SBI Exclusive Interviews
Conor Meany
Conor Meany has established himself as one of the most tallented guards in the Superleague with his best season yet this year in the Superleague. With Varsity time coming soon we catch up with Conor and find out how the UCD Varsity team is shaping up and what it was like playing in the National Cup Semi finals.
--->Click here to read Conor Meanys Interview<---
Gavin Garland
When varsity time rolls around there are a few certanties you can always rely on; Ul will be favorites in the womens, UCD will come with a stacked roster, NUIM will be drunk and there will be two varsity legends present. Both red haired and from Northern Ireland Gavin Garland and Conor Friel are as much a part of the varsities now as the basketball is. As Mr Friel is busy preparing his hair do for this years tournament we took time out to speak to Gavn Garland Queens coach for the past ten years and also head coach of Queens Mens Division 1 team to get his views on this years tournament.
Gavin thanks for taking time out to talk to streetballireland.com. Who do you think will be the main contenders in the mens/ womens varsities this year?
The contenders for the varsity will be the usual 3 for men UL, UCD and ourselves. Women will be UL, UUC and DCU but I think the more exciting bit will be the relegation and promotion section!!! I hope our girls are in for a shout at promotion!!
How do you feel the addition of the I.T.'s has affected the competition?
The more teams the better, as long as no one loses out. I still have two major problems which I'm still not satisfied with, how are we regulating the students? Is a policeman doing an additional law tutorial a student? Is a professional player doing a wee part-time course a student? I will be interested to see how unversities regulate the players over the next 5 years and do non-students slip through the net.Can anyone but Limerick cope with the competition expanding? I'm dreading it coming up here, I can already see it starting to seperate into two competitions.
Whats your favorite memory from all your basketball varsities?
It's not actually winning, the boys desrved to win that year. My first year of coaching we were ranked last and we won two upsets and only got put out in over-time in the semis. The team were not as talented but the worked harder than any other squad I have had all year.
There has been a lot of talk lately on " The poly" ( Jordanstown) moving up to play in the superleague, do you think their ready?
To be honest, Superleague is about money. UU have the money and the facilities, with support of the university they could be formible squad within 3 years. They have scholarships to give and we've seen with UCD, UL and UUC that this partnership works well.
After queens have sent players like Fergal Toner, Stpehen Dawson and Rob McMurran to Stars Superleague programme do you feel Queens should look at moving up to the Superleague?
I'd do anything for Queens to move up, but without support from the unversity we are in trouble. Queens will only accomodate a student team which over the last ten years has hindered our progress so we're are losing two top players a year as they naturally want to play at a higher level
In all your time as a coach at the varsitys which team do you feel were the strongest?
I always respected the Cork team that beat us in UU, big Ciaran and O'Rilley are two of my favorite players ever. That with last years UCD team, Mark in the inside allows Foley to do what he does best with a bit of everything. Foley again is a man who I respect who plays hard and is a good sport. But this years squads look formible
Whats do you feel about the social aspect of the tournament and will you be applying a drinking ban this year?The social side is the most important, these guys play hard all season but I believe the team spirit of the sport has been lost, varsities is a time to get to know other people. This means I don't apply a drink ban but I expect everyone to realize that this is a social thing not a booze up. So far, out of 10 years only 4 people have let me down.
With a full superlague programme planned for the weekend of the varsities, many of the colleges will loose key players how do you feel about this?
I thought it was in the BI calender
Is ther any changes you would like to see made to the tournament?
I like the B section but I don't like the B teams in the tournament, it means more teams playing squads at their level which will only be more fun!!!
Anyhting else you would like to add?
Queens to make both finals. I want free drinks if they do!!!
Gavin, Thans again and best of luck at this years varsities
