The Irish are coming
Over the weekend of the 20th/21st June 2015, outside of the role in do with AC Coaching & Sports Development Limited, I am assistant coach to the Irish Wheelchair Associations – Sport, Wheelchair Basketball Men’s Team, as part of the development of the team we played in the Belfast with local team NI Knights.
Friday 19th June, with junior and development teams dominating the courts, showcasing some of the countries most talented young players highlighting just how bight the future of the club really is.
Day 2 and 3 of the tournament saw the senior players take to the court. With fast and physical encounters between all teams it was difficult to know who would come out on top but it was the performance of the Knights Senior Team that stood out. With 3 wins in 3 matches they secured a place against Essex Outlaws in Sunday’s final, successfully lifting the tournament trophy after a hard fought 48 -54 battle.
The club, who have been a permanent fixture in Antrim Forum since it was established in 1990, hosted the Essex Outlaws, Oldham Owls and Irish National Team to mark the milestone and were delighted with the response from supporters of the club as explained by Jason Kennedy, Coach and player for the Knights Wheelchair Basketball.
‘We were very lucky to secure the involvement of such high caliber teams but without the support of so many enthusiastic and committed players, friends and family the club would never have grown from strength to strength and events like this just wouldn’t happen. The club has worked hard over the years to become bigger and better and we wanted something fun but competitive to mark the occasion and to show just have far we’ve come and I think we achieved that’
The tournament was also supported by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, St James Place Wealth Management, Disability Sport NI and T13.
Results:
Day 1
Knights 71 Ireland 47
Ireland 52 Oldham 70
Oldham 57 Essex 61
Knights 59 Essex 57
Day 2
Essex 59 Ireland 52
Knights 64 Oldham 57
FINAL
Essex 48 Knights 54