Rebel Wheelers deserve to be history makers for their efforts on and off the court

HISTORY made on the basketball court on Friday night in the NBA as Rebel Wheelers claimed their fifth IWA National Cup title in a row with a hard-fought victory over South East Swifts by 10 points, 64-54.

Clearly the better team, with the better players, Wheelers never hit their full ability in the first half or the second half, except for MVP Adam Drummond, whose second-half performance was worth the admission price alone.

He ended the game with 22 points, 10 rebounds and six assists to help his side to victory. He was the star but he got great assistance from Con Coughlan, Jack Quinn and Derek Hegarty.

They led 32-24 but if Swifts had made their free throws (0-10) and layups, they missed seven, they would have been ahead at the break.

Adam Drummond had a great third quarter. He hit 10 points, grabbed four rebounds and had five assists to help his side into a 10-point lead, 50-40 entering the final quarter.

But, this Cork side are an amazing bunch of players and more importantly amazing people, very well coached by Alan Dineen and once they found their mojo, they went on to win in style.

SERIAL WINNERS

It was also an historic night for Derek Hegarty, Dylan McCarthy, Conor Coughlan, Jack Quinn, Alan Dineen and Alex Hennebry, who have all played and starred for their team in the five victories.

For the record, they beat Ballybrack Bulls in 2019, Killester in 2020, 2021 was lost due to Covid, Killester again in 2022 and last year they beat Limerick Celtics to achieve the four in a row.

The night belongs to them and their families, because this really is a family club, run by great people, parents and volunteers who want nothing but to help give their children an opportunity to play sport, promote independence, healthy living and well-being.

This team, since it was formed and especially over the past six years have been a credit to the club and everything it stands for.

First established in 2008 to facilitate children who were eager to participate in all types of physical activities with an emphasis on sports. The club has grown from five to 50 members, and the ages range from five up in both girls and boys.

The club now has basketball teams, two, a rugby team and an athletics team and it continues to grow bigger and better each year.

While success like this, being the best in Ireland for five years is nice and important at times, it doesn’t deflect from the club’s main aim which is inclusion for all.

And they certainly achieve this on and off the court. They talk about a person’s ability, not disability, they focus on inclusion, participation, they empower young people with a physical disability and emphasise to their members disability doesn’t mean you can’t achieve in life.

This team of basketball stars prove this point all the time.

SHINING

Adam Drummond is a newcomer to the team. He is a star, probably the brightest of them all, but they also have some of the best players in Ireland in Jack Quinn, Derek Hegarty and Conor Coughlan.

All three were superb tonight and all three formed the backbone of the Irish Wheelchair team that won the bronze medal at the European Division C Basketball Championships in Bosnia last summer.

That’s what got them over the line. A great win, but a great team for a great club.

History makers.