After last weeks excellent win against Templeogue, SSE Renewables Moycullen faced Dublin Inter on Saturday evening in round 15 of Basketball Ireland’s Premier League. Going into the game Moycullen knew that this fixture would be a much different type of game to those that they had played in the previous few weeks. Dublin Inter are an experienced wily bunch and prefer a slow methodical pace that benefits their inside and 3 point threat rather than a run and gun fast break game.
And so it proved to be in the 1st quarter, some excellent 3 point shooting from Inter had them into an early lead but with Paul O’Brien running the lanes to get some great fast break scores SSE Renewables Moycullen were staying in the game. However, just when it appeared that Moycullen had weathered the early storm, Inter hit back-to-back 3’s at the end of the quarter to leave 8 between the teams.
A better start to the 2nd saw them keep pace with the home side, but with Mike Callaghan once again getting some harsh treatment inside, it was Dylan Cunningham who led the young Moycullen team in scoring with help from Stephen O’Brien. At the end of the half there the gap had decreased slightly to 6.
While SSE Renewables Moycullen were well in the game, another 40 point half for Inter was going to make their task of getting the win very hard. Much better defense was evident to start the 3rd quarter but any time it looked like SSE Renewables Moycullen were making headway on the scoreboard, Inter were able to respond and with 6 minutes left in the contest, the gap had increased to 14 points.
It was make or break time for Moycullen and to their credit they responded magnificently to the challenge. Some excellent defense from the team but in particular Eoghan Maxwell & Cunningham, led to turnovers and shot clock violations and with Callaghan eventually having broken free from the Dublin Inter shackles, the lead was tumbling. After Maxwell made two clutch free throws, the gap was down to 5 points with 40 seconds to go. Once again excellent defense led to a turnover and SSE Renewables had the ball with an opportunity to bring the gap down to 3 or even 2 points.
However, a baffling decision gave 2 free throws and the ball back to Inter but an excellent steal from the ensuing inbounds by Cunningham and finish from O’Brien saw the gap down to 4. Precision execution out of a time-out from Inter on the next possession saw them score and while Moycullen got a good look on the next play the shot didn’t drop. Inter were able to run the clock out and Moycullen would have to go home with the losing bonus point.
A frustrating loss for SSE Renewables Moycullen but they will be hoping to build on their recent much better performances as they welcome joint top of the table Killester to the Jes on Saturday 22nd February.
Mike Callaghan 19, Dylan Cunningham 15, Paul O’Brien 15, Stephen O’Brien 8, Eoghan Maxwell 6, Darragh Mulkerrins 2, Ronan O’Sullivan, Tomas Gilson, Gerald Lyons, Ian Burke, Nollaig Cunningham.
Categories: Men's Superleague
CC Mhaigh Cuilinn 