New season, new coach for St Mary’s

AS the 2017/18 basketball season gets underway, St. Mary’s Basketball Club has announced a new appointment to its coaching panel.

Liam Culloty is to take over as head coach for the U-18 and U-20 girls and the senior ladies.

“The club has made the decision not to enter the Division One National League but instead to use this season as a development year,” said club PRO Liz Galwey.

The Tralee man brings a wealth of experience having played Super League for eight years with Tralee Tigers and National League for a year with St. Brendan’s before starting his coaching career.

“Since then he has coached St. Brendan’s at National League level and he led Tralee Imperials ladies to victory in the U-20 National Cup final in 2011,” Liz continued.

“He also took their senior team to three cup finals and had wins with them in two consecutive league finals. In addition to this, he was assistant coach to Tommy O’Mahony for the Irish U-18 squad in 2015 and head coach to the Ireland U-18 women’s team in 2016.

“The three St. Mary’s club ladies teams will take part in this season’s U-18, U-20 and intermediate Women’s National Cup competitions. The club has also entered both the U-18 and U-20 men’s national cup and will be coached by Maurice Casey.

“The cup draws took place late on Wednesday and St. Mary’s Senior Ladies are home in their first round against Black & Amber Templeogue, while the U-20 girls have a home draw against Brunell.

“The U-20 men also have a home draw and host Killester. At the time of print the draw for the U-18 tournament had not been made.

“The club will compete at Kerry area level in both juvenile boys and girls competitions at U-10, U-12, U-14, U-16 and U-18. The senior level teams entered are: Division 1 Ladies and Division 2 men and ladies.

“Other club coaches this season include: Maurice Casey, Paudie Fleming, Michael Broderick, Eamonn Egan, Darragh and Keith McCarthy, Fiona O’Connor, Jennifer Ahern, Aoife Nolan, Conor Brosnan, Louise Joyce, Moira Hughes, Tommy Dom O’Connor, Anna Buckley, Tracey Hartnett, Therese Healy, Ciara Kerin and Leanne Cahill,” Liz concluded.

Front from left: Photo by John Reidy St. Mary’s Basketball Club players and new coach, Liam Culloty after his introduction on Wednesday evening at Castleisland Community Centre. Included are, Nicole Downey, Siobhán Collins, Mr. Culloty, Sarah O’Sullivan and Labhaoise Walmsley. Back from...