Liffey Celtics will provide the opposition for St Paul’s in their return to top flight basketball on the opening weekend of the Women’s Superleague Basketball.
The Kildare side visit the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre on Saturday, October 5 with a 4.00pm tip-off.
Cork powerhouses Glanmire will take advantage of the newly improved N22 the following Saturday while Killester will be in town on the October bank holiday weekend.
The only away fixture James Fleming’s side will have in the first month will be in Brunell and hopes will be high that that run will help ease the newly promoted side into the top echelon.
New signings Megan Ormiston and Gracen Kerr have landed safely in Ireland and they will be looking to settle in seamlessly into their new surroundings.
Ormiston, standing at 6ft 3, can play in both the four and five positions with her power under the boards one of her best assets.
Kerr, from Connecticut, is a quicksilver point guard, adept at evading the hard press and always looking to bring her teammates into the game.
They will link up with Deirdre Geaney who has ample previous experience with both Tralee and Castleisland and the assiduous Paris McCarthy who will join the fold upon her return from Australia.
Also signed on is Anja Marinkovic who had a star-studded college career with Detroit Mercy and Florida Gulf Coast University. Adept from beyond the arc, she most recently played for Alpo in Italy where she averaged 10.5 points per game.
The addition of Marinkovic is a serious sign of intent that St Paul’s will not be there just to make up the numbers.
Crossing the county bounds to join James Flemings squad is Simone O’Shea who brings with her title winning experience from Glanmire in 2023. She lined out with Khiarica Rasheed in that triumphant season and one thing you can’t discount is her pedigree.
Her mother is Caroline Forde, Basketball Ireland Hall of Fame winner and part of the all-conquering Blarney team from the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The squad will, of course, carry the bulk of the side that gained promotion so impressively last season. The evergreen Lynn Jones is back for another season with the hugely promising Leah McMahon learning her trade quickly.
Rheanne O’Shea knows what it takes in the top level as does Meabh Barry.
All-Ireland football champions Lorraine Scanlon and Siofra O’Shea will spend the winter on the hardwood with the return of the latter especially gratifying following prolonged injuries.
The side will be captained by the industrious Denise Dunlea who will be determined to exude her leadership qualities after a tough few months off court.
The club will also be entering a team in the development league which will help to give a good level of basketball to everyone around the squad or those up and coming.
Portlaoise Panthers, in their second season in the top flight and Waterford will complete the 2024 home programme with the South Easterns making a pre-Christmas trip.
January is dominated by cup action, the sole home game being Brunell on Sunday, January 26 for what will be a mouthwatering encounter.
Galway Mystics, Trinity Meteors and Fr Mathews will all come to Killarney before season’s end and those games could have a vital bearing in the final standings.
The team is once again generously sponsored by Utility Trust and there are a couple of notable addition to the backroom team.
Shane Horgan will be the assistant coach and he will be remembered as a top class performer for St Paul’s at national league level for many years he has spent the time since coaching within the club.
Brian Clarke will also assist as an analyst, helping the team prepare for their next opponents.
They are both the same vintage as Coach Fleming they will be keen to make St Pauls as competitive as possible, with the ever dependable Christina Bartlett pulling the strings backstage.
ST PAUL’S HOME FIXTURES
All games in the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre
Saturday, October 5th (4pm): Liffey Celtics
Saturday, October 12th: (4pm): Glanmire
Saturday, October 26th (4pm): Killester
Saturday, November 23rd (4pm): Portlaoise
Saturday, December 14th (7pm): Waterford
Sunday, January 26th (3pm): Brunell
Sunday, February 16th (3pm): Galway Mystics
Saturday, March 1st (4pm:) Trinity Meteors
Saturday, March 15th (4pm): Fr Matthews
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