The first in the movie series of The Hobbit was called An Unexpected Journey — an apt description of how a rare edition of Tolkien’s classic tale went under the hammer for €29,000 yesterday.

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors suffered a heartbreaking 97-88 defeat to Templeogue last night.

Kieran Donaghy has enacted some Houdini acts in his time with Kerry, and he was at it again on Saturday in the basketball kit of Garvey’s Tralee Warriors who eked out a crucial 78-75 Men’s Superleague win over Eanna.

Basketball

It’s back to Super League action with a bang this weekend after a hectic schedule of Hula Hoops National Cup semi-finals in Cork.

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors moved into second place in the Men’s Super League following their impressive 90-78 win over Killester at Clontarf.

UCC Demons welcome back star American Lehmon Colbert as they prepare to host Men’s SuperLeague leaders, Swords Thunder, at the Mardyke Arena on Sunday.

Towering Black Amber Templeogue centre Jason Killeen accepts that there will be plenty of powerful contenders gunning for their

It’s a crucial weekend in the Men’s Super League, with two games that could go a long way to deciding the destiny of the title.

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors produced the performance of the weekend in the Men’s Super League.

A Champions Trophy place is the main carrot for Garvey’s Tralee Warriors when they host Killester at the Tralee Sports complex tomorrow in the Men’s Super League.

Premier League basketball will return to Kerry later this year, with Basketball Ireland confirming four new franchises for the national leagues, including Tralee Town BC.

Swords Thunder produced magnificent basketball to defeat Templeogue 80-69 in a rehearsal of the Men’s National Cup final at the National Arena on January 30.

For every ambitious basketball club, the National Cup weekend in January is where it’s at. So when a women’s powerhouse like Glanmire is knocked out of the U18 and U20 competitions in the preliminary rounds, it understandably sets alarm bells ringing around the club.

A crucial weekend for C & S UCC Demons as they face a double header, beginning tomorrow with a visit to the capital for a clash with Eanna, following by a mouth-watering home clash against Swords Thunder on Sunday.

Colin O’Reilly has laid down a challenge to players hopeful of making the Men’s Premier League All-Star team competing at the Sino-European Championships in July.

C&S UCC Demons will complete their 2014 campaign when they entertain Templeogue in the Men’s Premier League at the Mardyke Arena on Sunday.

Paul Kelleher has experienced the highs and lows of basketball in recent seasons but the UL Eagles coach is confident his new role in Limerick will be a success.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter was visibly moved yesterday when he launched Missing Persons Day at Farmleigh House in Dublin.

THE WIND blowing through Queens is wreaking havoc for the New York Mets fans at the concession stands behind centre-field.

A wooded area in a golf club is being excavated in the search for a schoolboy missing for 23 years, it emerged tonight.

STOP me if you've heard this one before. It's about an unfancied Wexford football team taking on opponents from one of the game's traditional power bases.