Alan Cantwell on Saturday night’s victory for Garvey’s Tralee Warriors over DCU Saints…

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 89

DCU Saints 64

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors consolidated second place on the Super League table by seeing off the challenge of DCU Saints at a packed Tralee Sports Complex on Saturday night.

Having led at the end of all four quarters, it was the offensive display in the third that laid the platform for victory when they outscored the visitors by 27-12 before eventually easing to a 25 point win.

The Warriors were first on the scoreboard with Trae Pemberton firing in a trademark three before the League’s top scorer Dee Proby opened Saints account with a typical driving score.

A big three pointer from Darren O’Sullivan and scores from Pemberton, Pa McCarthy and Kieran Donaghy saw the home side lead 11-2 early on.

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Despite a basket apiece from Graham Brannelly and Tariq Gueballi and free throws from Proby, scores from Pemberton, Pantovic, Donaghy and McCarthy had the Warriors leading 22-12 late in the first.

However scores from Quigley and Donaghy were cancelled out by efforts from Brannelly and James Harding and at quarter time the Warriors led 26-16.

An early three pointer from Harding and a score from Brannelly cut the Warriors lead to 5 but when Donaghy and Darragh O’Hanlon replied with scores and Eoin Quigley added two from free throws it looked like the hosts were set to pull away.

However the zonal defence employed by Saint caused Warriors to surrender some easy turnovers and a score from Proby and threes from Sullivan and Sipetic kept the Saints in touch.

But back-to-back baskets from Donaghy typified a dominant personal display in the quarter to see the Warriors lead by 11 at half time.

Brannelly landed an early basket for Saints in the third but with McCarthy and Donaghy both in range and scores from inside and from distance from Pemberton the Warriors seized the initiative to push out to a 20 point lead.

Proby fired in two three pointers in a row to keep the Saints in touch but when Darren O’Sullivan, Pemberton and Fergal O’Sullivan landed scores without reply the Warriors turned for home with a lead of 26 – 73-47.

The Warriors continued to dominate offensively early in the final quarter with Quigley on the mark on three occasions and Darragh O’Hanlon landing a three the home side led by 34.

Two from Proby and impressive late scoring cameos by Robert Sullivan and Martin Neary added some gloss to the scoreline for Saints who to their credit battled to the very end.

The Dublin side fired in the last four scores of the night after a three from Fergal O’Sullivan and a score from O’Hanlon saw the Warriors claim their fourth win in a row on a final scoreline of 89-64.

With a bye in the National Cup next weekend Garvey’s Tralee Warriors will be watching with some interest to see who emerges from the meeting of KUBS and UCC Demons as they will face the winners in the National Cup quarter final in early December.

Next up for the Garvey’s Tralee Warriors is an away trip to Clontarf to face Pyrobel Killester in a top of the table clash.

Scorers 

Warriors: Trae Pemberton 23, Kieran Donaghy 18, Eoin Quigley 12, Darragh O’Hanlon 12

DCU Saints: Dee Proby 20, Robert O’Sullivan 10, Tariq Gueballi 8