Kilkenny Masters tournament returns for 6th year this weekend

This weekend sees the 6^th annual Kilkenny Masters basketball tournament taking place in three venues around the city.

The 36 teams participating in this prestigious event are travelling from Cork, Kerry, Clare, Mayo, Dublin, Offaly, Carlow, Cavan, Limerick, Laois, Wexford, Waterford and of course Kilkenny. Four teams will make the short flight over from England,  hailing from Yorkshire, Bristol, Hull & Birmingham.

There will be over 400 players and officials taking part during the three days of sporting action, emphasising the importance of well-being and health & fitness for adults who wish to continue playing sport into their forties and fifties.

The action gets under way in O’Loughlin Gaels this Friday evening (1^st March) from 7.20pm, with the Kilkenny ladies 40’s team of Marble City Mayfairs taking on Cork Cougars to compete for the Seamus Walsh Cup.  And straight after are the Kilkenny men’s 40’s team up against WEBBA from the UK, with new recruits James Butler and David Keane added to the local line-up, and are sure to impress on the Masters stage. The Lar Murphy Memorial Cup is at stake for the eventual winners in this category.

There will also be underage boys & girls Kilkenny Stars teams playing beforehand, which promises to entertain supporters.

The bulk of the games take place on Saturday, spread across O’Loughlin Gaels, Loreto & St. Kieran’s halls from 9am to 5pm. The finals then take place in the same venues on Sunday

You can check out their website and Facebook page for more details, www.kilkennymasters.ie

Entry is free and all are encouraged to come along and see the action.

In addition, there will be a Wheelchair Exhibition game between the players of the South East Swifts basketball team in St Kieran’s hall, scheduled for 12.50pm on Sunday. They were narrowly beaten in the IWA National Cup Final recently, which was played in the National Basketball Arena, Dublin. Have a look at how Pat O’Neill and his team manage to weave their way round a court on wheels. 

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The Marble City Hawks Ladies National League team will be providing a catering service at each venue to help fundraise for their club and your support will be greatly appreciated.

The Kilkenny Masters committee wish to thank all who have helped bring this tournament to fruition, especially their sponsors Paris Texas Bar, Pembroke Hotel, CluneTech, Langtons Hotel, House Of Stoves, Sport Ireland (Age & Opportunity), Basketball Ireland, St Canice’s Credit Union, Pat Carroll’s Bar, Hennessy Sports, TJ Reid Health & Fitness, Infocus Opticians, DJSolutions.ie, moonbehindthehill.ie and drawinginc.ie