Warriors lose 10-game winning streak
MEN’S SUPERLEAGUE
A FIRST Superleague title for Templeogue in a packed Oblate Hall in Inchicore last Saturday, and a result that brought to an end Warriors ten match unbeaten run. Every inch a pulsating encounter it looked initially as if Warriors might well shade the verdict and at one stage they led by 17 points, but a response from Templeogue, inspired by their top scoring Irish international Lorcan Murphy, produced a famous and historic victory for the Dublin club.
Just two other teams U.C.C. Demons (92) and U.C.D. Marian (90) have registered scores in the nineties against Warriors in the league to date this season, so, in that respect it was a somewhat disappointing performance from Warriors whose defensive frailties were exposed by a Templeogue side who had a spread of scorers capable of capitalising in a variety of offensive situations. They shot ten three point scores, but really it was Murphy’s incisive runs which repeatedly unlocked Warriors defensive format, and it was only in the final quarter when Kieran Donaghy took over the duties of policing him that his effectiveness was ultimately curtailed. Again Donaghy was immense providing the impetus and the momentum.
Foul trouble restricted the input of both Goran Pantovic and Dusan Bogdanovic with Mark Bernsen having to limit their court time which obviously effected the balance and shape of the formation. Warriors started brightly and were in front (2-12) after just three and a half minutes. The advantage was increased to seventeen (4-21) with 3.30 left in the quarter, but, three point scores from Mike Bonaparte and Paul Cummins kept Templeogue in touch. However, with seven different players contributing to the scoring Warriors were in control and comfortable (17-31) at the end of the opening quarter.
With Ryan Leonard adding further to their tally the Tralee combination remained in front, but, the deficit was reduced to seven (24-31) with 8.37 left in the half. Murphy’s scoring surge ensured that Templeogue’s momentum remained very much in full flow, and, at the end of the first half the deficit was reduced to just six points (48-54). Threes from Donaghy, Darragh O’Hanlon and Trae Pemberton kept Warriors challenge very much alive, but, Templeogue were by that stage flying on all cylinders with Cummins, Jason Killeen and Lawrence Summers responding with similar type scores to reduce the deficit to just a single point (73-74) at the end of the third quarter. Trae Pemberton was very much an influence as the contest entered the fourth and final quarter and really very little separated the sides going down the stretch.
Ahead by three (73-76) with 7.59 remaining Warriors were behind (84-82) with 4.38 left on the clock. It was 89-88 with 1.12 remaining and there was still just the bare minimum separating the sides with twenty three seconds remaining. Bonaparte’s tip in was crucial, but Warriors still had a chance to salvage the situation and bring the game into overtime. However, a last gasp effort failed to produce the desired result thereby affording the Dubliners their first league title in their forty year history.
Disappointment, therefore for Warriors, but coach Bernsen was quite measured in his assessment of proceedings at the conclusion of what was quite an enthralling encounter.
“It wasn’t a game which suited us, a game in the nineties isn’t to our advantage, it stretches us offensively. If the game is in the seventies it suits our offence more, that’s the kind of tempo we have to have. Us scoring so early in the first quarter kind of got the tempo going in the game.
“We got into a bit of foul trouble and it hurt us. Dusan (Bogdanovic) and Goran (Pantovic) had to come out in that first half. They did a pretty good job on (Jason) Killeen. It makes your defensive intensity drop a little because you are afraid of fouling.
“Defensively we were poor in the second quarter. They are a great offensive team, they have a lot of offensive weapons, and, if you allow all of those weapons to be used you are going to be in for a long night.
“We have to take one or two out of that offensive flow. One point game, one minute to go, if we can get a rebound, a chance to win it, Bonaparte gets a tip in. Again, like Marian, Swords, and, now Temleogue they are all going to be going down to the last minute. The Limerick game is important, get a win under our belts, get the taste of victory again. We have a lot ahead of us, and, we are looking forward to it.”