Warriors beat UCD against the odds
MEN’S SUPERLEAGUE
A FAMOUS victory, achieved somewhat against the odds, and a real boost for Warriors in Dublin last Saturday with their fifteenth league win of the season moving them up to third spot on the league ladder, just above the team they defeated.
It means that with Killester losing again at the weekend Warriors are now assured of a play-off spot, something that realistically would hardly have been anticipated at the start of the season. Certainly, they’ve exceeded expectations and their nine game unbeaten run has put them in a really strong position to profit at the business end of the season.
With Marian being the only team to beat the table toppers, Templeogue, to date this season, Warriors faced a daunting challenge on the road last weekend, and at the half time break their prospects of maintaining their winning sequence didn’t exactly look to be all that promising. However, that late surge which has been a feature of their performances to date once again, came to the fore, and, afforded them the verdict in a nail biting finish.
Warriors travelled without the unavailable Fergal O’Sullivan which lessened their chances somewhat, and they struggled at the outset. Having trailed 13-4 at the midway point in the opening quarter, it was still the same margin, 25-16, that Warriors trailed at the end of the quarter.
Tralee staged a comeback in the second and reduced the gap to four points but threes from Mike Garrow, Dan James and Anthony Silvestre saw Marian lead 52-35 at half time.
Warriors needed a different strategy to force their way back into contention, and changing the defensive structure to a 3-2 zone gradually they reduced the deficit, but the gap was still eight points, 68-60, going into the final quarter.
Kieran Donaghy’s influence became more profound, Trae Pemberton went from strength to strength, Ryan Leonard stepped up, and with Dusan Bogdanovic and Goran Pantovic imposing their considerable presence, Warriors edged into a 79-78 lead with four minutes left, which increased to five with a minute left. Higgins netted a three for Marian but Warriors dug deep to get over the line.
The win certainly whets the appetite for the visit of the Cup holders Swords Thunder to Tralee on Saturday night.
Coach Bernsen, who must take a lot of credit for last weekend’s win, was obviously pleased, even if he did seem to downplay the victory just a little.
“I have always said that I have never won or lost a game at half time. We had something to use and it was effective, even if we had only worked on it a small amount. We found ways but by no stretch of the imagination were we really efficient. Changing the defence helped, but you still have to have energy. At the end it was our toughness and ability to finish games which closed it out.
“It’s a big game (Swords) obviously, this is what we promised, we promised we would make Saturday nights special again. We will feed off the crowd, whether or not it bothers Swords, it sure will help us.”