Dominos Mens Super League National Cup Quarter Final
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 89
Killester 75
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors are through to the semi-final of the National Cup after a decisive 89-75 win over Killester and for the second time in two weeks they put the defending champions to the sword in front of a huge home crowd at the Kerry Sports Academy on Saturday night. A brilliant final quarter display by the Warriors, winning it 17-10, ultimately decided the contest and they now join Ballincollig, Limerick Celtics and UCD Marian in the last four of the competition.
Daniel Jokubaitis was in range early for Warriors to help them to an 8-5 lead but Killester’s American Robert Braswell responded in kind and when former Warrior Paul Dick struck for a double either side of an Andy McGeever three, the Dublin outfit led 12-8 midway through the first quarter. Iggy Hunte and Jordan Perkins opened their accounts and Jokubaitis nailed his second major of the night to edge the Warriors in front. Braswell fired back with a three point ‘and one’ to put Killester ahead but Perkins had the final say in the quarter with a basket and two from the free throw line to tie the game at 20-20 at the end of the first.
Jokubaitis hit his third and fourth majors to kickstart the second quarter and despite a Braswell three and Josh Wilson adding his name to the score sheet, Perkins and Hunte combined to put the Warriors 7 up. Braswell lit up for Killester midway through the quarter and scores from outside, inside and the free throw line added to by a corner three from McGeever saw the defending champions wrestle back the lead. Scores from Dan Bowler, Jokubaitis, Perkins and Hunte saw the Warriors restore a 5 point advantage but in the final minute of the first half McGeever and Wilson both struck from beyond the arc to put Killester 46-44 up at the long break.
Braswell and McGeever were on the mark from distance early in the third to consolidate Killester’s lead but the Warriors response was immediate and impressive with baskets from Eoin Quigley, a double from Cian Sullivan and major number 5 from Jokubaitis edging the Warriors ahead again. Olaf Michalczuk and Padraig Fleming were then sprung from the bench and their impact was instant with Michalczuk drilling a three with his first touch and Fleming bossing Baptiste Chazelas in the paint to slot his first score. Moments later Fleming had the Warriors fans on their feet as he rattled in a three from well beyond the arc. A double at the other end from Paul Dick kept Killester in front but Fleming pulled another three pointer right out of the top drawer to put the Tralee side 72-65 up. The score was greeted with a roar from the crowd hitting a decibel level not heard since the greatest of Warriors nights at the Tralee Sports Complex.
Quigley and Perkins gave the Warriors the start they needed in the fourth to start the drive from home but Wilson and a Paul Dick three put the game back in the melting pot with Killester 4 points down with 5 minutes to play. However, that was as good as it got for the defending champions as the Warriors embarked on an unanswered 13 point run that settled the contest long before the final buzzer sounded. Eight points from Perkins and a double from the outstanding and fully deserving McCarthy Insurance MVP on the night Daniel Jokubaitis saw the Warriors assert late on to secure their place in the last four of the Cup with what will go down as one of the great Warriors game nights.
Coach John Dowling reacts to the game.
Scorers:
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors: Daniel Jokubaitis 27, Jordan Perkins 19, Iggy Hunte 9
Killester: Robert Braswell 21, Paul Dick 17, Josh Wilson 15
Next up for the Warriors is an away trip to recce Neptune Stadium with a clash with Energywise Ireland Neptune on the court they will play their Cup semi final on. The sides meet next Saturday with a 6.30pm tip off. The following week it is back to Castleisland Community Centre for the final League game of the year against Éanna and then returning to the venue to defend their Premier Mens title at the Castleisland Blitz after Christmas ahead of the Cup semi final at Neptune Stadium on the first weekend in January.
Thanks to Liam Ryan for the images.