Galway’s newest basketball team, Foireann na Gaillimhe, open their Ladies National League division one campaign in NUIG on Saturday.
The Galway team will face experienced campaigners St Mary's Castleisland at the Kingfisher Gym at 3pm in a curtain-raiser to the men’s Superleague clash of Moycullen and Ulster Elks.
Foireann na Gaillimhe opened their competitive season last weekend when they competed in the Senior Ladies National Cup, taking on Meteors in Dublin.
The Galway side could not have had a better start as they took an early 10-2 lead. However, the lead was short lived as their opponents found their rhythm to take a 28-26 lead at half time. The second half was a very up and down game with Ciara Newell, Hannah Coen and Roisin Nihill doing most of the damage. Unfortunately, despite a late rally by Foireann na Gaillimhe, it was the home side that won out.
A new adventure in Irish basketball, Foireann na Gaillimhe is the first county team to compete at national level, resulting from a joint approach from all clubs in Galway.
With no one club big enough to compete on its own, Foireann na Gaillimhe is seen as a positive development in Irish basketball which has been approved by Basketball Ireland.
Foireann na Gaillimhe squad: Hannah Coen, Roisin Nihill, Orla Dempsey, Ciara Newell, Lorraine Dolan. Aedin Nic Fhlannchadh, Meabh Malone, Niamh Brew, Sinead Maxwell, Leah Cunningham, Meg Williams, Caoimhe Clancy, Marie Deegan.
