The Kerry Area Basketball Board has revealed its latest Hall of Fame nominee.
The announcement of the winner of the Paud O’Leary Fair Play Award has also been made.
Clare Sheehy’s nomination to the Hall of Fame for 2020 was widely acknowledged as a just reward for her long years of dedication to the game of basketball. Her career began under the watchful eye of Ned Callaghan in St Joseph’s Convent of Mercy in Abbeyfeale when Clare was a player herself and was also assisting with younger teams.
She was then brought into the Community Games by Neilus Collins getting involved the Duagh/Lyre area basketball and they went on to have huge success including 3 national titles and 2 silver medals along with numerous county titles.
Clare also coached with the local St Joseph’s club where they reached the latter stages of a number of All Ireland Club and u18 National Cup competitions.
Schools basketball was another great interest for Clare where her teams again enjoyed success on the national stage while also helping younger pupils establish their core skills and love of the game of basketball.
On the international stage Clare was the Team Manager of the u16 Irish Girls side that competed in the European Championships in Estonia and she was also heavily involved the following year. Throughout her career Clare has seen 9 of her charges capped for Ireland as well as numerous players being selected for Kerry.
Her dedication, knowledge and coaching skills have seen her make a huge contribution to women’s basketball not just in North Kerry or countywide but also on the national courts and therefore her induction into the KABB Hall of Fame is richly deserved.
John Adams has been named as the Paud O’Leary winner. A founding member of Kenmare Kestrels John Adams is still hugely involved in the very successful club and in basketball in the community in the South Kerry town. Originally from the US John has been with the Kestrels since their founding in 2006. He has been in the Chair for the last 15 years and combines this with coaching at both junior and senior level. The club has been very successful over the years and have also produced a number of players who have worn the green of Ireland. Amongst the accolades the Kestrels were named the KABB Club of the Year in 2007 and John was named the Men’s Division 3 Player of the Year in 2009.
A delighted John Adams said that he was delighted to accept the Award named after a person who he had a great admiration for. “It is indeed a great honour to be chosen for this year’s Paud O’Leary Award. He was a great servant to Gneeveguilla basketball and was respected through the county. I will always remember the inspiration he was to us when we set up the Kestrels in 2006 and I am delighted that my name will be on this Award which is a fitting tribute to Paud.”
Other KABB News:
Basketball Ireland’s AGM is scheduled for May 29th at 10am and further information will be sent out to the clubs once received.
The KABB AGM is scheduled for May 31st at 7.30pm and is a continuation of the deferred 2020 AGM. The format of the meeting will be decided by the COVID regulations closer to the proposed date of the AGM.
All medals for last season’s Leagues have now been given to clubs thanks to the hard work of the Juvenile and Senior secretaries. If any club has still to get their medals [email protected]
The Kerry u16 teams trip to Barcelona fell foul of Covid last year and were unable to be rescheduled. The players that were due to travel have been presented with KABB Representative sportswear and basketballs as a small compensation for the lost trip.
