June 20th 2016: Rathmines Basketball Club won the inaugural British Masters Over 60 tournament Sunday in Brighton, England. The Irish team narrowly edged Louisiana (USA) and Swifts (England) for the title after the three teams tied on 3 wins and a loss in the two day tournament.

Former Irish international Eamon Molloy(Killester) received the trophy from former Scottish and Great Britain captain Sir Bill McInnis at the end of a dramatic day of close games and upsets. Rathmines lost the opening game 42-40 on Saturday to Louisiana, but recovered to defeat Swifts from England 43-20. On Sunday morning, the Irish team won a thriller against Bosworth 54-52 and in the final game recovered from a 0-13 start to edge Scottish team Boroughmuir 51-52. Swifts surprise defeat of Louisiana meant a three way tie between Rathmines, Louisiana and Swifts was de-cided by points difference, giving the trophy to the Irish.

The team had a strong Scottish flavour with three Strathclyde players John Campbell, Charlie Woods and Bill Kerr starring for Rathmines.

In the Mens Over 50 B division, Shannon (Irl) lost by two points to Rochdale(Eng) in the final game.

In the Mens Over 50 A division, Cork featured former Irish internationals Pat Quirke, Karl Butler and Ciaran O Sullivan. They lost out to a very strong Harlem side featuring former NBA star Charles Smith.

Ireland was also represented in the Womens Over 35 section by Cork, drawn mainly from former pantry players.

Picture shows Eamon Molloy receiving the GB Masters trophy from Bill McInnis in Brighton.

Team Photo shows Rathmines Over 60 Basketball team:

Back row L-R

John Campbell, Charlie Woods, Bill Kerr, Des Fitzgerald

Front Row L-R

Liam Lavelle, Jim Durie, Eamon Molloy, Deryck Payne (missing Brendan Burke)

Picture shows Shannon Over 50 team L-R Mick Chubb, Dave Mills, Eddie Guilmartin, John Pen-dergast, Paul Kenny, Todd Gfeller