IRELAND’S under-20 ladies’ basketballers created quite a stir when they went all the way to the Division B semi-finals of the FIBA European Championships in Kosovo and there was a Killarney man on the line to steer them on their path to success.
James Fleming was assistant coach to the side that registered three terrific victories against Ukraine, Great Britain and Croatia before they edged out Great Britain once again to win the bronze medal and earn promotion to Division A basketball for 2020.
Although they suffered losses to Israel and Bulgaria, the squad wrote another piece of Irish basketball history in the high-stakes shootout with Great Britain when they hit top form to triumph by three points (60-57) despite a late British comeback.
Coach Fleming is no stranger to success on the hard courts as he successfully guided the Fr Mathew’s senior ladies’ team from Cork to their first ever title at Super League level last season, after winning the Division One national cup in 2018. Promotion to the Super League followed and securing a title in their first season at that level was an incredible achievement.
Fleming, the son of Tadhgie and Maureen from Lewis Road, was named Women’s Division One Coach of the Year award last season.
A former St Paul’s Killarney Super League player and senior ladies’ head coach, James has also coached a number of St Paul’s underage teams in recent years. He is well known in sporting circles as a former Dr Crokes senior football championship winning captain.
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