Irish schools' basketball received a timely boost following the announcement of a major sponsorship deal with Cadbury's at the launch of the All-Ireland league in Temple Bar, Dublin, yesterday. Attended by the Minister for Sport, Tourism and Recreation, Dr James McDaid, the deal, the first ever sponsorship of the schools' league programme, will cover the All-Ireland schools' league which begins in mid-October and culminates with the All-Ireland finals at the National Basketball Arena, Tallaght, next spring.

The structure of the Cadbury's TimeOut League is divided into four age groups in both girls and boys categories with 537 post-primary schools and 50,000 pupils participating across the country.

And according to a recent survey, basketball is now the most popular participation sport among teenagers worldwide and in Ireland, it is second in popularity only to soccer among 16-18 year olds.