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Alan Cantwell on how Warriors are keeping the pressure on the leaders after their victory over Belfast Star on Saturday night…
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 80
Belfast Star 68
Action from the game. Photo by Liam Ryan
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors have moved to joint second in Super League alongside UCD Marian following a vital but hard earned win away to Belfast Star in De La Salle College in the northern capital on Saturday night.
The Warriors produced a performance of quality and endeavour to dominate the first three quarters but had to withstand a late comeback by Belfast in the final minutes to secure what for long periods of the game looked like being a certain win.
Results elsewhere on Saturday night saw Templeogue easily account for DCU Saints and UCD Marian power to a big win away to Keane’s Supervalu Killorglin to keep the top three in position as the end of season drama unfolds.
Continued below…
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Next week the League leaders entertain Pyrobel Killester while UCD Marian will be looking to win the battle of the colleges when the travel to take on UCC Demons.
For the Warriors it is back to the Tralee Sports Complex for another must win game this time against Maree of Oranmore next Saturday night. Tip off as usual is 7.30pm.
The Warriors stormed into the contest with their best start to a game this season to leave the Belfast side stunned.
The Tralee side fired in an unanswered 14 points before Belfast even realised the game had started. Eoin Quigley continued his great form with the opening score before Dusan Bogdanovic followed suit.
Two superb threes from Paul Dick and Kieran Donaghy helped the Warriors drive on and despite CJ Fulton opening the Belfast scoring with a major score, Kendall Williams and Donaghy added to see the Warriors lead 18-3 midway through the quarter.
Action from the game. Photo by Liam Ryan
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Belfast sharpshooter Mike Davis finally came to life to find his range and when Matthew Jackson and Conor Johnston also hit the mark the hosts clawed their way back into the contest.
However back-to-back scores from Keith Jumper followed by back-to-back threes from Fergal O’Sullivan saw the Warriors lead 28-17 at quarter time.
The Warriors continued to win all the individual matchups on the court in the second quarter and another efficient and effective defensive effort limited Belfast to just three scores from Davis and Johnson, and a meager seven points for the period.
On the offensive side Paul Dick was getting to the Belfast board with ease and with Bogdanovic, Donaghy and Jumper all getting in on the act, the Warriors took a 44-24 lead to the long break.
The third quarter was more like a proper contest between the sides and Belfast came more into the game mainly through the scoring power of Davis.
Paul Dick opened with his second three of the night before Davis replied with two big scores. Quigley added again to maintain the Warriors advantage before CJ Fulton hit a three for the hosts but that was immediately cancelled out by another Fergal O’Sullivan effort from outside the arc.
Keith Jumper also got to the Belfast board but the home side finished the quarter strongly through Paddy McGaharan hitting four from four from the line and Liam Pettigrew fired in to just about keep his side in touch as they trailed 44-62 at three quarter time.
The Warriors faithful that made the long trip as well as those tuned in online would have assumed that their team would easily see out the win as the sides turned for home.
But in reality there were some nervy moments as Belfast mounted a brave and sustained comeback in the final quarter.
Action from the game. Photo by Liam Ryan
Bogdanovic made it a 20-point lead early on but Fulton and Davis kickstarted the Belfast momentum before Davis again added from play and free throws.
When the fit again Conor Quinn landed back-to-back threes suddenly the apparently unassailable Warriors lead was down to 9.
Davis was flawless again from the line before launching a three to fire Belfast right back into the game and cut the gap to 5.
The Warriors needed a score to halt the Belfast charge and yet again it was Fergal O’Sullivan that produced a signature three before Williams added again.
Davis fired in to complete his top scoring performance and the normally free scoring Sergio Vidal Baldovi added just his first score of the game to keep the Warriors honest.
But Eoin Quigley sealed the deal for Tralee side with an effortless three in the final seconds to secure the vital 80-68 win.
Scorers:
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors – Paul Dick 16, Kieran Donaghy 14, Fergal O’Sullivan 13
Belfast Star – Mike Davis 34, Paddy McGaharan 9, CJ Fulton 8
Action from the game. Photo by Liam Ryan
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors – Remaining Fixtures
Sat 2nd Mar – Home to Maree
Tralee Sports Complex 7.30pm
Sat 9th Mar – Home to Templeogue
Tralee Sports Complex 7.30pm
Fri 15th Mar – Home to C&S Neptune
Tralee Sports Complex 7.30pm
Mon 18th Mar – Away to Moycullen
NUIG Arena 3.00pm
Sat 23rd Mar – Away to UCD Marian
Belfield Sports Centre 5.00pm
Sun 24th Mar – Home to UCD Marian
Tralee Sports Complex 5.00pm
Action from the game. Photo by Liam Ryan
