.
Alan Cantwell reports on Garvey’s Tralee Warriors win at the complex on Saturday night…
Action from the game. Photo by Liam Ryan
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 89
DCU Saints 55
GARVEY’S Tralee Warriors returned to winning ways in emphatic style with a surprisingly easy win over DCU Saints at the Tralee Sports Complex on Saturday night.
As a result the Warriors are now joint second in the League with Belfast Star and Killester, two wins behind League leaders Templeogue.
Having come into the game off the back of defeats to Killester in the Cup semi final and an unexpected loss at home to UCC Demons, the Tralee side was fully charged for a stern Super League test from Saints who had won their last five on the spin including wins over C&S Neptune and UCD Marian.
Continued below…
.
However in truth this game was won and lost half way through the second quarter and by the time the fourth quarter had played out it was the Saints that were praying for the final buzzer to sound.
Saints point guard Kevin O’Hanlon opened the scoring for Saints but Paul Dick quickly restored parity before Eoin Quigley shot the first of his two and the Warriors three three-pointers on the night.
The veteran Mike Bonaparte, Graham Brannelly and O’Hanlon fired in either side of another Paul Dick effort but when Dusan Bogdanovic and Darragh O’Hanlon found their range and Paul Dick danced his way to the board, the Warriors eased to a 16-11 quarter time lead.
Bonaparte and O’Hanlon helped Saints back to level early in the second but two from Kieran Donaghy and another from Quigley either side of a O’Hanlon drive to the board saw the Warriors lead by four.
Here the game turned significantly the way of the home side as Saints scoring options were limited to free throws such was the strength of the Warriors defensive effort.
Action from the game. Photo by Liam Ryan
While the Dublin side failed to register another score from play in the quarter, the Warriors added sixteen through Donaghy, Bogdanovic and the impressive Keith Jumper while Bonaparte, Domonic Phillipi and Tariq Quebali shared the Saints six points in reply, all coming from the free throw line. At half time Warriors lead was pushed out to 42-29.
The Warriors pressed home their advantage in the third with a scoring blitz that was initiated by Quigley with his second three of the night.
Martins Provizors with his first score from play of the night and another from Bonaparte stemmed the tide momentarily before Bogdanovic, Paul Dick and new recruit Kendall Williams celebrated his first score for the Warriors with a momentous play to the home crowd before adding the extra for good measure.
Action from the game. Photo by Liam Ryan
The Warriors onslaught continued unabated with the unmanageable Jumper simply pounding the Saints board for nine points as Quigley, Paul Dick and Bogdanovic also found the DCU net with relative ease.
Andres Gomez fired in a late three for Saints but is was too little too late and by three quarter time the gap was out to an unassailable 69-41.
The Warriors took up in the fourth where the left off in third by continuing to get to the DCU board as they pleased. Donaghy, Williams, Bogdanovic, Jumper and captain Darren O’Sullivan all fired in scores to see the Tralee side add 20 points to the final tally of 89.
Action from the game. Photo by Liam Ryan
Much to the delight of the Warriors faithful Pat Price introduced Paul McMahon, Rap Buivydas and Daire Kennelly to great ovations as the Warriors coach afforded the young players some game time in the shadow of the winning post.
All three showed the type of performance and temperament that is expected at this level and they will come on for the experience.
Despite the facile mature of the win, the Warriors can reflect on a number of significant positives particularly the outstanding defensive and offensive displays of Kieran Donaghy and Keith Jumper who were simply outstanding at both boards sharing 27 points and 28 rebounds in the game.
The Warriors faithful also warmed to the introduction of new signing Kendall Williams who showed glimpses of the incisive and instinctive play that he is capable of.
Action from the game. Photo by Liam Ryan
Scorers:
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors: Dusan Bogdanovic 19, Keith Jumper 19, Paul Dick 18, Eoin Quigley 9
DCU Saints: Kevin O’Hanlon 17, Mike Bonaparte 15, Tariq Guebali 8
• Next up for Warriors is the first of four remaining road trips as they face Griffith College Swords Thunder at the ALSAA Sports Centre in Dublin next Saturday afternoon with an earlier than usual tip off time of 5.00pm.
