Tralee Magic’s U14 and U16 boys left Tralee at 2pm today, very happy to finally be on the road, for a busy pre-season trip that will take them from Kerry to Belfast and back again, with plenty of basketball along the way.

The boys will cover more than 1,000km over the three days, with six games against three clubs before they arrive back in Tralee on Sunday evening.

Saturday starts at New Forge Complex, where both teams will face Belfast Star. From there it’s across to Lisburn Racquets, with the U16s first up against Belfast Phoenix at 2.15pm, followed by the U14s at 3.35pm.

Sunday’s journey south includes one more basketball stop. Both teams will play UCD Marian at Oatlands College in Dublin before getting back on the bus for the final leg to Kerry.

For the players, it means two days of basketball against teams they don’t normally meet, different venues, plenty of time together and a chance to see where they are before the competitive season gets properly underway. There will be a lot learned on court — and probably just as much during the many hours spent together on the bus.

This trip also shows just how much goes on behind a club team. Coaches give their weekend, parents help organise and travel, fixtures have to be arranged and two squads have to be moved halfway across the country. That volunteer effort is what allows our players to have experiences like this...so thank you to all involved!

By Sunday night the boys will have played six games, faced three different clubs and clocked up more than 1,000km in Magic colours.

First job, though: Belfast. 💙

#TheseBoysAreMagic #ThisClubIsMagic