Dublin Lions run table toppers Tralee close
ABBEY Seals Dublin Lions ran Men’s Super League champions and current leaders Garvey’s Tralee Warriors very close before eventually losing out 70-76 in Colaiste Bride on Saturday.
Still awaiting their open-ing win in what is their first season in their top ranks of Irish basketball, the Clondalkin side looked like they might just make it off the mark after they stormed into a 31-13 lead by the end of the first quarter.
Dublin Lions Head Coach Rob White saw his side just miss out on their first win of the Super League season despite a superb showing against table toppers and defending champions Tralee in Clondalkin on Saturday
Finn Hughes and James Gormley were in superb form as the Lions remained six points to the good heading into the second half of the match.
They even managed to enlarge that advantage to 10 by the end of the third quarter despite the best efforts of Tralee’s Jonathan Lawton and Paul Dick.
Hughes kept the scoreboard ticking for the hosts while Conroy Baltimore also weighed in impressively.
Yet the Tralee pressure finally told in the fourth quarter as Eoin Quigley, Dick and Lawton hauled the leaders into the lead for the first time and they never looked back.
“The lads seem to be up for it more when it comes to the top teams” said Lions Head Coach Rob White.
“They came out with good intensity and shot well while Tralee came out a bit flat after that long trip.
Finn Hughes performed superbly for Dublin Lions against defending champions Tralee
“We were leading all the way up until three minutes to go and it realy went down to the final minute.
“Tralee showed that level of maturity and we struggled with their physicality. There was also a bit of naivety on our part too” he told The Echo.
The Lions will, nevertheless, be much encouraged by this performance as they gear up to face third-from bottom Maree in just over a week’s time, hoping to complete the first half of their season with a first win.
On another note, the club’s Under 14 and Under 17 boys are meanwhile still unbeaten in their respective Dublin Leagues with the former set to take part in the National Tournament in Cork this weekend.
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