Ballincollig score a new name

Ballincollig is hoping to become the home of basketball on the southside of the city.

It comes as Ballincollig Tradehouse Central announced on Monday that it’ll now be referred to as Emporium Cork Basketball.

Historically players who wanted to play Super League basketball in Cork felt they had to move to clubs on the northside of the city to play at the highest level.

5 years ago, Emporium Cork Basketball gave players on the southside of the city the chance to play top level basketball whilst staying with their childhood club when they made the decision to move from local league to National League.

Ahead of their upcoming season opener against Moycullen Club, Captain Adrian O’Sullivan said the club was fully focussed on the further growth and development of the club and the name change to Emporium Cork Basketball was representative of this. “We are delighted to be playing under the new name of Emporium Cork Basketball this season. We have big ambitions this year and partnering with The Emporium Company and this will enable us to bring Super League basketball to the suburbs of Cork. The standard of basketball being played in Cork is now higher than it has ever been, even during the heydays. We are excited to get more people enjoying the sport that we love.”

Last season, the team’s impressive record featured 15 wins, with just one loss, which saw them crowned Southern Conference champions.

The name is as a result of a long-standing partnership with The Emporium Company, who are the parent company owners of Tradehouse Central in Ballincollig. They are also the proprietors of the Castle Inn in Glanmire, JJ Coppinger’s in Midleton and Mabel Lane on the Main Street in Carrigaline.