MAPLEWOOD/SOUTH ORANGE – Two high school basketball teams from Malahide Basketball Club in Dublin, Ireland will be in the South Orange-Maplewood area this weekend. The two teams, made up of boys and girls, will play a total of nine games over four days, four of which will be held locally.
On Friday, February 12, Our Lady of Sorrows School Varsity Girls will play Malahide Girls team at 6:30 p.m., followed by the OLS School Varsity Boys versus Malahide Boys at 8 p.m. On Monday, February 15, at 6 p.m. the Club Malahide girls will play the St Joseph’s CYO Varsity Girls followed by the Malahide Boys playing the St Joseph’s CYO High School Boys game at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free for all games.
The Malahide Club teams will also play in Leonardo, Bernardsville, and North Arlington during their stay in New Jersey. Both teams are scheduled to attend the Seton Hall University game at Walsh Gym on Sunday, February 14, as the Pirates take on Villanova. Tuesday will be a free day for the teams to explore New York City and they return to Ireland on Wednesday, February 17.
This is the third time teams from Malahide Basketball Club have played in the area in the last 10 years. Barbara McCarthy, from Our Lady of Sorrows School, is originally from Malahide and played high school basketball with both of this year’s coaches. She coordinates the games and the teams run a lot of fundraising events back in Dublin to be able to afford the trip.
“The teams are always so excited to come here and the host schools all do their best to make it a memorable trip!” said McCarthy.