Defending champions Éanna set for start of Super League

GRIFFITH College Éanna begin the defence of their Men’s Basketball Super League title on Saturday when they travel to MTU Cork to face Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig, reports James Ffrench.

The Cork side, who won the 2022/23 Super League title, will have a fresh face in the dugout in new head coach Antonio Lopez.

However, the more things change the more they stay the same as Darren McGovern heads into his seventh season in charge of Éanna.

McGovern took over with Eanna in the second tier, a long way from the Super League champions they have become.

With success comes a heightened level of expectation and pressure, something McGovern is well aware of.

“Yeah there is definitely a bit more media attention and more people talking about us, but at the same time a lot of or players are used to playing with each other and in big games which helps,” the Eanna head coach said.

“We will just take each game as it comes”.

Pre-season has seen a raft of personnel changes right throughout the league with some high-profile players set to play Super League basketball this season, making the challenge all the more difficult for McGovern and his side.

“Yeah listen it’s going to be really really tough.

“A lot of teams have made changes and big signings on paper, so if those signings work out there is going to be a lot of teams competing at the top end of the table.”

“With the extra games as well I think in a way it will be survival of the fittest.

“It’s going to be a massive task but as I said we will just take things one game at a time” Eanna have managed to keep the main core which made them champions last season, but they have added one fresh face with Mat McLean coming in for Donnelly Tyrell as their designated American player.

A trip to Cork to face familiar foes Ballincollig will provide the first test for McGovern’s side, as another chapter in their tense rivalry will be written.

“They have made some changes.

“We have been following each other’s paths really, they won the league the year before and we won it last year.

“They spent a season in the second tier and came straight back up and so did we.”

“We have played each other in some big games so naturally there is a rivalry there, so we know the challenge that faces us.”