Bernsen and Donaghy expect tougher Superleague
WITH an opening round defeat behind them - going down in a cliff-hanger away to UCC Demons - Garveys Tralee Warriors bring Superleague basketball back to Tralee for another season when they host Kubs from Dublin in the Sports Complex this Saturday night.
After the success of last season’s return to big time basketball expectations are high in the county town to build on last year’s success and reach even greater heights this time around.
Speaking at the launch team coach Mark Bernsen, despite that loss to Demons, was upbeat about the season ahead.
“We started off with a kind of a hiccup over in Cork, and that’s on me. I did a poor job and we can do better than that, that’s my fault, and I will get that fixed.
“We’ve got a good group, we have a lot of new guys, every year it’s a blend that you have to get, and it’s a dynamic you have to get with the team. It doesn’t make a difference if they are scorers, rebounders or defenders or whatever, there has to be a chemistry that has to evolve, and it just doesn’t happen.
“We always have a bit of a slow start because of our athletes and where we are, but it will get worked out. We have a lot of the same guys, some guys who know what it takes, and once things settle down we will be in good shape.
“I would imagine it will be just like last year. I would say Templeogue and Thunder and Marian and the DCU Saints are better. I think Cork and Belfast are better. This year there is a new format, six teams go into the play-offs at the end of the year, so there will be teams fighting for those six spots. It could happen (a Cup quarter-final in Cork versus Demons), you never know, and if it’s there we will show up for sure.”
Kieran Donaghy is also looking forward to the new season and is expecting a tougher ride from more team that last year.
“It’s going to be a tough league, and I am glad for that because I felt at times last year there was a top three or four, and then kind of after that it wasn’t as close.
“Demons are very strong, they have some great Irish players, and they beat us without their American the last day which was huge for them, disappointing for us. We played for a quarter really, so we will have to learn from that going forward. The home crowd in the Complex on Saturday night should, hopefully, get us back on track. That’s what really mounded the team last year, and moulded the club, the support it got from the town. We just hope to get back home on Saturday night and get a win under our belts.
“Our first game in the Cup could be down in Cork against Demons, which would be a very tough first Cup game at the knockout stage. Look, we are in it for the long haul. Mark has put together a great team, and we are happy with the squad we have.”
Club PRO Alan Cantwell was keen to thank the club and team sponsors, who are as vital cog in the Warriors’ chain.
“The sponsorship, obviously, is at the heart of any sporting team, it’s the heartbeat of a lot of sporting clubs around the county, and around the country,” he said. “We have Garveys as our main sponsor back on board this year, we always thank them and look forward to their continued support.
“Obviously, as well tonight we are here in the Brandon Hotel, and they have come on board with us this year, we are particularly delighted with that. We also have our sponsors from last year, The Sea Lodge Hotel and Spa, Waterville, Lee Strand, and Aidan O’Connor and The Greyhound Bar, in Pembroke Street.
“We look forward to working with them now and in the future as well. The big Saturday nights in the Complex have turned a sporting event into a spectacle, and that’s what we want to do again this year. Everything from the stadium entrance, the spotlights, the whole atmosphere that is generated there is quite extraordinary, and it is a throwback to the halcyon days with Tigers in previous times.
“The Warriors have now carved out their own particular interest around the town and the county, and that looks pretty secure in that the venue was full pretty much all last season. The season tickets have sold particularly well this year, and we are looking forward to full houses once again, and the roof being raised down there throughout this coming season.”