SSE Airtricity Moycullen return to the top level of Irish basketball when they open their premier league campaign against Killester on Saturday in Dublin.
Moycullen, after a year out of the top flight, are under no illusions to the competition ahead, but they are eagerly anticipating their return to the top division after an outstanding year.
With victory in the National League division one championship, runners-up in the National Cup, with five of the team also contributing to the u-20 National Cup success, two on the u-18 team that finished third in the National Cup, and winning the unofficial u-17 All-Ireland (Billy Kelly tournament ), prospects for Moycullen are certainly bright.
They also have received a further boost with the signing of US player Andy Burns for the upcoming season. Burns, who played collegiately with the University of Virginia, has played in both Australia and Switzerland.
Returning from last season are James Loughnane, Dylan Cunningham, Ronan O'Sullivan, Stephen Tummon, and, after an excellent first season with the team, Paul Freeman. Rory Gilson and Stephen O'Brien from the victorious u-20 team are also back, as is current u-20 player Sean Candon, and with last year's u-18 stars Kyle Cunningham and Joseph Tummon also returning, there is real quality in the squad.
In addition Moycullen will also have Paul O'Brien back in the ranks after his year in Dublin, Patrick Lyons, fresh from his exploits in Tennessee Community College, and Cian Nihill after a brief sabbatical - all providing strength and depth at every position.
The club has also been recognised with two players selected on the Irish club squad that will compete in the FIBA Europe Cup for the first time in more than 20 years.
Dylan Cunningham and Patrick Lyons have been named on the 16-strong combined Hibernia club side, that also includes eight players from the men’s premier league select squad that played at the Sino-European Championships in China.
Moycullen's first home fixture will take place on Saturday October 10 at 7pm in the Kingfisher gym at NUIG. Season tickets are available for the team's 10 home games.
