Eagles’ daring vision rewarded with historic unbeaten season

Basketball

When the final buzzer echoed through the National Basketball Arena, sealing McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles' 67-58 victory over Limerick Celtics and an unbeaten season, the emotion on the court was undeniable. For head coach John Stephens, though, it was more about the quiet satisfaction of a plan executed to perfection, one game at a time.

“I knew we had a really good group of Irish players,” Stephens said, standing courtside in the aftermath of a victory that not only delivered a national title but also earned Cavan their first-ever promotion to the Domino’s Women’s Super League.

“And the recruitment of the two girls in from the States went really well, so we knew we had a good squad and we knew we had the work ethic that was needed. But we wouldn't maybe have anticipated the unbeaten nature of the season.

“We would have had targets, alright, targets for the Cup, targets for the Super League. But you don’t know. So we went game by game, game by game. We’re just delighted today.”

The path to perfection - a 22-0 record including league, play-off, and National Cup success - wasn’t accidental. It was mapped early and communicated clearly.

“It’s a cliché,” Stephens admitted, “but we really tried to stick with the process. We had whole phases to our season that we were building up through. We communicated that at the start, so everybody knew where we were going, the road we were on. And the girls bought into that and were super to work with.”

Stephens was quick to point to the long-term vision that sparked the Eagles’ National League journey.

“I remember a number of years ago sitting in a classroom in Virginia College,” he recalled.

“We should mention Virginia College for all the support they give us - and the Show Centre too. But the vision at that point, from some in the club, to go National League and to take that jump… there’s uncertainty with those sort of moves. But the vision they had, the drive… hats off to chairman Graham Tolan and the others who had that foresight. And we had the players to do it.”

Limerick Celtics focused on stopping the Eagles’ American stars Lanetta Williams and Rahmena Henderson but the home-grown players stood up.

“We focus on a team philosophy and team basketball. The two girls from the States were super with that and really bought into it. I mean, it potentially hits on their stats - there are other pros in the league who teams revolve around. We don’t quite do it that way.

“You saw Emma Tolan coming in with her MVP, and Niamh and Ciara Tolan and Casey Mulvey and Laura and Kiraby all coming in and doing the job,” Stephens said.

“It just shows how hard it is to stop us when you work as a team and have the quality we have.”Execution under pressure was a hallmark of the Eagles’ campaign. Whether it was Ciara Brady’s momentum-shifting three-pointer or Emma Tolan’s fearless drives to the basket, Cavan found a way.

“We’ve all our Xs and Os ironed out,” said Stephens.

“So the players knew what they could go to at certain times to get that bucket. But in finals, it’s not always about the Xs and Os and the strategy - sometimes it’s just down to who wants it more.”

“Hats off to the management team, Dee and Ben. They’re super,” Stephens said. “It’s a team effort. Coaching staff, players, and the club behind that. You can’t go down and point to one player or one coach - it’s everybody chipping in and doing their job. That’s what it is today. It was super.”