances and sponsor support as reasons for optimism. With men’s and women’s Super League and Division One basketball on offer locally, he argues it should be celebrated and shared by a much bigger audience.
“I think Limerick is on the rise and is becoming a serious force in Irish basketball. It deserves to take its rightful place in the city’s sporting conversation.”
Next up for Limerick Celtics is a Round Seven encounter against UCC Demons on November 14. The team expects a tough game, stressing that they will need to perform at both ends of the floor to secure another result against a very experienced opposition.
The Celtics may currently have their sights set on the league title, but their ambitions stretch further. If the crowds keep coming and the next generation keeps growing, Limerick’s basketball story could be only just beginning.