Garvey’s Tralee Warriors Women’s BIDL side got back to winning ways following defeat at home to Glanmire by comprehensively outscoring Brunell by 77-50 in Round 4 of the League in Cork yesterday. The Warriors led at the end of all four quarters but a powerful 27-14 third quarter for the Tralee side proved decisive in securing the impressive 27 point win in the end.
Warriors top scorer on the day Priya O’Donovan was in range from inside and out in the opening exchanges and with Niamh O’Conchuair also on the mark the Warriors led 7-0. Brunell replied in kind to level the game through Mia Lynch, Katie Bland and Emma Brown and a major effort from both Bland and Lych edged the hosts ahead. However Louise Galvin’s return to action yielded a hat trick of first quarter scores and baskets from O’Donovan and Mary Kate Smith helped the Warriors to an 18-15 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Warriors continued to find the Brunell basket with some ease early in the second and scores from Emily Flynn, Orla O’Mahony and Mary Kate Smith put 9 between the teams. Baskets from Emma Browne and Katie Bland kept the home side in touch but with Meabh Barry and O’Conchuair both in range either side of Priya O’Donovan’s second three of the game, the Warriors pushed their advantage out to 12. Brunell sprung McKenzie Lucey from the bench to great effect as she hit back to back threes before two from two from the line to cut the gap to 4. However, Orla O’Mahony with the final act of the half added to give the Warriors a 35-29 lead at the long break.
The contest was effectively settled in the third quarter with the Warriors producing some of the best basketball they have played this season. Brunell had no answer to the Warriors onslaught with scores raining down on the hosts basket. A major score from Aisling Counihan, Priya O’Donovan with three two pointers, and inside scores from Mary Kate Smith, Meabh Barry and Louise Galvin saw all the Warriors get in on the act and only a Katie Bland hat trick and threes from Mia Lynch and Sophie O’Keeffe provided Brunell with some degree of modest resistance but at the end of the third the contest was headed for an inevitable conclusion with the Tralee side leading 62-42 at three quarter time.
The Warriors offensive effort did not relent early in the final quarter with Emily Flynn on the mark and Aisling Counihan hitting her second three of the game. Brunell’s top scorer Katie Bland chipped in with Emma Browne late on but Meabh Barry, Mary Kate Smith and Orla O’Mahony capped a thoroughly deserved win for Warriors with a basket each ahead of the final buzzer.
Scorers:
Brunell: Katie Bland 18, McKenzie Lucey 8, Mia Lynch 8
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors: Priya O’Donovan 16, Louise Galvin 14, Orla O’Mahony 12
Next up for Warriors is a home tie against Ballincollig at Mercy Mounthawk Gym on Saturday 24th January with tip off at 4.00pm.