InsureMyVan.ie Men’s Super League 2021/2022 – Round 6
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 99
Griffith College Templeogue 90
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors produced a performance of real quality, determination and resolve as they saw off the challenge of Griffith College Templeogue in convincing fashion on Saturday night. The Warriors led throughout and a hugely impressive third quarter, in which they outscored the visitors by 25-12, moved the Warriors into position to see out the win by 99-90 in the end.
The Warriors intent was clear from the very start as Daniel Jokubaitis opened the scoring with a three-point effort but Lorcan Murphy, Neil Randolph and Jason Killeen were also in range early for Templeogue. A hat trick of threes for the Warriors through Fergal O’Sullivan, Keelan Crowe and Aaron Calixte saw the home side lead by 14-10 midway through the quarter. Threes from Marquel Murphy and Vlad Tokishin saw Templeogue take back the lead before Calixte and Quigley and a buzzer beater out of the top drawer from Brandon Cotton saw the Warriors lead by 25-22 at quarter time.
Kris Arcilla and Callum McGrail combined to wrestle the lead back for Templeogue early in the second quarter but major scores from Jokubaitis and Darragh O’Hanlon and a pair of quality scores from Eoin Quigley edged the home side back in front. Mark Keenan introduced Enrique Melllini and the Spaniard impressed with four successive score to draw his side level. Calixte and Quigley exchanged scores with Killeen before Neil Randolph arced in his first three of the night but the Warriors asserted late on and with Jokubaitis hitting his third three and Keelan Crowe’s firing in his second three of the night the Warriors 54-48 ahead at the long break.
The Warriors moved up a gear in the third and piled the pressure on their League arch-rivals with a devastating defensive and offensive display. Jokubaitis and Quigley in particular, tormented the Templeogue defence, and along with scores from Calixte and Roso the home side were suddenly leading by double figures. The Warriors shut down the Templeogue attack with scores from Arcilla and Murphy providing only token resistance. At the other end baskets from O’Hanlon, Crowe and a three late on by James Fernane had the Warriors 79-60 up at the end of the third.
Templeogue got to work early in the fourth in their attempt to turn the contest around with scores from Lorcan Murphy, Mellini and Puff Summers but threes from Quigley and captain Fergal O’Sullivan kept the visitors at arm’s length. With no sign of a dramatic comeback the game meandered its way to the inevitable conclusion with Calixte turning on the style with quality scores from either side of the arc. Lorcan Murphy did provide an entertaining cameo late on with his typical acrobatics, but it served simply to add some respectability to the final scoreline as the Warriors sealed an impressive 99-90 win in the end.
Top scorers: Garvey’s Tralee Warriors: Aaron Calixte 21, Daniel Jokubaitis 17, Eoin Quigley 16
Griffith College Templeogue: Lorcan Murphy 26, Enrique Mellini 23, Jason Killeen 16
The Super League takes a break for the Irish international next weekend but the following weekend Garvey’s Tralee Warriors will attempt to make their way to the Cup semi-final for the third season in a row when they host Moycullen at the Tralee Sport Complex on Saturday 4th December with tip off at 7.30pm.
Post Match Audio
Warriors Head Coach John Dowling says he was pleased with how his side approached the game against their old rivals…
He says his sides display in the third quarter was the best so far this season…
He says the focus now switches to Moycullen and the Cup quarter final…
Captain Fergal O’Sullivan says the sides always bring the best out in each other..
He says that team mates Eoin Quigley and Daniel Jokubaitis were particularly impressive…
Templeogue Mark Keenan was as always gracious in defeat and says the scoreline might have slightly flattered his charges…
