Preview: Pat Duffy National Cup Final 2025

The first thing you hear when you come into UCC Demons is ‘we are a cup team,’ announced Tobias Christensen ahead of the Pat Duffy National Cup Final at the National Basketball Arena on Saturday night.

The Dane - in his second stint with at the club - is no stranger to National Cup Finals weekend, having previously won the Presidents’ Cup with UCC Demons and UCD Marian. He had a big hand in Demons win against EJ Sligo All-Stars at the semi-final stage, contributing 22 points from 14 shots to go with nine rebounds, including two on the offensive glass.

“You know we got to win this cup for this group of players, these Demons fans. It’s nice to be a part of carrying on that tradition. You know this is where you want to be. You don’t want to be sitting at home this weekend watching other people play here. As basketball players this is what we live for, big occasions, the opportunity to win trophies. I’m just very excited to be a part of it,” added Christensen.

The Cork side will earn their ninth title and become the first to defend their crown since the club did it between 2012 and 2014, if they’re hoisting the prestigious trophy aloft come 10pm on TG4.

We are going in as underdogs but that’s okay too as Killester are presently table toppers in the Super League and are playing the most explosive basketball with serious pace,” said UCC Demons head coach Daniel O’Mahony. 

“It’s down to us to find a way to nullify them and I firmly believe we have the players to match them if we find our best form on the big stage.”

Killester are no strangers to success themselves. They have won the competition on five occasions and though their last gong came in January 2019, they have been knocking on the door in the years since. The club is the first to have teams reach the Pat Duffy and Paudie O’Connor National Cup Final in the same season and the family tradition that runs through the club always brings a smile to the face of Irish international Paul Dick when brought up.

“I mean Killester is obviously the family club, with Jonny (Grennell), Mark (Grennell), Michelle (Clarke) and everyone who came before us. I’m not actually going to try and name everyone because I’ll forget someone,” jokes Dick.

His laid back demeanour does turn more serious when the topic of their opponents is raised: “Their persona is in the name. They are demons. They have to be respected, you know they have three very good pros who really compliment their Irish guys and there’s a lot of fight in them. I mean they have Kyle Hosford who is one of the most decorated Irish players, alongside younger guys like the Hannigans and David Lehane who are all hungry to establish their name in the archives of the club,” added Dick.

It's likely – as many teams decide to do – that Killester will try to double UCC Demons imposing centre Elijah Tillman from the get-go and the matchup between Tillman and Baptiste Chazelas in the paint figures to be crucial. From Demons perspective it’s a case of pick your poison – all of Kason Harrell, Isiah Dasher and Paul Dick can hurt you if you lean your defence more to stopping one. The chess game between coaches Danny O’Mahony and Jonny Grennell will be fascinating, as it was when the sides met earlier this year in the Men’s Super League. That contest ended in an 97-87 win for Killester on home court.

“All the fuss in Ireland is on the cup,” said Dick -as a trademark cheeky grin appears. “It’s just like every other game really, were not trying to hype it up too much, but it would be nice to win it for the week that’s in it.”