UCC Demons James Hannigan ready to take his game to a higher level next season

UCC Blue Demons ace James Hannigan is really looking forward to the new Super League basketball season which starts next month.

However, he took very little time off this summer as he was in the gym every day getting himself ready to play with the Irish senior men’s team, which he did last month in Dublin.

His Demons teammates are now back working hard in pre-season for the last couple of weeks and they all know that they have a big target on their backs as defending Domino’s Men’s Super League champions.

“I am absolutely buzzing for this coming season,” James said.

“The fire came back early before pre-season after a handful of weeks off, and we’ve been straight into training trying to piece everything together on the court. 

"We have a huge season ahead and have a big target on our backs trying to win back-to-back league titles.

“My best experience was definitely winning the league, because of all the sacrifices we made as a team all year. 

"We showed what we were about and all the hard work paid off, and to lift the trophy at the end of last season really made all the sacrifices so worth it.

“Kyle Hosford (Hozzy) as always has been a great influence with his experience and his calm approach to big games, and that now has a positive effect on the not so young fellas like Scott, David Lehane and myself now. 

"We certainly feel we are very seasoned now for our ages and experience, and it’s great to see David Lehane as our captain as he has been a great friend since a young age and he has grown into the role perfectly. 

"We played all through school together and for us to be side by side with Irish teams and now with Demons is great and it’s great to see the leader he has become.

"The Irish team experience was great, as it’s been a goal of mine since a young age and to tick that off is amazing. 

"The international game is played at a very high tempo, which I love, however, there’s a huge gap between Super League and international basketball standard, and I have learnt a lot, because it’s the smallest of details that make the biggest difference at that level, and hopefully, I have more to big international games to come.

“The day we won the League on that Sunday, I was in college on Monday in Carlow finishing off my apprenticeship and now I’m qualified in electrical and instrumentation tech with Dornan's Engineering. 

"I’ve been hitting the gym hard over the summer, as I haven’t taking an off season at all. 

"Hannigan’s don’t do off seasons as I keep telling my brother Scott. 

"We love to train over the summer trying to put on size for when season comes around again, the ball never stops rolling for us.

“We want to win it all again this season. 

"Danny has trusted me a lot since I joined Demons and likes the way I lead the team. 

"I like to lead everyone through my actions, whether it’s extra training during the week, or getting extra shots up with pros or gym work. 

"I think that’s one of my biggest assets to the team and hopefully my good habits rub off on everyone on the team. 

"With all the lads doing extra stuff now and with David as captain I know Danny has great trust in him to lead the team, however, for myself I like to lead through my actions on the court with defence and hard work and fighting 100% all the time.

“I feel we have the best Irish players in the country and with us now used to each other, we have a great fighting chance this year to retain our titles. 

"I’m really excited for the new lads to come in and as once we gel as a team we will have a great chance to defend our trophy and it’s really exciting that Tala Fam is also back playing with us.

“We want to win it all from the get go this year and that has to be our goal, however, I think it will be harder for us to defend it. 

"I feel Killester who have always been great to play against will be a real danger, and we have a new rivalry with them and I love it.

“I can’t wait to play them again this season, but we have our eyes firmly on Neptune which is our first game of the season in the Mardyke and playing them is special for both sets of supporters.

“I really want to win a trophy again with this group, as I feel our young Irish core can be exceptional for years to come, and winning with this group of players and coaches means everything for me,” Hannigan added.