Galway Globetrotters, Galways premier International Over 50’s Team Touring Team, is comprised of players and Coaches who are all presently involved with different Clubs in the Galway Basketball League and Social and Recreational Ball in Renmore, Westside and Doughiska!
This week, in preparation for the Galway Masters Tournament at NUIG Kingfisher on November 1st and 2nd, these itinerant hoopsters returned from an International Tour of Crete, during which they played in the three Major Cretan Cities of Chania; Heracleon and Rethymnon against some fine Cretan and Greek opposition.One of the interesting features of this Masters squad is that their average age is 54.5 years,( with 4 of the side in their 60’s) and although they travel internationally, challenging Masters and Veteranos all over Europe to a “friendly” game, the age issue seems to get lost in translation…as they arrive, without fail to face much younger adversaries.In the past these boys(?)have played in Barcelona; Madrid; Gerona; Bilbao; Santandaer; Niece; Antibes; Anzio; Rome and Montenegro..and Well, in truth Crete was no different. The presenting opposition from local Ameuter teams, the local Universities and Police forces, indeed seemed youthful in their appearances and in fact their average ages were 32.5 and 21.5 years! Thank God, the Tribesmen never shy away from a game!
In both Rethymnon games, they journeymen were behind early, trailing at half time, almost level at the end of the third quarters but then they invariably came to the fore in the final quarters to defeat the Acedemic staff in their opener and to go into overtime against the Cretan Police/ Student Combo side. In Game two,with the game tied at 48 a piece, the Galway side relied on Paul Donovan; Paraic Carroll and the legendary Pat Tully to bring down the ball. They needed Stalwart Joe Coughlan and John Long to hit some outside shots from the elbow, then looked inside to their twin towers of Michael McDonagh and Tom NcEvinchey for some quality putbacks and big Boards, while Tony Cahill dropped a couple from the Baseline. But in the end this game came down to the outstanding performance of one man, the young lad ( 46) from co.Clare Gavin Hartegan, who averaged 12 rebounds, 6 assists and 30 points per game. As the clock wound down in Extra time, the Irish side were trailing by 9 points with 1.5 minutes to go. But free throws from Tom Mc, michael Mc Donagh and john Long drew them close. Joe Coughlan nailed a big three on 12 seconds, and Gavin Hartegan brought home the win on the buzzer, with a final combined tally of 69 points.Big Result for the Globetrotters and Coach Conor McNally.
In preparation for the Challenge of the Irish, Maltese, and Scottish International Over 50’s squads at the Prestigeous Galway Masters, the side will be boosted by former Galway Democrat and Maree players, for an occasion , not to be missed by any Fans of the Game..Nov 1st and 2nd.