Galway two men’s Superleague basketball sides continue their preparations for the new season when they compete in the second annual Donie Greene Memorial Tournament in Oranmore this weekend.
Maree are hosting the tournament in memory of their former player, Donie Greene, and they will open proceedings with a derby game against Moycullen in Calasanctius College at 10am in what will be a dress rehearsal for their meeting the following Saturday on the first weekend of the Basketball Ireland Superleague season.
The two local sides will be joined by last year’s inaugural winners, Swords Thunder, as well as Belfast Star, and Templeogue, who won the National Cup last year.
Swords begin the defence of their title with a game against Templeogue at 11.30am, while Belfast Star take on Moycullen at 1pm. Maree face Templeogue at 2.30pm, Swords and Belfast lock horns at 4pm, followed by the meeting of Moycullen and Templeogue at 5.30pm. Maree take on Swords at 7pm.
There are three round-robin games on Sunday. Belfast take on Templeogue at 10am, Swords face Moycullen at 11.30am, and Maree host Belfast Star at 1pm.
The top two teams from the round robin series will meet in the final at 3pm.
It is fitting the tournament takes place in Calasanctius College as it was there Donal Greene (fondly known as Donie ) received his second level education. It was there he also tormented opposing teams on the basketball courts and challenged the spirit of rugby rivals close by on the Castle Road pitch.
Donie was a sports fanatic. He captained Oranmore-Maree GAA Club to victory in the 2014 U21 Galway County football final. His achievements with Maree Basketball and Calasanctius College are many, and include many All-Ireland winning teams.
