Tralee basketball is back in the big time.
After the dissolution of the Tralee Tigers in 2009, one of the biggest hotspots for the sport in the country was left without high profile basketball. Then came the Warriors. Kieran Donaghy is back, and crowds of over 1000 regularly pack the Tralee Sports Complex in a town and county dominated by Gaelic football.
But it's about so much more than Donaghy.
This is a talented team across the board that have made a huge impact in their two and a half seasons back in the Superleague. In their first two years, the club won the end of season Champions Trophy on both occasions.
Now, they are ready for the next step. With legendary Demons coach Pat Price at the helm this year, and with two new Americans in tow, the Warriors are currently just one win behind league leaders Templeogue with a game in hand, and are in the semi finals of the Hula Hoops National Cup, having beaten champions Templeogue in an epic encounter in the first round.
On Saturday night, they will take part in one of the great Irish basketball traditions - Cup Semifinal Weekend in Cork - when they hope to get by Killester and reach the Cup final for the first time. A trip to the final would be a massive step for this club in just its third season and evoke memories of the Tigers' wins in the competition in 2005 and 2007.
Balls recently spent some time in Tralee as the team get ready for their assault of the Hula Hoops National Cup this weekend.
