History
Basketball has been an integral and successful part of the sports programme in Templeogue College for decades. It was the basketball players from Templeogue College who laid the foundation for what is now Templeogue Basketball Club.
The gym facilities at that time were the envy of many schools in the area. The building was used as a gym and concert hall. The wooden floor of the gym was an excellent playing surface. There was a removable board bolted onto the stage floor with the second board attached to the gym's end wall.
The gym size meant that the ball was out of bounds if it touched the side wall. But there was other obstacles to avoid also. Players had to watch out for the climbing bars located along one wall or the climbing ropes tied against the far wall at half court. More importantly it was necessary to make sure you did not crash into the stage or end up with your leg stuck in the stage trap door especially if you forgot to slow down on a lay-up.
In the early days days the students had a junior and senior team with training under the guidance of Fr. Joe Murphy and Colm Leahy. Fr. Joe organised a training session for all those who were interested in playing basketball during lunch break.
A group of eager students began by dribbling and shooting the basketball. They were keen to learn and play as Fr. Joe got them to appreciate the fundamentals of the game within the confines of the College gym. Col, Leahy commenced coaching in the school in 1972. He was an experienced and successful player with the top national league team in the country at the time, St Vincent's Glasnevin.
With an enthusiastic group of players keen for competition, teams were picked and entered into the schools leagues.
The College senior team that was picked under the captaincy of John Wims was Philip Brennan - Whitmore, Gerry Carroll, Paul Cunningham, Norbert Gallagher, Conor McCarthy, Finbar McCarthy, Arthur Dean, Michael Carroll, Stephen McCarthy and Michael McCarthy. The senior school team paved the way for basketball to be established in the school and generate an interest in the game and encourage more students to become players.
Many memories of the early years revolved around away games to Castleknock College or Belgium. Games in Castleknock College involved the journey up and down Knockmaroon Hill and were full of incidents. Would the school bus make it up the hill and would it stop at the junction on he way down?
In 1975, the school team travelled to Belgium to play a number of games. The cost was £19 per player and led to the development of a number of friendships which lasted beyond the school years. These were the halcyon days for Templeogue, year after year, from 1973 to 1978 numerous competitions leagues, cups, blitzes and challenge games were won.
In the early years John Wims was a much respected player, referee and coach, along with Philip Brennan-Whitmore, Gerry Carroll and Conor McCarthy they contributed much to basketball in the school. They were many more in the early years; among those were Fr. William Bradley, Cathal McCarthy, Mick White, Joe Kavanagh, Tom Fitzpatrick, Gerry Mahon, Chris Moore, Eddie Guilmartin, Mick James, Johnny Murphy and Ciaran McMahon
Coaches over the years included: Colm Leahy, Fr. Joe Murphy, Kieran Mills, Mick White, Paul Dunne, Philip Rigney, Tom Milhallof, Ann Collins, Angela MacMathuna, Lyn Fenwick, Aileen O'Mahony, Sean O'Connor and Joe Smith.
In 1999, the entire school travelled to the National Basketball Arena to support the team in the All-Ireland final. A fleet of buses transported the supporters to Tallaght to witness Mark Hargadon score a magnificent 32 points in the second half to secure a victory over Kilkenny College and win Templeogue College its first national basketball title.
Some platers have gone on to play with national league clubs and American college teams. Many of the players in school play for clubs within the locality including Templeogue and bring their experience to further basketball in the College.
It was from a small gym and enthusiastic and committed coaches and players that basketball has achieved and represented the College over the years.