This article is from page 33 of the 2008-04-01 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 33 JPG
THE 16th Annual Frank Gallery Basketball Tournament was played in Ennistymon over the Easter week- end and produced some top class entertainment and plenty of excite- ment, with no match won by more than three points the tournament.
The event is held annually in memory of the late Frank Gallery, a leading member of the Claremont Admirals National league club on the 1980s.
Since the 50th anniversary of the club in 2005, the format has been teams representing past and present club members bringing together
a mix of veteran male and female players as well as the up and coming younger players.
The teams are called after loca- tions in the town and Lahinch where the game was played and survived from 1955 onwards. This year com- petition was contested by the Sluagh Hall Suns, the Market House Mob, the Scout Hall Skins and the Town Hall Terriers.
The opening game set the tone with Vinnie Leigh’s Sluagh Hall Suns edging out Tony Gallery’s Market House Mob 31-29. Next up were the Scout Hall Skins captained by Mark Wankel who faced off against Travis McDonough’s Town Hall Terriers.
The Terriers looked to be comfort- able with as much as an eight point lead mid-way through the third quar- ter. However, a series of turnovers opened the door for the Skins with Stephen Leigh and Mark Wankel combined for nine points to push the Terriers all the way. The Terriers eventually made the final with a tight two point win.
The third place game provided a spirited showing for both teams with the Mob looked favourites until vintage performances from Stephen Leigh and captain Mark Wankel gave the Skins a two point victory.
The final produced another heart stopper with the defending champi-
ons the Sluagh Hall Suns challenged by the Town Hall Terriers. Despite a spirited fight by the defending cham- pions, it was to be the Terriers day and they won out 30-27 victors in the Nee
Presentations were made at the Tournament Buffet in the Falls Ho- tel. The Winner of the Most Valuable Player Award was Stephen Leigh, a veteran of the 1982 Claremont Ad- mirals team. This award was spon- sored for the original Tournament by Frank Gallery’s colleagues at Mon- eypoint ESB Station The Frank Gal- lery Cup was presented by Tony Gal- lery to Travis McDonough the Town Hall Terriers captain.