Tralee Complex set for weekend feast of KABB Cup finals

THE Tralee Sports Complex will have its roof raised on many occasions over the coming weekend when the always hotly contested Kerry Airport KABB Cup Final season gets underway.

There is action over the various ages in both boys and girls starting with one game on Friday night when TK Bobcats meet Gneeveguilla in the U-14 Girls Cup decider.

Both sides came through tough semi-finals with Bobcats defeating St Mary’s by 5 and Falcon pulling away late on to knock out the Wildcats.

Five Cup Finals on Saturday

THE action on Saturday gets underway at 10am and St Brendan’s Tralee will have a busy morning. First up the face KCYMS Killorglin in the U-18 Boys Cup final while following this at 11.30 it’s the U-16 Boys decider with St Pauls Killarney the opponents for the Tralee boys. These are the top two sides in the League with St Brendan’s on 13 points from 5 games just ahead of St Pauls who are unbeaten in their four games.

St Brendan’s are in action again at 2.30 when it’s the U-13 Boys Cup with TK Bobcats the opposition. The Tralee side are unbeaten in the League with Bobcats on two wins from four played but the Cup is a one off so neither side will be taking anything for granted.

Tipping off at 3.30 is the U-14 Boys Cup final and here it’s the clash of Rathmore Ravens and St Mary’s who have been the class side in the League winning their 9 games. The Rathmore boys have four wins from their seven games and will come in confident after their 49-31 win over St Joseph’s in the semi-final.

The day ends with another big crowd expected to be in the Complex for the 5pm start of the U-12 Boys Cup final where Gneeveguilla playing St Mary’s. The East Kerry side saw off St Brendan’s while St Mary’s beat St Pauls. This is the ideal pairing for a cracking final as these are the top two sides in the League with St Mary’s 5 up but Gneeveguilla having a game in hand.

Five Girls and two Boys Cups down for decision on Sunday

ON a busy Sunday the first game again tips off at 10am with the U-12 Girls Cup final where Tralee Imperials take on St Pauls. Imperials got through in a low scoring semi-final over St Mary’s while St Pauls hit 42 against Falcons. St Pauls are undefeated in the League but this is the Cup and the Imperial’s girls will be well up for causing an upset.

The two Boys Cup finals follow with St Paul’s taking on TK Bobcats

in the U-17 final at 11am followed by Bobcats in action again as they face St Brendan’s in the U-11 decider. Pauls top the U-17 Division but only by 2 points from Bobcats so this could be a cracker.

The remaining four finals on Sunday are all Girls games starting with the U-17 Girls final where it’s the battle of the ‘G’s’ Gneeveguilla v Glenbeigh. Both sides have only lost one game in the League so this is too close to call.

The U-11 finals always create a great atmosphere and it should be the same at 3pm when Cougars face Imperials. Meetings between these young sides are always close and this one probably be as well.

The U-16 Girls Cup final will see Kenmare Kestrels taking on Caherciveen. Many of this Kenmare side will have been on this week’s All Ireland schools Cup winning side so while they will be full of confidence that game went to overtime so it will be interesting to see how they bounce back. Caherciveen are just behind Kenmare in the League and will certainly be looking forward to this game.

The final game of a great weekend of basketball is the U-18 Girls decider with the Killarney versus Tralee clash of St Paul’s v Imperials. Both sides won 6 from 7 in the League and both were impressive in their semi-final wins so 5.30pm in the Complex on Sunday is the place to be.