Dominos Mens Super League R2
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 77 | UCD Marian 74
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors secured their first win of the new campaign by overcoming UCD Marian by 77-74 on Saturday night, and by doing so maintained their unbeaten record at their adopted home court at the Kerry Sports Academy. The teams were level on no fewer than 14 occasions, and the lead changed hands 10 times in a game where very little divided the sides from the tip off all the way to the final buzzer.
American Jordan Perkins had the Warriors on the board with the opening score but UCD Marian jumped to an 11-7 lead early on with Joshua Reynolds and Ronan Byrne in range from distance. Warriors captain Eoin Quigley hit the target from outside and repeated the dose shortly after to wrestle back the lead after Keelan Crowe opened his account with a tough finish. The Dublin college side then lit up with a hat trick of threes from Sean Fitzpatrick, Sean O’Flynn and Reynolds to lead by 7 late in the quarter. But Quigley capped an outstanding quarter with a stunning buzzer beating three from the halfway line to cut the UCD lead to 23-19 at quarter time.
The Warriors took inspiration from their captain’s score to add an unanswered 10 points early in the second and move 29-25 ahead. Mihael Linde replied from inside and outside either side of a James Connaire score to put the visitors 32-29 up. Perkins nailed a three to tie the game and despite Tanner Graham replying in kind, Quigley was flawless from two trips to the line either side of a Jokubaitis two and a cracking major from Keelan Crowe gave the hosts a narrow 41-39 lead at half time.
The third quarter saw the sides go score for score but the Warriors suddenly moved up a gear with Quigley and Iggy Hunte in range from the paint before majors efforts from Jokubaitis and Perkins saw the Warriors push their advantage out to 52-45 midway through the quarter. Marian struck back with Linde hitting two corner threes either side of a Reynolds floated effort to put the Dublin college side 55-54 up. Hunte was to have the last say in the quarter as he iced two free throws to give the Tralee side a narrow 57-56 lead going into the final quarter.
Cian Sullivan gave the Warriors the start they wanted in the fourth with a two point score from close range and when Jokubaitis lit up to hit the target from either side of the arc, the sizable home crowd was in full voice. However, yet again Marian hit back with Linde matching Jokubaitis to hit a quickfire 5 points leaving just a single point between the sides. Perkins then stepped up for the Warriors with 5 points in a minute to put the home side eight points up with three minutes on the clock. Marian countered again through Tanner Graham with an ‘and one’ and a three pointer to cut the advantage to a single score but Quigley capped an MVP display on the night with his fourth three of the game to put 5 between the sides again as the clock ticked down. Josh Reynolds kept the Warriors honest late on with scores from either side of the arc. However, Perkins hit a stunning insurance score in the dying seconds to seal the vital home win for the Warriors, much to the delight of their big home support, ahead of an acid test next week at home to UCC Demons.
Scorers:
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors: Jordan Perkins 21, McCarthy Insurance MVP Eoin Quigley 19, Daniel Jokubaitis 17
UCD Marian: Joshua Reynolds 22, Miheal Linde 18, Tanner Graham 14
Next up for the Warriors is another home fixture when they welcome UCC Demons, the side that ended the Tralee side’s League title hopes in a dramatic semi final in Cork in April, with tip off next Saturday night at the Kerry Sports Academy at 7.00pm.
Thanks to Liam Ryan for the images.