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Alan Cantwell reports on Warriors win in the Men’s Superleague clash with Moycullen at the complex on Saturday…
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 89
Moycullen 53
Action from the game. Photo: Liam Ryan
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors are top of the Super League table after another impressive display saw them overcome Moycullen of Galway by 89-53 at the Tralee Sports Complex on Saturday night.
In combination with their win and a series of favourable results elsewhere the Warriors now lead the competition by virtue of superior points difference over DSB Éanna albeit that the Dublin side have a game in hand.
The Warriors launched into the contest with four of the five opening scores all coming from Eoin Quigley within the first three minutes. Patrick Lyons got the visitors on the mark before Darragh O’Hanlon put the Warriors 10-2 up.
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The hosts then took the initiative to stretch the lead out to 21-6 with Jonathan Lawton in range from inside and out, Daniel Jokubaitis from close range and free throws from Rap Buivydas.
Jokubaitis edged the Warriors further ahead but Moycullen replied late with a 3 from Daniel Vila and a lay up from Lyons to cut the gap to 23-13 at quarter time.
Moycullen had the lead back to a manageable 7 with the opening score of the second coming from Connor Curran with a 3.
This did little but spark a short, sharp scoring blitz with Keith Jumper landing two from two from the line before Fergal O’Sullivan opened up for a trademark 3. Jokubaitis with two and another from O’Sullivan suddenly had the Warriors lead out to 34-16.
Action from the game. Photo: Liam Ryan
Moycullen again responded with threes from Joseph Tummon and Kyle Cunningham and a score from Josh Marvesley to cut the gap to 10 but Jokubaitis and Lawton combined to give the Warriors a 44-27 lead at the long break.
In an evenly contested third quarter the sides went score for score with Patrick and James Lyons cancelling out another Quigley effort and Kieran Donaghy’s first of the night.
Darren O’Sullivan then stepped into the same position against the same opposition as he did two seasons ago to drill a replica three to put the Warriors 51-31 ahead.
Tummon, Grant Olsson, James Connaire and Dylan Cunningham all landed scores for Moycullen but Quigley with two, Lawton and Donaghy on the buzzer gave the home side a 19 point 61-42 cushion turning for home.
The final quarter saw the Warriors open up to find scores at their ease as the depth of their squad began to overwhelm the visitors. Donaghy, Lawton, Quigley and Fergal O’Sullivan all found the target to put the Warriors 30 up.
The resistance from Moycullen came in the form of scores from Kyle Cunningham with six points and a score each from Marvesley and Connaire. The Warriors defence again was immense throughout limiting their opposition to a modest 53.
At the other end of the court the Warriors queued up to shoot the ball with Quigley again in range with Ivan Bogdanovic, Buivydas and McCarthy following suit. Darragh O’Hanlon arced in a late three and Bogdanovic added some polish to the scoreline with two late baskets from under the board.
The win made it five on the spin for the Warriors and was all the more notable given that Paul Dick played no part in victory. With all the other top teams dropping points it allowed the reigning champions take their place at the top of the Super League table ahead of three away fixtures in a row.
Scorers:
Warriors Jonathan Lawton 20, Eoin Quigley 16, Daniel Jokubaitis 13
Moycullen Kyle Cunningham 8, Patrick Lyons 8, Joseph Tummon 6
• Next up for the Warriors is a return trip to the Killorglin Sports Complex next Saturday night to take on their local rivals Keane’s Supervalu Killorglin for the second time in two weeks.
Following the Warriors win in the first round of the Cup and with both teams unbeaten since it promises to be a highly charged and highly competitive affair. Tip of next Saturday night is 7.15pm.
