Warriors stun Belfast Star to get campaign off to a flyer

Jordan Green and former Warrior Rap Buivydas combined early for Belfast, hitting 12 points between them, with Jaden Daughtry’s basket the hosts’ solitary response. Daughtry struck again before Alec Millender converted twice from the line to halve the deficit. However, with Belfast in team fouls, Warriors failed to capitalise and instead the visitors drove on, with Shane Bell scoring twice and Robbie Graham and Conor Liston both finding the range from distance. Daniel Jokubaitis finally got an open look to fire in from beyond the arc to bring the Warriors tally into double figures, but Aidan Quinn’s three pointer in the final play of the quarter saw Belfast lead 31-13.

Warriors began eating into the deficit early in the second, with scores from Padraig Fleming, Cian Sullivan, Olaf Michalczuk and an eight-point salvo from Daughtry cutting the lead to 35-27 midway through the quarter. Millender then skillfully weaved his way to the basket for back-to-back scores, while Liam O’Rahilly came off the bench to strike from beyond the arc. Belfast maintained their advantage with scores from Green, Buivydas and Bell, but Daughtry brought his first-half tally to 13 to cut the visitors lead to 43-36 at the long break.

Whatever was said by coach Gareth Moore and assistant Darren O’Sullivan in the Warriors dressing room should be repeated at every half-time break, because the hosts conjured a devastating third quarter of basketball. A 28-5 scoring blitz only tells half the story, with the Warriors also completely locking down the Belfast attack. Daughtry, Millender, Jokubaitis and Eoin Quigley bossed the exchanges as the home side turned the game on its head. A frustrated Buivydas was handed an unsporting foul, which only served as a battle cry for the Warriors. Daughtry continued to find the basket, Jokubaitis added three major scores, Quigley struck twice and Michalczuk was flawless from the free-throw line as Warriors stormed into a 64-48 lead at three-quarter time.

The Kerry Sports Academy was rocking early in the fourth as Warriors’ dominance continued. Daughtry and Millender kept the scoreboard ticking, though Belfast did respond through Buivydas, Green, Bell and Max Richardson. Ryan Sheehy then struck from distance to put Warriors 75-60 ahead, as the huge crowd were now in full voice. However, Belfast refused to go quietly, with Richardson, Liston and Graham all scoring to threaten a late comeback but a late layup from Steven Bowler provided the insurance score as Warriors held their nerve to seal an impressive 82-71 victory.

It was a game that will live long in the memories of those fortunate enough to witness it, with echoes of the Tralee Sports Complex ringing around the Kerry Sports Academy on what was a fantastic night of action to open the Super League season

Next up for Warriors is a trip to face Éanna away and another road trip awaits the week after when they take on UCD Marian before a home tie in Castleisland Community Centre against Killester on Saturday October 24th.