The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Annual blitz draws 2000 to Castleisland
CASTLEISLAND'S Annual Basketball Blitz attracted crowds of close to 2,000 people in the town's Community Centre last Saturday and Sunday evening's bringing to an end a hectic programme of Basketball since St Stephens Day.
St John's Hall was also used for the five day Blitz which attracted a total of 1700 players from across the country from which 165 teams took part in 183 matches of which 24 were finals.
Team Garvey's took the honours in the Premier Mens Final defeating Ballincollig on a score of 44-37 with Ballincolling's Adrian O'Sullivan getting the consolation of being named the game's MVP. The Premier Ladies Final saw Tralee Imperials beaten by the narrowest of margins by Galway side Mystics 2221 with Miriam Byrne the MVP for the Tribeswomen.
The Division One Mens Final was won by the home side St Marys who defeated neighbouring Currow/ Cordal 32-27, Seamus Brosnan picking up the MVP award.
The most dramatic finishes were in the National Schools Senior A and Division Two Finals however. Gaelscoil Castleisland took the former into overtime on the buzzer and thought they had triumphed at the end of the three extra minutes over Scartaglin however the buzzer was deemed to have been sounded before the ball was thrown and Scart held on for a 2322 win, Eddie Horan the game's MVP.
The Division Two Final was won on the buzzer by Gneeveguilla as they defeated St Pauls on a score of 29-28, John O'Keeffe picking up the MVP award afterwards.
The Blitz was deemed a success by PRO Brid Kenny with plans already afoot for next year’s event.
“While we were cleaning up on New Year's Eve, we were already talking about next year. The crowds were up on last year and the standard of both general play and the finals were very high. Our big hope for next year is to try and bring the Superleague teams back into the Blitz like there were in the past,” she told The Kerryman.