The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Warriors out on their own
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 98 Coughlan C&S Neptune 76
GARVEY’S Tralee Warriors sit proudly on top of the Super League table having fended off the challenge of one of their League rivals, Coughlan C&S Neptune, effectively and efficiently by 98-76 at the Tralee Sport Complex last Saturday night.
As they were last week against Killester, the Warriors were first out of the blocks with scores from with scores from Keith Jumper, Paul Dick, Eoin Quigley and a three from Daniel Jokubaitis giving them an 11-0 lead early on.
Another three this time from Quigley pushed the hosts further ahead, but a Peter Hoffmann effort for Neptune sparked a revival from the Cork side and when Nil Sabata hit three-in-row and Lehmon Colbert and Cian Heaphy checked in the gap was down to six.
Colbert and Ger Noonan added a couple of scores each to bring Neptune on terms, but Jokubaitis and Jon Lawton had the final say in the quarter to see the Warriors lead 29-21 at the end of the first.
Neptune were back level with Hoffmann and Heaphy on target and Kyle Hosford opening his account in style with a three. His effort kicked off a Warriors response with hat-trick of threes from Quigley, Paul Dick and Jokubaitis but James Hannigan and Gary Walsh replied in kind and the sides remained deadlocked at 39-39.
The Warriors then took the initiative with a 14 point scoring blitz from Kieran Donaghy and three scores each from Rap Buivydas and Jon Lawton to see the Warriors head for the dressing rooms at half-time with a 54-44 lead.
The Warriors took the contest by storm in the third with a devastating display particularly from point guard Paul Dick. He was simply unstoppable and tormented the Neptune with drive after drive to the basket.
He quickly amassed 11 points including a stunning three as well as assisting Buivydas and Jokubaitis to add to their tallies. Neptune’s response was too little and simply not enough and despite baskets from Sabata, Hoffmann and Colbert when Fergal O’Sullivan hit a trademark three the Warriors advantage was out to 20.
Darragh O’Hanlon then followed O’Sullivan’s lead and despite efforts from Hanning and Colbert the hosts took a 22 point lead into the final quarter.
The final quarter opened with a quite brilliant cameo from Jon Lawton as the fired down four cracking threes as he laid siege to the Neptune net. The Cork side to their credit did not give up and Ger Noonan, Hoffmann and Roy Downey limited the damage but this contest was decided a long way before the final buzzer sounded with the Warriors in control for the majority of the contest.
Darragh O’Hanlon applied the finishing touch with a three point effort in the final minute of this significant win for the Warriors as they embark on a busy schedule of key fixtures in both League and Cup between now and the middle of January.
Next up for the Warriors is trip to the capital to take on UCD Marian in Belfield in an attempt to avenge their defeat suffered at the hands of the college outfit in the opening round of the Super League season. Tip off in Belfield next Saturday night is 7pm.