January 2018

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors, Goran and Trae, continue to work with coaches and the teams in the club. Sessions are fun and usually end in a game of ‘Hot Seat’.

U10s make the trip to Glenbeigh for their blitz.

Presentation Secondary School Girls win the U16 All Ireland Schools Cup.

U20 men continue to compete in the Cork League which also includes teams from Limerick.

All teams back training after Christmas and try to book their places in the Cup finals due to take place next month.

February 2018

Basketball Ireland launch their 28 day skills challenge. Each day of February there is a video released with details of drills to develop your basketball skills.

Dáire Kennelly is selected on the 21 man panel of the u17 Irish development squad.

U10s have their final blitz of the season in Athea.

U12 boys lose out in their county cup final in Killarney

Presentation Secondary School Girls complete the double winning the U16 B All Ireland School League

The red weather warning for snow plays havoc with fixtures and training sessions at the end of the month

March 2018

Still snowing!

The official basketball season wraps up and the Academy finishes.

We march in the St. Patrick’s Day parade alongside Garvey’s Tralee Warriors and St. Brendan’s BC.

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors continue their Champions Trophy defense with a semi final win over UCD Marian. They beat Templeogue BC 73-61 in the final held in Waterford to retain the trophy.

The club present the Kerry Hospice Foundation with a cheque for €2000 - this money was raised from our inaugural Christmas Basketball Marathon, including the bake sale and lucky bags, held in December 2017.

April 2018

Now in the off season, Friday nights are for drills and skills sessions

Three Imperial girls teams compete in the Duagh Blitz with one of the teams coming away the champs!

Our u16 girls are crowned AICC All Ireland Club Champions. They defeated St. Colm’s Limerick and Meteors Dublin in the group stages, Tullamore in the semi final and had a dramatic 3 point win over Kilkenny Stars in the final.

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors part ways with Head Coach Mark Bernsen after two seasons.

Tralee Imperials have many players in action at tournaments this month - representing their respective colleges in the Varsities held in UL and primary schools in the Mounthawk Primary School Boys Tournament.

May 2018

Pat Price is announced as the new Head Coach of Garvey’s Tralee Warriors for the upcoming 2018/2019 season. Club chairperson and coach, John Dowling is announced as assistant coach.

Our annual awards night, held in the Rose Hotel, was attended in large numbers. Garvey’s Tralee Warrior, Darragh O’Hanlon, was on hand to present awards to the MVPs and MIPs and all teams were commended for their hard work and dedication throughout the season. The U16 girls who won the All Ireland Club Championship were guests of honor. Dáire Kennelly( u16) and Ryan Leonard (u20) were also recognised on the night for their Irish caps.

We had representatives on the Kerry U16 Girls team that won the Cork Area Board Tournament who were also coached by club man, Martin Conway. We also had players on the u12 Girls Kerry team who were in action this month.

The Irish U17 men development squad used Tralee as their base for their training weekend.

A table quiz was held in the Rose Hotel fundraising for the u16 boys and girls upcoming trip to Spain.

June 2018

It was great to see so many club members representing their primary schools at the Garda Primary Schools Girls Blitz held in Moyderwell.

Basketball Ireland announced the Jr NBA programme was coming to Ireland.

The one and only Coach Jimmy Diggins was awarded the President’s Award which he was presented with at a special ceremony in the National Basketball Arena, Tallaght.

Our u16 boys and girls team travel to Spain to compete in the Las Rozas Tournament. They represented the club very well and it was an excellent learning and team bonding experience.

Many schools held their Active Week over the past few weeks and it was great to see so many schools including basketball as part of their week.

July 2018

Ryan Leonard, former Tralee Imperials player, along with his Garvey’s Tralee Warriors team mate, Eoin Quigley, represent Ireland in FIBA 3x3 European Cup Qualifiers held in Romania. They lose out to Spain in the quarterfinals.

Summer basketball sessions take place for u13-u15s. Focus is on drills, skills and 3x3 games.

Tralee Imperials BC is one of the thirteen clubs in Ireland selected to take part in the Jr. NBA programme.

August 2018

New season preparations underway with team trials and training sessions.

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors introduce new players, Jordan Evans and Jãnis Dumburs. They also play University of Scranton in pre season.

We officially launch our Academy with sponsors Sandy Feet Farm.

Darragh O’Hanlon is announced as our Youth and Coaching Development Officer. Darragh will go around to all teams throughout the season working with coaches and players.

Tralee Imperials BC continue to become more technological relaunching their updated Clubify app and new website. All coaches and team managers can now input fixtures and results on to the Clubify system making it easier for you to follow your teams progress. For the first time ever for the club all registration is done online via Clubify.

