InsureMyVan.ie Men’s Super League 2023/2024 – Round 1
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 90
Moycullen 65
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors got their Super League campaign off to a flying start with a dominant 25 point win over Moycullen in front of a packed crowd at the Tralee Sports Complex on Saturday night. The Warriors led by double figures at the end of all four quarters as they played the game on their own terms throughout to see out a comfortable win in the end.
Daniel Jokubaitis opened his and the Warriors account with the first score of the new season before adding again from beyond the arc and when Jarvis Doles and Ryan Leonard with a double followed suit the home side led 16-9. Moycullen resistance came in the form of scores from James Connaire and Josiah Laracey but Doles hit back to back scores to see the Warriors lead by 9 mid-way through the quarter. Moycullen captain Grant Olsson cut the gap with a tough finish under the board but new American Johnny Williams found the time and space to fire in a late three to see the Warriors lead 27-17 at the end of the first.
Moycullen steadied the ship early in the second with scores from Olsson and two from Aitor Perez reducing the deficit but major scores from Darragh O’Hanlon and Doles pushed the Warriors advantage back out to double digits. Captain Eoin Quigley, Jokubaitis and Williams added a quick fire salvo that suddenly had 21 between the sides. Olsson again came to the rescue for the visitors with scores from the line, inside and outside to cut the lead to 16 but foul trouble for the Galway outfit at the other end saw Rap Buivydas and Cian O’Sullivan take full value from the line and the hosts headed for the long break with a 50-30 lead.
Jarvis Doles continued to torment the Moycullen rear-guard early in the third with a double either side of two free throws from Jokubaitis to push the Warriors further ahead. The Warriors defence was dominating the exchanges under the home board, however with Olsson on the mark again for the visitors and Antonio Molina hitting two impressive threes, the visitors just about stayed in the game trailing 58-42 midway through the quarter. Buivydas from inside and Quigley with a three combined to keep the Warriors score ticking over but efforts from Perez and Ivan Basic for Moycullen late on pared the gap back to 65-48 at three quarter time.
The Warriors continued to control affairs at both ends of the court in the final quarter with Leonard and Quigley in range again. Moycullen’s troubles were compounded when Aitor Perez doubled down on a technical foul call by referee Leanne Ahern and the Spaniard was ejected from the hall. Daniel Jokubaitis then proceeded to make his MVP award secure with a hat trick of scores after Zigi Kaletka arced in a cracking effort and push the Warriors advantage out to 30. Moycullen to their credit battled to the final buzzer but scores from Kyle Cunningham, Basic and Molina added little but respectability to the final score line of 90-65.
Head Coach John Dowling will have been pleased to see his side ease to such a comfortable win having given good minutes to Super League newcomers Eddie Sheehy and Olaf Michalczuk as well as playing without the services of Keelan Crowe and Kieran Donaghy.
Scorers:
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors –Daniel Jokubaitis 21, Jarvis Doles 21, Rap Buivydas 12, Ryan Leonard 12
Moycullen – Grant Olsson 20, Ivan Basic 11, Aitor Perez 10
The Warriors face another Galway side in Round 2 when they travel to take on reigning National Cup champions University of Galway Maree, and despite their opening night loss to University of Ulster, they will provide a much stiffer test of the Tralee side’s Super League credentials. Tip off next Saturday evening in the Kingfisher Arena is at 6.00pm.
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