St. Mary’s sharp shooting shades local derby

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors Women bid to make it back to back wins against Kerry opposition after their win over St. Paul’s came up short as they were outscored 65-58 by St. Mary’s Castleisland in Round 2 of the BIDL League at Mercy Mounthawk on Friday night.

The teams went score for score early in the contest with Louise Galvin, Kelly Fitzgerald and Meabh Barry in range for the hosts and Shauna Ahern and Emma Buckley replying in kind for St. Mary’s. The visitors struck for an unanswered 10 points to fire their way to a 16-6 lead with baskets from Buckley, Ahern and Fiona McGuire and a major score from Seodhna O’Donoghue. The Warriors countered through Mary Kate Smith, Orla O’Mahony and Aisling Counihan but another three for St. Mary’s from Emma Kerin helped St. Mary’s to a 21-15 at quarter time.

Clodagh Coffey and Emma Kerin were on target for St. Mary’s early in the second but Warriors’ resolve was on full display with Mary Kate Smith, Galvin and a major score from Counihan cutting the advantage to a single point midway through. Galvin landed another tough finish to add to her tally but at the other end St. Mary’s finishing was on point as Kate O’Connor twice struck from distance and a double from close range from Emma Buckley had the visitors 39-28 to the good at half time.

St. Mary’s consolidated their lead early in the third with Kerin, Coffey and back to back scores from Ahern pushing the lead out to 16. Three scores in a row from Fitzgerald, Galvin and Rachel Creedon cut the gap to 10 but Roisin Casey and Coffey gave St. Mary’s added comfort but Barry and the outstanding Galvin kept Warriors hopes alive with a basket each to hold the Castleisland advantage to 56-46 going into the final quarter.

Kelly Fitzgerald with a quick double early in the fourth hinted at a late rally from Warriors but fouls under their basket at the other end halted the momentum with Fiona McGuire and Tara Kerin taking full advantage from the line. A fast break Orla O’Mahony effort for the hosts with 3 minutes on the clock was immediately countered by Seodhna O’Donoghue with what proved to be the insurance score. Warriors did battle right to the final buzzer but even 6 from 8 from free throws in the final minutes wasn’t enough to threaten a dramatic finale and St. Mary’s ran out deserving 65-58 winners in the end.

Scorers: Garvey’s Tralee Warriors: Louise Galvin 17, Kelly Fitzgerald 10, Mary Kate Smith and Aishling Counihan 8
St. Mary’s Castleisland: Emma Buckley 11, Shauna Ahern, 10, Emma Kerin 8

Next up for Warriors is another home date when they take on Glanmire in what is a repeat of the BIDL Plate Final last season in Mounthawk Gym on Friday 12th December with tip off at 8pm.

Thanks to Liam Ryan for the images