Marvellous weekend for Kilkenny Masters

The fifth annual Kilkenny Masters Basketball Tournament was a tremendous success, with 32 teams participating in 60 games over three venues in the Marble City.

The Mayor of Kilkenny, David Fitzgerald, was on hand to officially open the event and welcome the teams to the O’Loughlin Gaels complex on Friday evening.

The large home crowd in attendance were treated to some superb basketball, as the Kilkenny men’s and women’s teams both won their opening fixtures. The Kilkenny Stars under-11 boys and girls were also on hand to entertain during these two games.

The bulk of the group games were played on Saturday in O’Loughlin’s, Loreto and St Kieran’s, with many of the teams travelling from all parts of Ireland to take part. Although competitive, the ethos of playing Masters Basketball is for fun, and this was very evident throughout the day, as players, officials and spectators laughed and joked on and off the court.

The hugely important social side of the tournament was in Paris Texas on the Saturday evening, as everyone was treated to a great night of entertainment and dancing.

Sunday was finals day in all categories. All three teams from Kilkenny managed to make it into their respective final.
In the Lar Murphy Memorial Men’s 4's Cup Final, Neptune of Cork proved too strong for the Puff Summers-led Kilkenny team.

In the Seamus Walsh Ladies 4's Cup Final, Midlands took the title for the second year in a row by beating local side Marble City Mayfairs. The Kilkenny team, who only formed a year ago, will certainly be in the shake up again next time round.

And in the Men’s 50s Cup final, it was Dublin Lions day, as they took the well deserved honours over the Kilkenny 50s team.

Pat O’Neill and his team of the South East Swifts also played a wheelchair exhibition match in St Kieran’s Hall.

Reflecting on a successful weekend, the committee thanked all of their sponsors and the Marble City Hawks team for providing a shop in each venue.