West Warick's Visit to Oughterard 1990

West Warick Girl’s Basketball team from Rhode Island visited Oughterard in July 1990. They presented Corrib with a Friendship and Peace flag on arrival which signified what the trip meant to the American team led by coach Mike Kelley. What started out as a cultural shock for the West Warick Girls indeed developed into an extraordinary tone filled cultural exchange as the days passed and the teams forged friendships.

 Pete Fontaine reported daily to his newspaper in Rhode Island on each day’s events. “The trip has been fantastic. The hospitality is unbelievable and the trip has been filled with many once-in-a-life-time events, including a 4,000 foot mountain climb to see a statue at Kylemore, going into a complete stranger’s home in a foreign country and developing instant camaraderie and giving and taking lessons from youngsters.” Music and merriment earmarked this marvellous venture for both teams.

On the Basketball Court

On the Basketball court the Irish teams proved superior to the American girls. As coach Mike Kelley was heard to remark after a particularly game against Corrib 78-53. “Hey, I thought this was an American game! Make no mistakes, The Irish women are coming on extremely well – beating us at our own game.” Strong words indeed for an American coach. The West Warick girls felt they couldn’t cope with the Tolka Rovers or An Cheathru Rua teams either.  The total unselfish play, plenty of crisp passing, plenty of big girls under the hoop, coupled with more experienced players made the American girls’ task more difficult. “We simply can’t play against a club team in Ireland,” they said.

However, coach Mike Kelley and team manager Gaby Wynne would be the first to admit that winning wasn’t the main purpose of the trip. The experienced gained in the four games they played against stiff opposition helped them later in games back home in the U.S.A.

Local families hosted the girls during their stay in Oughterard and on their return to the U.S. Gaby Wynne, assistant coach, sent the following letter to the club.

“We thank you for the great hospitality and Mary and Ita for all the work you both did to make our stay super. To all of our host families we can’t thank you enough for having all of us.

Oughterard is one of the most beautiful places we have ever seen. The countryside is breathtaking. We have so many great memories like the walk up the mountain Mary brought us on, the tour on the lake, the great nights on the town! But the most precious memory – are you all. You are the e friendliest, kindest group of people we have ever met. We formed many friendships.

I see the girl’s team often and we talk of our trip to Oughterard and we laugh about all the fun times we had. Yet the kids always say, “I hope to go back to Oughterard some day – it was beautiful and the people were so kind.” Then one player will say, “Yeah and they can play hoop!”

We thank you for the memories that we will always treasure. You are beautiful people. If you ever need somewhere to stay – let us know, we will gladly take you all.

Love, The Wizards.

Community Games Basketball 1990

Under 13 boys and girls did very well in Community games basketball. The boy’s team, coached by Mary and Ursula Kyne reached the Connacht Finals. In their first game which was the Galway semi-final they came up against Killannin. The boys were determined to beat their rival team but they had many doubts going into the game as they hadn’t many training sessions. After an exciting game they pulled through 25-21.

In the Galway Final they faced Remore. Pressure applied by team captain John Higgins, James Duffy, Peter Kelly and Brian Kyne pushed the Oughterard boys into an early leads. The led comfortably 16-6 at half time.

In the second half good team work from Raymond Kelly, Eoin Waters, Daren Waters, Chris Conneely, Colie Delapp and Daragh Sinnott kept them well in the lead and they finished a convincing 30-18. This victory gained them gold medals.

Connacht Games

After several tough training sessions the boys headed for Sligo in late July with a bus full of supporters to play in the Connacht Community Games. Their first task was to beat Loughglynn, Roscommon in the semi-final. Oughterard had 10 points on the score board before Loughglynn managed to score a basket. Oughterard dominated most of the game but in the end they won by a mere 3 points 30-27 – the final score.

The final took place in the afternoon. A nervous first five stepped out into the court with a tremendous cheer for the Oughterard supporters. The boys came up against a tough side from Killala, Co. Mayo. Killala was always the better team on the day – they were bigger and stronger. However, our boys did Oughterard proud and they battled bravely to the end and lost narrowly to Killala 20-27. The team from Killala went on to the All Ireland Finals in Mosney.

Under 13 Girl’s Basketball

The girls had a successful year. The team was coached by Sinéad Kyne. They faced Oranmore in the first round of the Community Games Competition. Emer Boyce and Danielle Byrne had a magnificent game, their defensive team work and accurate passing provided many scores making the forwards, Mary Healy and Eimear Kyne’s task much easier. Maura Quigley’s impressive re-bounding was a great asset to the team who beat Oranmore on this occasion.

Galway Semi-final

In the semi-final the girls came up against Donagh Patrick, Kilconna. The team got off to a sluggish start with defensive misunderstandings which were eventually straightened out and the score at half time was 10-8 in favour of Donaghpatrick. Sheila Ferris had a very good first half. In the opening minutes of the second half Mary Healy scored to bring the sides level. Yvonne Ferguson, Niamh O‘Toole and Aoife Mc Aleer fought hard and stole a lot of ball. However, the sides were level 26-26 at full time.

A dramatic extra time was played. Mary Healy’s amazing out side shot brought the bench to their feet several times in this extra period. Oughterard were the eventual winners.

Galway Final

The team faced the previous year’s finalists Carraroe. Basket for basket was exchanged throughout the first half. At half time Oughterard were down 2 points. Unnecessary fouls were committed by the team in the second half. Carraroe proved the stronger team. The final score was 37-21 in favour of Carraroe.  Oughterard took  silver medals.

Corrib’s College Players 1990

College Basketball also played a prominent part in the season of Corrib players with Ann Marie and Ursula Kyne playing with the University of Limerick, Mary Kyne with Dublin City University, Finoa Sullivan and Fiona Lusby with University College Galway.

Success lay with the Limerick team who beat D.C.U. decisively in the Intervarsities Final by 10 points after accounting for U .C.D., U.C.G.,  U.C.C., Marino, University of Jordanstown during the season. The U.C.G. side went on to win the “plate” in the Inter-Varsities Competition. Players from Corrib played important roles in their college teams.

Tournament in Paris

The University of Limerick Basketball club went on to represent Ireland at an International Tournament in Paris. Babarann Keffer who was Corrib’s American player but now playing in Germany joined this team in Paris. The players had a terrific week in Paris with the U.L. side beating teams from France, Germany, Poland and Spain before losing out in the final to a very young team from Russia, 108-92.

Ann Marie Kyne was delighted to have been awarded “The Most Valuable Player” award for this tournament. This achievement was recognised by U.L. when the University awarded her Basketball Sports Star of the Year at a Sports Banquet which was held in the college at the end of the year.

Corrib’s Mini-basketball Tournaments 80’s -90’s

Ita Walsh from the very beginning was very aware of how necessary it was to have young players coming through the club at all stages. Young players are the life blood of any club or organisation. Our American players all took a keen interest in the young members of Corrib. They encouraged players and passed on their skills to them

The older members of the club helped out at the tournaments, refereeing games, coaching teams, officiating at the table etc. – it was all hands on deck.

Over a hundred children took part in the tournaments coming from Oughterard, Killannin, Bushy Park, Moycullen, Gort, Derryglen and further a field.

Children eagerly looked forward to those memorable days where friendships were renewed and new friendships forged in a great sporting atmosphere.