Tralee bid to pull off cup treble to remember at NBA

Tralee Imperials will be hoping to become the first Irish club to win the U18, U20 and senior women’s national cup titles in one season.

A big weekend for the club will begin at the National Basketball Arena at midday today when veteran coach Jimmy Diggins’ Tralee U18s go head to head with Cork side Brunell. There will be little rest for the majority of this squad as eight players are involved with the U20 team that play Waterford Wildcats at 4pm.

Coached by Liam Culloty, Imperials go into this game as underdogs but that will make them more determined to take the scalp of another major club in this championship.

“No pundit in Ireland gave us a chance of defeating Brunell in the semi-final as they had almost their entire SuperLeague squad playing but we dug deep and got over the finishing line,” Culloty said.

“Waterford have players also playing at the top level and we have it all to do but the spirit in my team holds no bounds and I am hoping for a big performance.”

A Kerry local derby completes proceedings at basketball headquarters when Tralee Imperials clash with Killarney side Scruffy’s St Paul’s.

When the teams last met back in October, Imperials edged Killarney by four points but Culloty believes this final is too close to call.

“This St Paul’s side are identical to the team that won the 2010 title so they have the experience of playing on the big stage,” said Culloty. “Derby games can throw up the unexpected and complacency will not be an issue.”

Tralee are unbeaten in the senior women’s national league in eight games and may have too much firepower for their Killarney opponents.