
The annual Good Friday basketball blitz, a collaboration between An Garda Síochána and Kerry Community Youth Service (KCYS), made a welcome return after a break since before Covid.
The revival event was organised by Liz Twomey Garda Junior Liaison Officer, Castleisland Garda Station and Chris Brosnan Youth Justice worker, KEY Service KCYS.
It was supported by participants, parents, volunteers and was the awaited event of the Easter holidays for those in attendance.
This was the 12th annual blitz and there were three primary school teams entered for what is considered the first outing of the blitz on a comeback trail after the long lapse – it was quieter than usual but funnier that ever.
A Love of Basketball
“This blitz is a true testament to Castleisland and surrounding areas that there is a love of basketball in the area and this event helps the youth to be active over the Easter break.
“It was good to see that since the last time the competition was held that those who played in it then took up a management role this year, it has now come full circle,” said Garda Liz Twomey.
The teams Scartaglen /Cordal, Scart Ballers and Roundy Thing played in a round robin competition with Roundy Thing and Scart/Cordal making the final.
Roundy Thing Winners
In between each competition fun games were held and the atmosphere was electric in free throw contest and knockout competitions.
The final was very exciting with the teams on seven points to 10 at half time and in the end the winners were Roundy Thing on a score of 15 points to nine. The final’s Most Valuable Player was Zak Buckley Scart/Cordal.
Chris Brosnan presented the the Roundy Things joint captains Conor Galvin and Shauna O’ Sullivan with the trophy and their team comprised of: Adam McCarthy, Adrian Wharton, Cathal O’Connor, Gearoid Fleming, Marie Curtin, Emily Brosnan, Megan Brosnan and Emer McMahon with Owen O’Connor as team manager.
Runners-Up Team Members
Runners-up: The Scart / Cordal team members were: Sean O’Donoghue, Emily O’Donoghue, Sophie Nolan, Maeve O’Donoghue, Katie Reidy, Ellie Doyle, Zak Buckley MVP, Moss Hughes and Alisha O’Connell. Team managers were Mikaela Buckley and Laura O’Donoghue.
The highlight of the day was Scart Ballers taking on the Gardaí/KCYS/coaches in a fun challenge. Scart ballers came out on top with a score of 22-20.
The team members were: Aaron O’Sullivan, Noah Doyle, Aoife Reidy, Hugo O’Connell, Darragh McCarthy, Isabelle O’Connell-Wren, Oisín O’Shea, Emma Reidy. Managers: Shauna McCarthy and Charlie O’Keeffe.
Organisers’ Assistants
Organisers Chris Brosnan KCYS and Garda Liz Twomey were assisted on the day by Maurice Casey, Nathan Egan, Ken O’Neill, KCYS; Gillian Hill, KCYS; Garda Mary Gardiner and Garda Carmel Roche, Sgt. Garda Emmet Cronin, Garda Aidan O’Mahony, Garda Niamh Corkery.
The table officials were Isabel Wamsley and Katie Burke.
“Thanks to Castleisland Community Centre for the warm welcome; to Garvey’s Castleisland for refreshments and to Vincent Murphy Sports and Con Dennehy for the beautiful trophies and medals.
Success Evident from Fun Had
“Thanks to everyone who made this event possible, it was a huge success and this was evident from the fun that the participants and supporters enjoyed over the course of the day.Thanks to all the teams, coaches, volunteers working together to make it the success that it is.
“Thanks to Garda JLO and youth justice workers working together under the KEY Service which is funded by the Ireland EU Structural and Investment fund and the ESF fund through the Irish Youth Justice Service.
“A great day was had and looking forward to building on the return of the event for next year,” said a joint statement from the organising partnership.
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