McHale returns to the court in derby victory for Team Merry Monk

Team Merry Monk welcomed back basketball royalty last Thursday night during their Men’s LLR match against Sligo All-Stars.

Liam McHale, the current Mayo ladies senior football manager, played one half of the game and scored nine points in Merry Monk’s 72-61 derby win over their rivals.

The Ballina basketball legend Liam McHale lined out at the age of 58, scoring nine points in the match which took place in Sligo’s Summerhill College.

McHale is 42 years older than some of the players he played with on the night, including 16-year-old duo Theo Daly and Conor Burke as well as Markie Cunningham and Brian Donoghue, both of whom are 17.

The youngsters will be in action again tomorrow (Wednesday) in search of more national glory when St Muredach’s College face Presentation De La Salle Bagenalstown in the All-Ireland Schools League U19 ‘B’ Boys final.

The two teams met last month in the Cup final, which saw St Muredach’s win 63-38 to end a 17-year wait for an All-Ireland title and the Ballina school will look to complete their first ever double.

Tip-off is at 2pm and the game will be broadcast on the Basketball Ireland website.

And to round off a very busy week of action, some of the players will be back on the court again next Saturday night, February 24 when Team Merry Monk play their latest game in the Basketball Ireland Development League (BIDL). It’s a home fixture against none other than their great rivals Mayo Meteors from Castlebar.

Meteors have been flying high at the top of the BIDL Northern Conference standings but Merry Monk have enjoyed some success against them this year in the LLR League.

Admission at Ballina Sports and Leisure Centre is €10 for adults but children are free. Tip off is at 7pm.