Dominos Mens Super League Semi Final
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 86
UCD Marian 74
For the second time in their short history Garvey’s Tralee Warriors are through to a Super League National Cup final after seeing off the challenge of UCD Marian by 86-74 in the semi-final played at Neptune Stadium last night. Marian were without the services of two of their pros in Tanner Graham and Mihael Linde but the Warriors went about their task in business-like fashion to secure a place in the Cup final for the first time since 2022. The win sets up a mouth-watering decider against keen rivals Ballincollig in the season’s showpiece event at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght on Saturday 17th January.
Both sides started the contest well with the Warriors shading the early exchanges with Daniel Jokubaitis firing in the first two scores and when Jordan Perkins and Cian Sullivan opened their respective accounts the Tralee side led 9-4 with UCD Marian’s response coming from Zach Hinton and new signing Bruce Saintilus. Saintilus was in range again from inside and outside either side of a Sean Fitzpatrick basket to edge the Dublin college side ahead but Iggy Hunte drove up the lane to give Warriors a one point lead midway through the quarter. James Connaire and Hinton struck from distance for Marian but at the other end Perkins and Jokubaitis replied in kind before an ‘and one’ from Cian Sullivan put four between the teams with 2’00’’ on the clock. Perkins knocked down his second major of the night before team captain Eoin Quigley added to give Warriors a 28-23 lead at quarter time.
Olaf Michalczuk heralded his arrival on the court early in the second with a quickfire double but Saintilus was again on the mark for Marian a minute later to leave six between the midway through. Saintilus from beyond the arc and a double from Hinton kept Marian in touch but at the other end the Warriors were finding the UCD basket with some ease and Perkins, Michalczuk and Steven Bowler with an and one combined to give Warriors a ten point lead at 44-34 up with a minute on the clock. However a Zach Hinton effort with the last score of the half pared the lead back to 44-36 as the halftime buzzer sounded.
The third quarter saw Warriors continue to pick off scores with Jokubaitis adding early from either side of the three point line and with Perkins, Dan Bowler and Quigley all on the mark their lead remained intact. However, Marian’s offence moved up a gear with Hinton and Jack Kehoe finding the time and space to knock down two three pointers each and with Saintilus again finishing under the board the sides were suddenly all square with 1’30’’ left on the clock. Team captain Eoin Quigley stepped up to the mark to land the final score from play with a cracking major effort to help Warriors to a 60-55 lead turning down the stretch.
The outcome of the contest remained very much in the balance early in the final quarter as Steven Bowler and Quigley added before a sensational finish from Perkins kept Warriors in front. However Saintilus and Hinton continued to dominate the UCD scoring and combined for eight points from play and the free throw line to maintain the Marian challenge. But in what were the decisive moments of the game Daniel Jokuabitis lit the arena up with a devastating volley of scores that added 10 to the Warriors tally. Sean Fitzpatrick struck back with a major score for Marian before Iggy Hunte slammed in a dunk to push the Warriors lead out to 79-66. The Warriors rearguard stood tall late on and crucially denied the Dublin outfit a score for a full two minutes before Hinton and Sean O’Flynn chipped in consolation scores as the clock ticked down. Jordan Perkins calmly swished two free throws in the final seconds to seal the deal and book the Warriors ticket to Tallaght in two weeks time.
Scorers:
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors: Daniel Jokubaitis 27, Jordan Perkins 18, Iggy Hunte 10, Eoin Quigley 10
UCD Marian: Bruce Saintilus 30, Zach Hinton 27, Sean Fitzpatrick 7
Thanks to Liam Ryan for the images.