Over the coming weeks we welcome new coaches and team managers, along with the dedicated group of volunteers who continue to work with teams and in the academy. Many of our u16/18 and senior players are involved in coaching in the underage structure where they are gaining experience and confidence as they begin their coaching careers.

Former Imperials player, Jordan Lee, is a bronze medalist in the High Jump at the European Championships.

September 2018

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors have their official launch for the new season and draw Templeogue BC away in the first round of the National Cup. Tralee Imperials BC members Dáire Kennelly, Philip Corkery, Dara Devine, Leeroy Odiahi and Gary Murphy all involved.

Drills and Skills sessions with Warriors Jordan and Jãnis begin for u13/14s and shortly after begin for U10s/11/12s

U20 men are semi finalists in their preseason tournament in Cork. U18 boys also have a preseason tournament in Cork.

Dáire Kennelly and Leeroy Odiahi attend Irish National Squad Training Weekend. Here Dáire and Rachel Ryan are presented with their Irish caps for their participation in the Irish U17 Development Squad

U18 and U20 National Cup draws are made.

U10 boys line out with Garvey’s Tralee Warriors in the Complex for their opening Superleague game of the season v KCYMS. The U10s play St. Brendan’s at halftime.

Scoil Eoin Balloonagh and St. Brendan’s N.S. Blennerville are announced as the schools Tralee Imperials BC will partner with for the Jr NBA programme.

October 2018

Basketball Ireland officially launched the Jr. NBA programme in National Basketball Arena, Tallaght, where the draft took place - Scoil Eoin selected to represent LA Lakers and St. Brendan’s to represent Memphis Grizzlies.

Dáire Kennelly and Leeroy Odiahi selected on 23 man panel of U18 Irish Men’s Team.

U16 girls were in action at tournament in Cork.

U10s have their first blitz in Causeway

We host the first of four Cluster Events of the Jr NBA where Coaches Jimmy Diggins and Darragh O’Hanlon run a training session followed by a game - Scoil Eoin Lakers vs Blennerville Grizzlies.

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors beat Templeogue BC 103-92 in first round of the National Cup.

U16 AICC winners are honoured at halftime of a Warriors game.

November 2018

U18 boys qualify for All Ireland Cup quarterfinal with wins in qualifying tournament vs Limerick Lions, Kestrels and Ballincollig.

Great fun is had at Kieran Donaghy’s Be a Star Camp over midterm.

Jr. NBA Cluster Events two and three take place with Garvey’s Tralee Warriors new signing, Keith Jumper, making a guest appearance. The Lakers and Grizzlies also get to line out with the Warriors for a home game and they play at halftime in front of a packed out Complex.

U20 Men lose to Ballincollig in the National Cup.

Academy coach and senior player Robbie Dinan coaches UCC in Freshers tournament held in UL.

U10s attend blitz in Athea.

We have the official launch of our Annual Christmas Basketball Marathon Fundraiser in association with the Kerry Hospice Foundation.

Three Tralee players are selected on the 15 man panel for the u18 Irish Squad - Dáire and Leeroy from Tralee Imperials BC and Rap from St. Brendan’s BC.

December 2018

U18 boys lose away to Belfast Star in quarterfinal of National Cup. They also attend the Belfast Classic to see the impressive US College teams in action.

Warriors beat Demons in an epic showdown in the Complex to secure their place in the National Cup semi final in January 2019.

U12 boys team 1 compete in Bruddy Burrows Memorial Tournament.

Scoil Eoin Lakers and Blennerville Grizzlies attend the Festival of Basketball in Dublin as part of the Jr NBA. There they take part in drills and skills sessions, meet and greet former NBA Star Ronny Turiaf, and play games vs other primary schools from around the country. Blennerville Grizzlies are awarded the silver medal.

Huge numbers attend the Annual Christmas Basketball Marathon Fundraiser. This event raises money for the club and the Kerry Hospice Foundation through the selling of sponsorship cards, lucky bags and bake sale. Warriors, Mighty Mikey Milk, Willie the Warrior, Santa and his mischievous elf all made guest appearances.

Imperials players in action in Mounthawk Primary School Boys Blitz.

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors and Scoil Eoin, Balloonagh both win their competitions in the Castleisland Blitz.

In what has been an incredibly busy year I’ve probably left some achievements and events out of the list, apologies in advance.

We are looking forward to 2019!!! Wishing you all a happy new year. Best of luck to all our club teams, the Garvey’s Tralee Warriors and to our players with school teams in their upcoming competitions.