Tralee Warriors need support to keep games in the town

Tralee Warriors head coach John Dowling said the lack of seating at MTU Kerry's facility is a "stumbling block" to playing games there. 

Spectators look on during a Super League game at the Tralee Sport and Leisure Centre. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Garvey's Tralee Warriors are for looking support which would allow the club to host this season's remaining games in the town. Earlier this week, the roof of the main hall at the Tralee Sport and Leisure Centre collapsed due to an accumulation of snow leaving the Super League team homeless.

They have had offers from clubs in Castleisland and Killarney to host games at their facilities but head coach John Dowling said they want to play in Tralee. 

"The only other alternative is our university here, MTU Tralee - they do have the hall size, they have the rings, they have everything, but they just don't have seating," Dowling told RTÉ Radio 1. 

"That's our stumbling block. We have anything from 800 to 1200 people at our games.

"It's going to be in Neptune Stadium this weekend for the cup semi-finals and then see if there's a company willing to get involved in something that would be brilliant for the town, symbolic, if we could keep the games in Tralee. We're very grateful for the offers from the other clubs but it is the Tralee Warriors.

"We need to get rollout seating. They're available all over Ireland. It's just trying to get it and the cost of it. We've four teams in the National League. We have a budget for the year that's fairly tight. 

"We're looking to see if a company will get involved with us as a good cause. We have three home games left and maybe a playoff game. So it's not a huge amount to see us through this year. Then we'll have to see what happens next year then."

Dowling expects it will be at least two years before the Warriors can play at their home venue again.