Warriors beat Maree to win west coast battle

MEN’S SUPERLEAGUE Maree 74 Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 87

GARVEY’S Tralee Warriors made it two wins from three in the Super League with a 13-point win over Maree in Oranmore on Saturday. In a repeat of last year’s Champions Trophy quarter-final, Warriors led throughout but were fully tested by the Super League newcomers before finally winning out by 87-74.

In an evenly contested opening quarter it was the visitors that got off to the better start with two three pointers from Pa McCarthy and a good inside score from Eoin Quigley but scores from Eoin Rockall and Kenny Hansberry had Maree back on terms in the early stages. Dusan Bogdanovic added to the Warriors tally either side of a Trae Pemberton score and suddenly the Warriors led by 9.

The impressive Eoin Rockall then added 10 of Maree’s next 13 points but a Fergal O’Sullivan three with a fine rebound score from Goran Pantovic along with Kieran Donaghy’s three from four from the free throw line saw the Warriors lead 23-20 at quarter time.

Warriors captain Darren O’Sullivan was on the mark early in the second with a three and a score from Bogdanovic under the board maintained the visitors control. Maree responded through their American Watkins Williams with two fine scores either side of a Fergal O’Sullivan three pointer but when Pantovic dunked impressively, and Donaghy fired in another, the Warriors took a 43-32 lead to the half time break.

A dramatic third quarter saw the Warriors build up a 15 point lead with Trae Pemberton assisting Eoin Quigley and Pa McCarthy for early scores with one particularly memorable effort from McCarthy after a slick interchange of passes. Maree kept in touch however with scores from Williams and a three from Stephen Commins but when Bogdanovic scored from a rebound the Warriors led 53-37 half way through the quarter.

However a mix of indiscipline and indifferent defence in the remaining minutes saw the momentum shift significantly the way of the home side. Firstly Trae Pemberton received a technical foul, and after converting a fine three-point score Eoin Quigley received a similar sanction and was fouled out of the game. Minutes later he was also ejected from the hall when the officials added an unsportsmanlike foul to his tally.

While the drama ensued Maree quickly fired in scores from Williams, Commins, Rockall and two from Padraig Burke cutting the Warriors advantage to five. Donaghy however steadied the ship for the visitors with a score and two from the free throw line before a fine effort from Daragh O’Hanlon pushed the lead back out to 9. But scores from Commins and Rockall saw the sides go to the final quarter with the Warriors leading 62-56.

Maree built on their late dominance in the third quarter and landed two quick baskets from Williams and Hansberry and suddenly the lead was down to just two. Pemberton landed two free throws and his first three point score of the night couldn’t have come at a better time for the Warriors.

Bogdanovic then launched a breathtaking scoring blitz under the Maree board shooting four scores in a row to put the visitors in control 73-64. But just when it seemed like Bogdanovic could do no wrong he too was issued with a technical and was fouled out for the remaining four minutes. Hansberry went to the line for Maree to land two from three from the free throws and the home side again sensed another opportunity to produce a shock result. However Warriors dug deep and with Donaghy finding his range, Pa McCarthy followed suit with a typical drive to the basket and added the extra after drawing the foul.

Donaghy then produced a perfectly timed block to reject a certain score from Padraig Burke and seconds later fired an assist to allow Goran Pantovic score from close range. Donaghy added another to bring his personal tally on the night to 13 before McCarthy underlined another fine display of shooting with a three pointer.

At the other end the very im- pressive Eoin Rockall fired in another three for the last score of the game and a top scoring 22-point display. The Warriors saw out the final seconds with relative comfort and will be happy to have secured their first point on the road in addition to negotiating an enthusiastic, energetic and skilful Maree side in their own backyard.

The Warriors now await the visit of Moycullen from Galway next Saturday. The Galway side will be buoyed by their win over Killester last Saturday but the Warriors will be looking to continue their winning run in front of a full house at the Tralee Complex where the game tips off at 8pm.

SCORERS

MAREE: Eoin Rockall 22, Watkins Williams 20, Kenny Hansberry 8, Padraig Burke 8

WARRIORS: Dusan Bogdanovic 17, Patrick McCarthy 16, Kieran Donaghy 13