Basketball blitz woos more than 1,600 players

In the depths of winter more than 1,600 basketball players helped to turn the community centre in Castleisland into one of the hottest places in the country.

The 44th annual basketball blitz attracted a huge number of teams for the four-day event that culminated in 19 finals packing the bleachers from 9am yesterday until after 10pm.

Competitions were held from national school grades right up to senior men’s and women’s grades contributing to a highly successful and increasingly popular fixture in the Christmas sporting calendar.