There is a basketball revolution taking place in Kerry.
On Saturday night, there was dramatic finish in the Men's Basketball Super League when Garvey's Tralee Warriors defeated Galway's Moycullen 73-70 in the last play of the game thanks to captain Darragh O'Sullivan.
It’s three on the trot now for the Warriors who have the Kerry senior footballer and basketball player Kieran Donaghy in their ranks helping attract a huge fan base for their matches.
The game was another sell-out for the Warriors. They average around 800 spectators per game. Those in attendance got behind their team right from the off and the club did their bit too, dimming the lights of the court before the side charged out to the court for the match.
It was like being in Chicago before a Bulls game in the 1990s, with The Alan Parsons Project's Sirius ringing out through the arena before tip-off.
— Garveys Warriors (@warriors_bc) October 7, 2017
The lights out introduction for the team is unique to the league and could certainly be considered by other sides to create a buzz around the league and matches. It certainly created a carnival atmosphere among the 800 plus crowd in Tralee.
The Warriors had reason to be positive at half time as they led Moycullen 39-27, but in a complete role reversal of the side's fortunes, Moycullen dominated the game as the Warriors had in the previous quarter and now led 55-53 heading down the final stretch.
The side's went tit for tat in the final quarter and with only 59 seconds remaining Moycullen led by two, it was looking like the Warriors unbeaten home record was about to come to an end.
In a breathless ending to the game Trae Pemberton secured two points for the Warriors and the sides were level yet again with seconds remaining.
Up stepped captain O'Sullivan who brought the crowd to their feet as he received a no look pass from Pemberton to shoot from three point range with six seconds remaining and thus securing a dramatic, last gasp victory in front of ecstatic home crowd.
@warriors_bc @TraeP30 @BballIrl @starryboy14 pic.twitter.com/6cMBiduG03
— Garveys Warriors (@warriors_bc) October 8, 2017
The result leaves the Warriors in second place in the Men's Super League on points difference behind the Belfast Stars. The Tralee side will take on Dublin's DCU Saints at home next Saturday in Tralee.
