Warriors fans
Mary Angela Lynch, Lisa Slattery and Millie O’Brien from Tralee at the Tralee Warriors versus Templeogue Men’s Superleague game in front of a packed Tralee Sports Complex.
MEN’S SUPERLEAGUE
Tralee Warriors 88 Templeogue 77
GARVEY’S Tralee Warriors produced a performance of quality, intensity and grim determination to get the better of Templeogue by 88-77 in a pulsating encounter at the Complex on Saturday. The three points keep Pat Price’s charges on track for a first Superleague title with four games remaining. The Warriors now are the only side in contention for League glory that has full control of its destiny.
Both sides stormed into the contest with Jason Killeen twice getting to the Warriors board early on with Paul Dick replying in kind for the hosts. Eoin Quigley continued his run of outstanding form by dropping in the first three of the night and when Kieran Donaghy tapped in a rebound the Warriors led 9-7.
Templeogue began to stretch the resolute Warriors defence with Dee Proby, Lorcan Murphy and Killeen adding to a Neil Randolph three to push Templeogue out to a 7-point lead. At quarter time the visitors led 26-22.
Warriors powered back early in the second with Quigley hitting another three. Templeogue edged back ahead through two Puff Summers threes and when Stephen James followed his lead and Randolph dropped in his third three, the Dublin side took their advantage out to 9.
The Warriors were then dealt a potentially devastating blow when Paul Dick rolled his ankle and limped out of the contest midway through the quarter. However, they responded impressively by shutting down the Templeogue offence for the remainder of the half while scores from Donaghy, Bogdanovic and captain Darren O’Sullivan at the other end cut the gap to three. Fergal O’Sullivan then channelled all the Warriors momentum into producing two stunning scores from outside the arc, as Warriors took a 47-44 lead to the long break.
The pace was frantic and both sides understandably took the intensity level down a notch early in the third. Williams hit two from two from the line for the Warriors early on and when Bogdanovic got to the board and Darren O’Sullivan drove for an inspirational score the temperature was back up to boiling point.
Murphy replied for Templeogue before Donaghy drilled another three and the Tralee side were 10 ahead. James and Summers stemmed the flow momentarily before Quigley and Williams restored the advantage. Fergal O’Sullivan arced in a three and a lay up and as the sides straightened for home Warriors led 70-56.
Darren O’Sullivan was on the mark to provide the Warriors with more comfort early in the final quarter. However, a quick fire tenpoint barrage from Templeogue ensured this contest would go all the way as the apparently unassailable 18-point lead was cut to six. Coach Price called an urgent time out to reshuffle his deck and Dick re-entered the fray and was joined by Darragh O’Hanlon who heralded his arrival with a three-pointer.
Players from both sides then got up close and personal before the officials quickly dealt with a brief skirmish. Warriors reacted better to
Men’s Superleague
Templeogue UCD Marian Tralee Belfast Star Killester DCU Saints UCC Demons Maree Killorglin Moycullen C&S Neptune PW L Diff Pts 18 13 5 153 39 17 12 5 131 36 16 12 4 135 36 17 11 6 112 33 17 10 7 43 30 17 9 8 -71 27 17 8 9 -31 24 17 6 11 -67 18 17 5 12 -86 15 17 4 13 -135 12 18 4 14 -184 12
Men’s Division 1 South
PW Ballincollig 23 21 2 Scotts Lakers 23 18 5 IT Carlow 23 14 9 Limerick Celt 23 12 11 Por tlaoise 23 12 11 UL Eagles 23 8 15 Fr Mathews 23 8 15 Waterford 23 6 17 LIT 24 3 21
LDiff 385 264 101 -29 -70 -91 -122 -185 -341 Pts 63 54 42 36 36 24 24 18 9
the drama and QQuigley capped another brilliant personal display to drill a three from a yard outside the arc to push the Warriors lead out to double figures.
Templeogue’s task then got more difficult when last season’s Player of the Year, Dee Proby, hobbled out of the game before Dick. Jumper and Quigley eased the Warriors nerves with three scores in a row before Donaghy was fouled out for the last two minutes but Warriors held on for a vitial win.
“I’m very proud of the team - we’re battered and bruised and we got through some tough injuries tonight,” said Tralee boss, Pat Price. “Everything starts on the defensive end and then when Fergal O’Sullivan hit those threes - in front of this crowd - it’s worth four points.”
SCORERS
WARRIORS: Paul Dick 15, Fergal O’Sullivan 14, Kendall Williams 14
TEMPLEOGUE: Jason Killeen 18, Puff Summers 15, Lorcan Murphy 13
Next up for Tralee Warriors is a home fixture against C&S Neptune on Friday at 8.15pm.This will be another all-ticket game with tickets on sale from Garvey’s Supervalu on Rock St., Tralee from 2pm today (Wednesday).