Domino’s Men’s Super League – Round 5
Energywise Ireland Neptune 101
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 105
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors made it back to back wins over the weekend by adding Energywise Ireland Neptune to the scalp of Killester from Saturday night to move to fifth on the Super League table with three wins from five played. Alec Millender produced a shooting masterclass with 42 points while Keelan Crowe came off the bench in the final exchanges to land a decisive three pointer to seal the win.
The Warriors raced into an early lead through Steven Bowler, Daniel Jokubaitis and Jaden Daughtry before a trademark Jokubaitis three put the visitors 9-5 ahead. Roy Downey levelled for Neptune, but Bowler’s and-one and a quickfire seven points from Alec Millender, scoring inside and outside, gave Warriors a 10-point cushion. An end-to-end shootout followed, with Sam Smith, Kendall Taylor, Jalen Hodge and Sean McCarthy keeping Neptune in touch. However, a trio of majors from Millender, Jokubaitis and Olaf Michalczuk helped Warriors establish a 33-25 lead at quarter-time.
Millender continued to torment the Neptune defence in the second quarter, taking his personal tally to 15 with scores from either side of the arc. Daughtry added an and-one, while Eli Lenihan and McCarthy kept Neptune within reach at 43-32. Nil Sabata and Smith then combined to reduce the deficit to six. Eoin Quigley responded with a three, while Bowler, Daughtry and Michalczuk also found their range. However, a McCarthy major and a quickfire four-points from Smith ensured Neptune trailed by just eight at half-time, 54-46.
Daughtry restored Warriors’ double-digit advantage early in the third, but back-to-back scores from McCarthy cut the gap to six. Warriors then unleashed a devastating 16-point offensive burst, with Millender landing three majors, Jokubaitis adding another and Bowler scoring twice to propel the visitors into a 73-54 lead. Smith and Taylor briefly stemmed the bleeding before Michalczuk’s superb corner three stretched the advantage to 21. Neptune capitalised on Warriors’ foul trouble, with McCarthy, Hodge and Nelson converting seven of eight free throws. Despite another Daughtry double, Warriors lead was pared back to a more manageable 80-67 heading into the final quarter.
Neptune launched another assault in the fourth, with two Smith majors, a Downey score and two close-range efforts from Eoin Nelson cutting the deficit to single figures but Millender responded spectacularly, producing a 13-point scoring blitz featuring two inside scores and three triples to keep Warriors in full control. Taylor then spearheaded a defiant Neptune comeback with a 13-point salvo, reducing the gap to just three points and setting up a frantic finale. Keelan Crowe emerged from the bench to deliver a crucial and-one before burying a game-winning corner three. Hodge added a late major, but Warriors held firm to secure a thrilling victory, completing a weekend double and recording their third win in five games.
Scorers
Energywise Ireland Neptune: Kendall Taylor 24, Sam Smith 19, Sean McCarthy 18
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors: Alec Millender 42, Jaden Daughtry 17, Daniel Jokubaitis 14
Next up for Warriors are back-to-back games against Limerick Celtics, starting at home on Friday night in Round 6 of the Domino’s Men’s Super League. Tip-off at the Kerry Sports Academy is at 8pm, with Warriors aiming to maintain their unbeaten record at home this season.
The sides will then meet again on Sunday, 8 November, in Round One of the Domino’s Super League National Cup at Crescent College, Limerick. The winners will earn a home quarter-final against Griffith College Éanna in early December.