Domino’s Womens National League Division One Round 1
Uniquely Tralee Warriors 52
Abbey Seals Dublin Lions 68
Uniquely Tralee Warriors’ much-anticipated debut in the Dominos Womens National League Division One ended in defeat as they succumbed to Abbey Seals Dublin Lions by 68-52 at the Kerry Sports Academy yesterday. In front of a big crowd it began so well for the Warriors as they hit the Lions with a 14 point blitz to lead 14-5 midway through the first. Amy Cotton was outstanding in the early exchanges clocking up 10 points, Niamh O’Connor conducted affairs from point guard with Meabh Barry commanding under both boards and Priya O’Donovan firing in from inside and out. The Lions were limited to just two major scores from Piper Ingalls and Emily Smyth but with Cotton on the mark again with back to back scores, the Warriors led by 19-9 at quarter time.
Lions fired their way back into the contest with three point efforts from Piper Ingalls, Tara Nevin and Smyth but Warriors hit straight back with scores from Aimee Turner and Amy Cotton who also hit five from six from the free throw line to keep Warriors eight point lead intact. However, a late Lions run of scores from Avie Leigh McGonagle and playmaker Ingalls including two identical major scores gave the visitors a 32-30 lead at half time.
The Warriors put ten between the sides early through Meabh Barry but the hosts started to struggle under the relentless press from theLions that saw the Dublin side strike for 10 unanswered points with Katie Richards, Aoife Courtney, Ingalls and Smyth all in range. Meabh Barry punctuated the onslaught from the free throw line but Lions lit up again and an eight point volley from Smyth had Dublin Lions leading 52-33 at the end of the third.
Meadh Barry was again on the mark early in the fourth with Amy Cotton and Anna O’Sullivan also in range but Dublin Lions were able to counter every score with one of their own and Ingalls, Smyth, McGonagle and Richards all chipped in to maintain the game-winning advantage. The Warriors defiantly rallied in the final minutes to land 11 of the last 15 points of the game with scores from Amy Cotton, Anna O’Sullivan and Meabh Barry.
In the end Warriors lack of depth from the bench proved costly against a well drilled and sharp shooting Dublin Lions outfit.Coach Tomás O’Hanlon will be hoping he can get some of his squad off the injury list and back in action particularly Holly O’Brien, Emily Flynn and Kelly Fitzgerald and will also be glad to see Muireann Teahan and Mary Kate Smith returning to the fold after their respective County Football Championships.
Scorers: Uniquely Tralee Warriors: Amy Cotton 30, Meabh Barry11, Priya O’Donovan 5Abbey Seals Dublin Lions: Emily Smyth 24, PiperIngalls 20, Katie Richards 8
Next up for the Uniquely Tralee Warriors is a home tie with Limerick Sport Huskies in Mercy Mounthawk on Saturday next 10th October with tip off at 5.00pm.