AFTER their second place finish in the Women’s Super League earlier this year, Glanmire Basketball Club are eagerly awaiting the start of the 2020/2021 Women’s Super League season.

Playing under the new name The Address UCC Glanmire this power-house of Irish basketball boasts an impressive line-up. 

Returning to the court for her second season with the club is the formidable Shrita Parker, who was crowned Women’s Super League Player of the Year 2019/2020 by Basketball Ireland. 

Parker, a 5’7” guard from Virginia Beach, was outstanding for Glanmire last season, averaging 23.5 points per game.

Joining Parker at Glanmire is fellow country woman Anna Hayton. 

Hayton, 6’2” Center, from Parkersburg, West Virginia played her college basketball with the University of Charlestown, averaging 19.2 point per game over 30 games during the 2019/2020 season.

Fellow All-Star and Irish international Claire Rockall returns to Glanmire this year following  two years playing with her home club Maree. 

The Galway native, and Cork favorite, Rockall was instrumental in Maree’s promotion to top flight basketball in 2019 and their top three finish in the Women’s Super League last season 2019/2020.

European Championships silver and bronze medallist winner and All-Star Claire Melia will also line out for The Address UCC Glanmire this coming season. 

Melia, a 6’3” centre joins European medal winning teammates Annaliese Murphy, Louise Scannell and Amy Dooley at the club to complete an exciting panel of inspirational young international talent for Head Coach Mark Scannell to select from.

Ready for action, Head Coach Scannell is looking forward to the new season.

"With the uncertainty surrounding all sport due to Covid-19, as an elite team we have tried to prepare as best we can for the season ahead," Scannell said. 

"As with all clubs competing at this level, there are many new challenges to deal with and the safety of our players is at the forefront of everything we do.

“I must acknowledge that the support from our sponsors has been more important than ever this year. "We are delighted that The Address (formerly The Ambassador), under the stewardship of General Manager Eoin Daly, are on board as one of our main sponsors again. 

"Coupled with this, our partnership with UCC, with the support of Sports Director Christine O’Donovan, provides us the opportunity to play in top class facilities at the Mardyke Arena and links us with talented players through their scholarship programme.

“We are delighted to have Shrita (Parker) returning to play with us for a second season. The addition of American Anna Hayton, as well as Irish internationals Claire Rockall and Claire Melia, will almost certainly mark us as contenders going into the new season.

”We have our first league fixture at home to Marble City Hawks next Sunday (October 18th) and it will be the first time the full team will play together. Given the evolving Covid-19 situation we can only take things one game at a time. 

"That said, we will have the League and National Cup at the forefront of our minds which will keep us focused.’’