Garvey’s Tralee Warriors BIDL Men’s side made it seven wins from seven in the League format of the competition with a 74-66 win over Merry Monk Ballina at the Ballina Sports Complex on Saturday night. In doing so, they have secured top spot in Conference 1 with a game to spare and guarantee themselves home advantage in the upcoming playoff quarter final. They led from the moment a major effort from James Fernane countered the opening score of the game from former Mayo midfielder Ronan McGarrity, but they had to withstand a relentless chase from the Mayo side that brought the lead down to a single point midway through the final quarter, before ultimately prevailing by 8 points in the end.
The Warriors got off to the better start with James Fernane’s three pointer added to by Steve and Dan Bowler to give them a 10-7 lead. McGarrity’s experience and skill at the board was reaping rewards for Ballina and three scores from him signalled that there was more to come. A three pointer from Rory Upton levelled the game but Olaf Michalczuk heralded his return from injury with scores from either side of the arc and another major from Fernane had the Warriors 10 points up. However McGarrity and Theo Daly combined to halve the Warriors lead to 22-17 at quarter time.
A quick run early in the second allowed the Tralee side to ease 15 points ahead with the Fleming brothers Aaron and Padraig and Bowler brothers Dan and Steve all on the mark. However Ballina replied in kind and again it was McGarrity’s guile close to the Warriors board that saw him add a 7 point volley to cut the gap to single figures. But at the other end Zygi Kaletka got a clean look for the first of three major scores of the game and Dan Bowler weaved his way to add from inside to see the Warriors lead 42-29 at half time.
Olaf Michalczuk, Zygi Kaletka.
Front row L to R: Ryan Sheehy, Steven Bowler, Padraig Fleming, Aaron Fleming.
The third quarter went score for score as the Warriors kept their hosts at arm’s length up to the midway point. Kaletka and Padraig Fleming together added a 10 haul while Upton, McGarrity, Daly, Brian Donoghue and Ronan O’Malley kept the visitors within striking distance. A timely ‘and one’ from James Fernane put the Warriors 54-40 up. However, the momentum suddenly shifted the way of the hosts with an unanswered 8 points from Theo Daly while Ballina kept the Warriors scoreless for the remainder of the quarter and cut the lead to 56-48 at three quarter time.
Ballina’s pursuit continued into the final quarter with scores from Mark Cunningham and McGarrity forcing Rick Leonard to call an early timeout. Out of the break, the Mayo side continued to find the scores with the Warriors guilty of a number of mid court turnovers. McGarrity and Cunningham struck again for a combined 9 points punctuated only by three point efforts from Fernane and Kaletka for Warriors to keep the visitors slender lead in place at 62-61.
Two cracking threes from Aaron Fleming and James Fernane saw the Tralee side assert as the clock ticked down to go 70-61 up. Daly and McGarrity did pare the lead down to 4 with 2 mins on the clock but Bowler brothers Dan and Steve sealed the 74-66 win with a score each in the final seconds of what was a terrific contest.
Scorers: Merry Monk Ballina: Ronan McGarrity 27, Theo Daly 17, Mark Cunningham 9
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors: James Fernane 15, Zygi Kaletka 15 and Dan Bowler 15
Next up for the Warriors is another road trip to take on Shannon Jets next Saturday at the Shannon Leisure Centre with tip off at 3.45pm.