Alan Cantwell on the Warriors win at the complex on Saturday night…
Garveys Tralee Warriors 90
Maree 67
Kieran Donaghy in action on Saturday night. Photo by Liam Ryan
Following their defeat to UCC Demons in the National Cup on Wednesday, Garvey’s Tralee Warrriors got back to winning ways with a comfortable 23 point win against Maree from Oranmore in front of the Warriors faithful at a festive and colourful Tralee Sports Complex on Saturday night.
In the opening exchanges it was the visitors that got on the mark first with scores from Kenny Hannsberry either side of baskets from Trae Pemberton and Goran Pantovic.
Kieran Donaghy then launched himself into the contest with two typical driving scores for the home side before Pemberton stepped effortlessly into position for three back-to-back threes in a row to bring the Tralee crowd to their feet.
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Maree response was to convert just four from ten free throws and the Warriors led 20-9 at quarter time.
Hannsberry was in range for Maree early in the second before a Fergal O’Sullivan and a score from Paul McMahon kept the visitors at arms length but a number of defensive lapses by the Warriors welcomed the Galway side back into the contest and Corey Hammell, Cathal Finn, Eoin Rockall and Hannsberry made the most of the opportunities to bring Maree from ten points down to lead by one.
However the Warriors shored up the channels to the basket and got busy at the other end of the court to land scores through Darren O’Sullivan and a three from Darragh O’Hanlon. Rockall and Jamelle Tolliver fired in threes of their own before Fergal O’Sullivan and Donaghy with two score apiece and one from Eoin Quigley put eight between the sides at the long break.
The third quarter saw Warriors lay the platform for the win outscoring the visitors by 21-12.
Pemberton and O’Hanlon fired in from distance either side of baskets from Hammell but the Warriors then added 11 without reply through Donaghy, O’Hanlon, Pantovic and Quigley. Maree tried to turn the tide through Finn, Hannsberry and Tolliver but back to back scores from Pemberton put the Warriors 62-45 up at they set sail for home.
Kieran Donaghy had the Complex rocking with four scores early in the final quarter that typified his outstanding triple double performance in the game.
He ended the game with 20 points, 25 rebounds and 12 assists in a devastating display throughout. With Donaghy’s return and two from Pantovic the Warriors were 24 points up midway through the quarter.
Maree’s response was an occasional score including threes from Stephen Cummins and Rockall but it was simply not enough to trouble the Warriors dominant defence.
Gary Murphy made a big impact when sprung from the bench and landing two scores from inside and threes from Pemberton and Fergal O’Sullivan added a touch of gloss to the final score of 90-67.
Scorers:
Warriors: Trae Pemberton 25, Kieran Donaghy 20, Fergal O’Sullivan 11
Maree: Kenny Hannsberry, Corey Hammell, Eoin Rockall
• Next up for the Warriors is a trip to Greendale in Dublin to take on KUBs in the last Super League game of 2017. The Tralee side will also compete in the St. Mary’s Castleisland Blitz on December 28th.
