{"id":1004,"date":"2022-06-01T19:24:44","date_gmt":"2022-06-01T19:24:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/moycullenbasketball.com\/?page_id=1004"},"modified":"2022-06-21T13:06:25","modified_gmt":"2022-06-21T13:06:25","slug":"the-blitz","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/moycullenbasketball.com\/?page_id=1004","title":{"rendered":"THE BLITZ"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ireland\u2019s oldest running outdoor basketball tournament<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

St Stephen\u2019s Day has been a day for basketball on the outdoor courts of Moycullen for over 50 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first Blitz was held in 1968 after the outdoor court was laid down by the club and while there was a break in play during 1976 and 1977 as the outdoor court was uprooted to facilitate the demolition of the old Parish Hall and construction of the present Scoil Mhuire building, the Blitz resumed in 1978. It has been a constant ever since with exception of the 2020 Covid disrupted Blitz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1985, the Lee family kindly donated what is now named the \u201cJim Lee Perpetual Trophy\u201d. To have your name etched on that trophy\u2019s base is a goal for all male playing members and enter the annals of Moycullen Basketball History. Four wins and you are in the Hall of Fame. Until the day you get your first win, however, your name rests in the dreaded Hall of Shame!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2001, the Dandy Kelly \u201cSpirit of the Blitz\u201d award was introduced to commemorate the great Padraig Dandy Kelly who passed away tragically that year. Dandy epitomized all that the blitz is; uncompromising, brave, and competitive on the court but great fun and always up for the craic off the court. Every year it is presented to the player who best captures that spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below are some photos from recent blitzes to give a small flavor of the action. If you are around the Parish on St Stephen\u2019s Day, make sure to swing by and have a look for yourself at one of the great sporting traditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Blitz 2022<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A day of near-perfect conditions saw Kyle Cunningham win his second blitz while on his team John Cunningham won an incredible 11th blitz (with wins now in five separate decades), Sean Hynes moved up to tied-second in the all-time blitz leader board with seven, and both Cormac Lee and Chris McNairney exited the Hall of Shame with their first wins, the former picking up the Dandy Kelly Spirit of the Blitz Award.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Blitz 2020<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately for the first time since the mid-1970s, no basketball blitz took place on St Stephen\u2019s Day in Moycullen on account of Covid. We all hope it was a once-off and we look forward to 2021<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Blitz 2019<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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A day of near-perfect conditions saw Kyle Cunningham win his second blitz while on his team John Cunningham won an incredible 11th blitz (with wins now in five separate decades), Sean Hynes moved up to tied-second in the all-time blitz leader board with seven, and both Cormac Lee and Chris McNairney exited the Hall of Shame with their first wins, the former picking up the Dandy Kelly Spirit of the Blitz Award.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Blitz 2018<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Unfortunately for the first time since the mid-1970s, no basketball blitz took place on St Stephen\u2019s Day in Moycullen on account of Covid. We all hope it was a once-off and we look forward to 2021<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Blitz 2017<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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James Loughnane etched his name into the Hall of Fame with his fourth win while Paul O\u2019Brien finally emerged from the Hall of Shame with a long-awaited victory. Alan Conroy scooped the Dandy Kelly \u201cSpirit of the Blitz\u201d Award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The day out saw our unforgettable U20 Men\u2019s Team from the 2007\/2008 season celebrate 10 years since their historic U20 National Cup.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Blitz 2016<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Click Here to <\/a>w<\/a>atch Blitz 2016 – Finals Video<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

A towering combo of Garnett Griffin and Cian Nihill was enough to see their team lift the cup this year against a luckless Paddy Lyons who suffered another heart-breaking final loss.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Blitz 2015<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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It was all about the Woodlands combination in 2015 as captain James Loughnane led his team to the title ably assisted by his Woodlands neighbor and Dandy Kelly Spirit of the Blitz winner Pat Griffin.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Blitz 2014<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Stephen O\u2019Brien got his hands on the Jim Lee Perpetual Trophy and secured his passage out of the Hall of Shame by teaming up with Dylan Cunningham for the 2014 Blitz title.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Blitz 2013<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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On a day of torrential rain, it was Caomh Davoren who played the role of hero when he hit the game-winner in the final for Cian Nihill\u2019s team who were left standing with the Jim Lee Perpetual Trophy when play concluded. The 2013 Blitz was one to remember for Sean Hynes who entered the Hall of Fame courtesy of his fourth career win while also walking away with the Dandy Kelly Spirit of the Blitz Award.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Blitz 2014<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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