Donaghy inspires sluggish Warriors
MEN’S LEAGUE QUARTER-FINALS
NOT the best of performances from Warriors in Oranmore last Saturday, but it was still sufficient to ensure a semi-final spot in the Champions Cup next Saturday against Swords Thunder. Given that Maree had operated in Division One all season it was felt that Warriors would win this contest with a bit to spare, and while the eventual margin of victory was quite comfortable it was only in the second half that they really opened up some daylight between the sides and put the issue beyond doubt.
In situations such as this the underdogs on their own home court will always lift the level of their performance, and with Warriors somewhat at odds with the situation at the outset, very little separated the teams throughout all of the first quarter. Certainly, the visitors struggled to contain the home sides scoring returns from the perimeter, with Eoin Rockall particularly productive, netting a hat trick of three-point scores in a tally of 11 points during this period, to ensure a two-point lead, 22-20, for the locals at the end of this period of play.
The level of Warriors performance improved somewhat throughout the second quarter with Trae Pemberton on target with two threes, Kieran Donaghy effecting a steal and an assist, and Dusan Bogdanovic intermittently influential, but a brace of threes from Stephen Cummins ensured that Maree’s momentum remained very much in full flow with just two points, 39-41, separating the teams at the interval, and there was a feeling that maybe at that particular juncture a shock result was on the cards.
Warriors certainly needed to refocus, because in a knockout game when a team loses its impetus it can be difficult to regain the initiative. A need, therefore, to step up a gear, and with Ryan Leonard influential Warriors opened up a gap scoring wise. Nevertheless, Rockall, Cummins and Hansberry continued to keep the home side’s challenge vibrant, and while 12 points separated the sides going into the fourth quarter it certainly wasn’t a deficit that was unassailable.
Warriors coach Mark Bernsen continued to rotate the squad but their performance lacked consistency. They needed a lift to seal the deal and it was Donaghy who provided it with an assist, a block and a three-point score. Again, he was a central figure with a 14-point tally, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Pemberton top scored with 31 points, which included four three-point scores, while Ryan Leonard’s nine rebounds and 15 points spoke volumes about his contribution.
It’s difficult to gauge the merits or otherwise of this performance or result, except that Warriors will be only too well aware that they will need to improve on the level of their performance considerably if their aspirations of silverware in their first season are to be realised.
They play Swords Thunder in the first semi-final of the Champions Cup at 6pm in Letterkenny this Saturday.