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Alan Cantwell reports on last night’s Men’s Super League 2018/2019 Round 3 game in Dublin…
DCU Saints 92
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 102
Action from the Warriors v Saints game. Photo: Liam Ryan
For the second year running Garvey’s Tralee Warriors successfully negotiated a tricky road trip to DCU Saints, and as they did in the corresponding fixture last season, clocked up over 100 points in the process.
The outcome looked far from certain for the Tralee side particularly when they trailed by 10 midway through the second quarter but big scoring performances from Jordan Evans and Paul Dick aided by some terrific three point shooting from Fergal O’Sullivan laid the basis for the Warriors second win of the campaign.
The home side was first on the board with Martins Provizors opening their account before Jordan Evans got the Warriors off the mark.
The Saints then proceeded to push ahead to a 13-5 lead through Mike Bonaparte, three scores from Tariq Guebali and a three from Graham Branelly all without reply.
Darragh O’Hanlon landed another of his typical threes to ease the Warriors back into the contest before Eoin Quigley and Fergal O’Sullivan followed suit to level the scores.
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Former Templeogue star Mike Bonaparte was proving to be more than a handful for the Warriors defence and added twice from under the board and converted three free throws to push the Saints ahead.
Evans launched a three for the Warriors and Paul Dick converted three from three from the line before Alan Costache edged the home side ahead at quarter time by 27-24.
Action from the Warriors v Saints game. Photo: Liam Ryan
The Warriors pushed on early in the second with Evans hitting from distance and Paul Dick laying up under the board before the Saints launched a 10 point blitz from Bonaparte, Guebali and a three from Provizors to see Joey Boylan’s charges lead by double figures.
The Warriors to their credit hit back with a scoring volley of their own through Dusan Bogdanovic, Quigley, Paul Dick, Kieran Donaghy and another three from Evans to cut the lead to 2.
With the Warriors defence getting to grips with the threat of Bonaparte and Provizors, O’Sullivan then drilled a three from distance before Donaghy drove to the board to power home a score and the Warriors led for the first time in the contest.
Another huge three from Evans and more success for Paul Dick from the line saw the visitors turn a 10 point deficit into a 6 point half time lead 52-46.
Action from the Warriors v Saints game. Photo: Liam Ryan
The sides went score for score in a highly entertained third quarter as the outcome of the contest remained in the balance.
Early three from Donaghy and Evans were cancelled out by scores from Graham Brannelly, Guebali and a rejuvenated Bonaparte who hit three scores to cut the Warriors advantage to the minimum midway through the quarter.
O’Sullivan again caught sight of the basket from distance and fired in a stunning effort between scores from Quigley and Paul Dick.
Shane Davidson and Provizors found their range from distance for Saints before Evans and Quigley replied from outside for the Warriors to maintain their 6 point half time lead 79-73 at the end of the third.
The Saints faithful were in full voice early in the final quarter when Provizors and Davidson gave the home side some hope of turning the contest around.
Action from the Warriors v Saints game. Photo: Liam Ryan
But Evans stepped into land a spectacular three before adding a couple from the line before back to back Bogdanovic efforts kept the Saints at arms length despite threes from Provizors and Audrius Ubanavicius.
Paul Dick weaved his way to the basket to push the Warriors advantage out 12 but Guebali and Provizors kept the contest alive with scores for Saints as the clock ticked down.
Quigley then struck from distance with the decisive score before Fergal O’Sullivan netted two from the line to reach the 100 point mark for the Warriors.
Bonaparte fired in a couple of late efforts for Saints as their challenge faded late on and with just enough time on the clock the inspirational Donaghy landed the final score of the contest to leave the scoreboard reading DCU Saints 92 Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 102.
Top scorers: Garvey’s Tralee Warriors: Jordan Evans 30, Paul Dick 24, Fergal O’Sullivan 14
DCU Saints: Martins Provizors 26, Mike Bonaparte 24, Tariq Guebali 17
• Next up for Garvey’s Tralee Warriors is a home date with keen rivals Griffith College Swords Thunder on the newly installed timber floor at the Tralee Sports Complex on Saturday night next with tip off at 7.30pm
