Limerick Sport Eagles

Prior to the late 1990s, Limerick's presence in the Irish National League was represented by Marathon Basketball Club.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxLdZWZ1L9U Postgame Interview - Marathon Basketball Club - Ireland 1996] In 1999, Marathon's National League team became known as Burger King Limerick.[https://web.archive.org/web/19991011190824/http://www.esatclear.ie/~bryan/frames.html The New Improved Marathon Basketball Site]

In 2002, Burger King Limerick celebrated their first-ever Irish Cup title after defeating Star of the Sea in the final.[http://www.rte.ie/sport/basketball/2002/0127/161650-basketball/ Limerick win Senior Men's Basketball Cup][http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/early-lead-gives-limerick-edge-1.1048241 Early lead gives Limerick edge][http://www.britball.com/2002/irishcup02-finalmen.html ESB Irish Cup 2002: Limerick twist past Star] A year earlier, American Cleotis Brown was named Basketball Ireland Foreign Player of the Year.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2UL31L3e8s Limerick Lions TV - History: National Cup Champions 2002][http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/vincent-s-out-to-make-amends-1.1107530 Vincent's out to make amends]

In 2004, Marathon Basketball Club was renamed Limerick Lions Basketball Club, and thus, Burger King Limerick became Limerick Lions.[http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2004/1206/ireland/tigers-tops-but-lions-are-on-a-roll-609541782.html Tigers tops but Lions are on a roll]

In 2009, Limerick Lions Basketball Club parted ways with the National League team. As a result, the University of Limerick absorbed the team and rebranded it as UL Eagles.[http://www2.ul.ie/web/WWW/Services/News/News%20Archives/By_Category/Sport?did=717069029 THE UL EAGLES GET SET TO SOAR!]

In February 2012, UL Eagles won their first National Cup title since 2002 after defeating UCC Demons in the final.[http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/limerick-sport/87366/Double-success-for-Limerick-basketball-.html Double success for Limerick basketball][http://www.ul.ie/news-centre/news/ul-wins-two-national-basketball-cup-titles UL Basketball Teams are victorious at Superleague National Cup] Eagles went on to win a historic National League title in March 2012,[http://www.limerickpost.ie/2012/03/29/double-double-for-ul-basketball/ Double double for UL Basketball] and backed that up in 2013 by defending their title.[http://www.rte.ie/sport/basketball/2013/0303/371863-back-to-back-superleague-titles-for-ul-eagles/ UL Eagles lifted the Nivea For Men's SuperLeague trophy for a second straight season] In February 2015, long-time servant of the team, Welshman Matt Hall, announced his retirement after 15 years of playing in Limerick.[http://www.limerickpost.ie/2015/02/04/ul-eagle-matt-hall-announces-his-retirement/ UL Eagle Matt Hall announces his retirement]

After finishing last in the Super League table in 2016–17, UL Eagles were demoted to the Basketball Ireland Men's Division One National League for the 2017–18 season.[http://www.basketballireland.ie/news-detail/10024500/ FIVE TEAMS APPROVED TO PLAY IN 2017/18 MENS DIVISION ONE][http://www.basketballireland.ie/news-detail/10028538/ FIXTURES ANNOUNCED FOR BASKETBALL IRELAND NATIONAL LEAGUE SEASON][http://www.limerickpost.ie/2017/08/11/ul-eagles-basketball/ UL Eagles basketball aim to soar back to top tier] However, in September 2017, the team withdrew from the National League entirely.[https://www.facebook.com/ULEaglesBC/posts/10155696464719800 To All our Friends and Supporters...] The team returned as the UL Sport Eagles in the National League Division One in the 2018–19 season.[https://www.basketballireland.ie/league/129831/ Mens Division One] They continued in Division One as UL Sport Eagles in the 2019–20 season.[https://www.limerickleader.ie/gallery/sport/521731/slideshow-ul-sport-eagles-win-limerick-s-basketball-derby.html SLIDESHOW: UL Sport Eagles win Limerick's Basketball derby]

In 2020, the team was renamed Limerick Sport Eagles.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/LimericksportEagles/posts/10158634222579800|title=Ahead of Limerick Sport eagles season opener...|work=facebook.com/LimericksportEagles|date=13 October 2020|access-date=6 October 2021}} The 2020–21 Division One season did not go ahead due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web | url=https://www.basketballireland.ie/news-detail/10067273/202021-national-league-season-halted-with-immediate-effect/ | title=2020/21 National League season halted with immediate effect | work=BasketballIreland.ie | date=15 October 2020 | access-date=16 October 2020}}{{cite web | url=https://www.basketballireland.ie/news-detail/10067974/202021-mens-national-league-season-cancelled/ | title=2020/21 Mens National League season cancelled | work=BasketballIreland.ie | date=28 November 2020 | access-date=28 November 2020}}{{cite web | url=https://www.basketballireland.ie/news-detail/10069249/basketball-ireland-formally-end-202021-season/ | title=Basketball Ireland formally end 2020/21 season | work=BasketballIreland.ie | date=3 February 2021 | access-date=10 February 2021}} The Limerick Sport Eagles continued in Division One in the 2021–22 season.[https://ireland.basketball/20210930143638-men-s-division-1 InsureMyVan Division 1 – 2021/22 Fixtures] In 2022–23, the team reached the Division One final.{{cite web | url=https://ireland.basketball/20230401230750-ulster-university-seal-promotion-to-the-insuremyvan.ie-super-league-with-95-86-overtime-win-over-limerick-sport-eagles | title=Ulster University seal promotion to the InsureMyVan.ie Super League with 95-86 overtime win over Limerick Sport Eagles | work=ireland.basketball | date=1 April 2023 | access-date=3 April 2023}}

• 2× Irish National League champions: 2012, 2013[https://web.archive.org/web/20150428104842/http://www.basketballireland.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1388 Roll of Honour 1973 - 2014]
• 2× Irish National Cup champions: 2002, 2012

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• [https://www.facebook.com/LimericksportEagles/ Limerick Sport Eagles] on Facebook

{{Irish Super League}}

Category:Sport at the University of Limerick

Category:Super League (Ireland) teams