Darren McGuinness on how a Dublin basketballer ended up delivering all the big prizes in Cork
Former professional basketball star Darren McGuinness who played with the North Mon and Blue Demons while playing in Cork.
In any sport, talent can only get players so far.
If they want to be an elite athlete, they will have to put in the extra work that no one sees.
A prime example of that is basketball player Darren McGuinness, the Dublin native who played on Leeside with the North Mon and Blue Demons.
McGuinness played professionally in England with Thames Valley Tigers, Tralee Tigers and Denny Notre Dame.
As a coach of over 40 years, I believe Darren could have played in any era of Irish basketball and as a starter as he was such a smooth player.
"I started playing basketball with my school Coláiste Caoimhín before I joined Corinthians Roadspeed,” Darren said.
"We were very successful and won every trophy at U15, U17 and U19 in both school and club level. I got my first start on the Super League as a 15-year-old against Burgerland Neptune.
"I actually started playing on the Super League team when I was only 14 years old and retired from playing at 28.
"I played with the Ireland underage teams at U15, U17 and U19 level and it was something that I was very proud though I never played at senior level for various reasons."
It was playing in Cork with the North Mon that gave McGuinness great joy. He really blossomed as a player and was a big part of very successful minor team that won the Championship and National Cup along with many local honours.
The one thing that stood out was Darren’s work ethic. He would arrive every morning at 10pm at the Mon school hall to work out for two and a half hours and finish with eight laps around the school.
"I played with Jim Hannigan on my second cycle with the Irish U19 team, where he mentioned to me about joining the Mon and before I knew it, I was in Cork taking part in preseason training with the U19 and Super League team, then known as Budweiser.
"We had a great minor team where we went on to win the World U19 Club Championship in Crystal Palace and the U19 National Cup. I think we won six out of seven trophies that season.
"We finished third in the Men’s Super League and lost in the cup semi-final. Our minor coach Eugene O’Sullivan and team manager Gerry Rodgers were always thinking ahead and trying to improve the club's competitiveness and profile at the time.
"Paul Murphy and Jim Hannigan, who I personally think was the best I played with throughout my career, are the two I enjoyed playing with most. Paul was a great team player and Jim always made me feel secure when I was playing defense along side him, as we both always gave 100%.
"I also enjoyed playing with Jason Finnegan and Brian Murphy, who were also great players that could play great defence.
“The one thing that stood out to me was all the Mon boys were excellent fundamentally. That was a credit to all the coaches in the club with Eugene, Conny Daly, Francis O’Sullivan, Rodger Kelleher and Kieran Doherty who were all ahead of their time in the way they taught the game.
"I couldn’t mention the Mon without thanking the late Mr and Mrs Finnegan, as they treated like their own son when I lived with them and to the late Marie and Mrs Barrett, Paulie’s mother and sister, who always had my welfare at heart.
McGuinness also played a season with Blue Demons where he had more success by winning the biggest tournament in Ireland, the Roy Curtis, where he picked up the MVP award.
That was an elite tournament where only three Irish teams played and had two guest American players along with their two own Americans, the top teams in England and teams from around Europe, just to put the high standard into context.
"I also enjoyed my year with Demon’s as Tim McCarthy was not only a great coach, he was also a great communicator and made me feel very welcome. I do keep in touch with another one of my favourite team-mates Briain Burke. I always thought he was a very underrated player, he simply did his business every game without any fuss."
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