Cork Basketball: Gonkers reunion night is an annual highlight for former players on Leeside

The Gonkers Basketball Club held another reunion at the Residence’s Bar in Blarney Street recently.

However, it's now becoming more of the Cork ex-basketball players reunion as there were players from a lot of different clubs in attendance, and they all enjoyed the banter and singsong well into the night.

However, before the music started everyone in attendance raised a glass to some of their former players, Eddie McMullen, Eddie Creagh and Denis Coveney, who sadly passed away in recent years.

The night was organised again by Mick Murphy and he was delighted with the turnout.

“I am absolutely delighted with the turnout again tonight,” Mick said.

“It’s great to meet up with the lads we did battle with on the court many years ago.

"We used to beat one another black and blue at times, however, we always left whatever happened out on the court on the court, and then went for a few pints afterwards.

"I look forward to these nights as I think it’s so important especially as we are all are getting older and it's great to meet up to talk about the great old days we had on and off the court,” Murphy added.

Ger Keane was also in attendance and he recalls the great days he had when he played underage with the De Paul club and senior with Blue Demons and Crosshaven, however, playing with the Gonkers gave him the highlight of his career, especially winning the All-Ireland with his brother Denis as coach in 1982.

“I began my playing days with De Paul’s where I played all my underage basketball before moving up to play senior with Blue Demons,” Ger said.

“I then moved to Crosshaven to play National League and they had some excellent players like Jim Crowley and American, the late Jim McGuinness, and was coached by the great John O’Leary.

“However, playing with the Gonkers was a special time for me, as I got to play with some amazing friends and clubmen. 

"We had a special bond on and off the court and even to this present day I can’t really describe how everyone was such a tight group.

“Winning the All-Ireland was definitely the highlight of my career, especially as my brother Denis was the coach.

"I believe it was one of the finest squad of players put together in the country,” Keane added.

Mick O’Callaghan was another player who started out playing underage with Iona and then moved to the Gonkers where he had very happy memories playing with both clubs.

“I love coming along to these night as it gives me a chance to meet up with the lads I grew up with, and I was to thank Mick Murphy for organising these great nights every year,” Mick said.

“I played with an excellent Iona team with players like Denis Daly, Harry Cooney, Paul Prendergast and Hughie Miller, and we won an amazing eight All-Ireland basketball titles together.

“I then moved to Gonkers and had many happy years playing with the lads, but I have to mention the great committee members, Conny Coughlan, Steve Keenan and Teddy Walsh, who not only were all great men, but they were great friends as they had everything organised for us on and off the court."