Former Dublin star Michael Darragh Macauley is determined to help establish the North East Inner City Trojans as a basketball force in the local area.
Macauley, who works in community development in the area, has been involved in basketball coaching in the North East Inner City for four years.
Now, the aim is to grow the club, which will be backed by current Dublin sponsor, Insurance giant AIG and play out of Larkin Community College, off O’Connell Street.
“Straight away we had a huge number of kids that were interested,” said Macauley.
“We had run successful academies for kids from four to 13 over the last four years.
“This year is the first year we have formalised it and put it into a club.
“We will have four teams - boys and girls - this year. Then we are going to look to push on every year after this basically.”
The eight-time All-Ireland winner continued: “It kind of dawned on me a couple of years ago when I was talking to some kid that wanted to progress in the sport: ‘I would love to play for a club.’
“I was like, ‘Ah yeah, you should.’
‘Like, where do I go?’
“I was like, ‘There’s one in Glasnevin. Or else Sutton
“He ended up going out to Clondalkin. I was like, ‘Jesus, why isn’t there a club in the inner city?’
“Such a densely populated place and a sport that has traditionally grown in urban areas where we mostly struggle to facilitate Gaelic football. We don’t struggle to facilitate basketball.
“That’s when I suppose the cogs started turning on getting a basketball club going.
“So, that’s how it started. We are at the beginning of this journey. We have had a great start and hopefully we can push on.”
READ NEXT:
Graeme McDowell LIV prize money dwarfs Shane Lowry's Honda Classic payout
Maura Higgins shares video from viewing party as she watches Jake Paul v Tommy Fury
Tommy Fury leaves viewers 'in tears' after loving tribute to Molly Mae and daughter Bambi
Craig Casey reveals how close he came to missing first Six Nations start for Ireland
Ireland's Grand Slam hopes the last standing as Andy Farrell tells side to want it more v Scotland
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts
