Maigh Cuilinn 98, Killarney Cougars 84

Maigh Cuilinn bounced back from their tough road loss last weekend with a commanding 98–84 win over Killarney Cougars in Spórtlann Mhichael Mhóir, Leitir Móir.

The first quarter was an exciting, high-scoring affair with both teams trading baskets and turnovers. Killarney’s 2-3 zone defense caused some early problems for Maigh Cuilinn, but emerging young star, Liam Moloney, provided a spark off the bench, keeping the home side in contention. By the end of the first, Maigh Cuilinn edged ahead with a narrow 27–26 lead.

Killarney opted to stick with their zone defense into the second quarter, a decision that Maigh Cuilinn soon capitalised on. Dylan Cunningham was instrumental in breaking down the zone from the high post, and John Hynes came off the bench with energy, grabbing a few key offensive rebounds and chipping in with his first score at senior men’s level. The home side started to find their rhythm and extended their lead to 48–36 by halftime.

The third quarter saw a dominant scoring burst from Maigh Cuilinn, as Aitor Perez drained back-to-back three-pointers to fuel a run that widened the gap further. Killarney struggled to match the pace, and by the end of the third, Maigh Cuilinn had built a commanding 78–50 lead.

With the game largely decided heading into the fourth quarter, head coach Paul O’Brien took the opportunity to use his full bench. Ten Maigh Cuilinn players got onto the scoresheet, a testament to the depth and balance of the squad. Although Killarney rallied late, narrowing the margin, Maigh Cuilinn’s early dominance proved too much to overcome. The game ended in a convincing 98–84 win for the home side.

After the game, coach Paul O’Brien was pleased with the result but emphasised the need for consistency: “We’re happy to get the win, but we can definitely be sharper. We had a slow start defensively, and while we adjusted well, we can’t afford that against stronger teams. The guys off the bench really stepped up tonight, which was great to see. We’ve got a big weekend ahead with two tough games, so we’ll need to maintain this level of intensity and focus.”

Maigh Cuilinn now turn their attention to a busy upcoming weekend. They will host Galway rivals, Titans, at the University of Galway Sports Arena on Saturday, October 26, with tip-off at 7:30 PM. Following that, they will hit the road to face Tipp Talons at Scoil Ruain, Killenaule, on Monday, October 28, at 2:30 PM.

The victory against Killarney Cougars brings Maigh Cuilinn to a 2–1 record for the season, with their offense clicking and their bench providing valuable contributions. Both games next weekend promise to be tough, with Maigh Cuilinn aiming to build on this momentum as they push forward in their National League campaign.

Categories: News