Maigh Cuilinn 68

Titans 69

The first National League Galway derby between Maigh Cuilinn and Titans in over a decade delivered everything a packed University of Galway Sports Arena could have hoped for on Saturday night, as Titans clinched a dramatic 69–68 win over Maigh Cuilinn in the National League. The game’s frantic final moments left the standing room only crowd in a frenzy and showcased why this rivalry, rekindled after years, promises to be one of the most thrilling in Irish basketball this season.

With four seconds left on the clock and Maigh Cuilinn trailing by one, an unexpected twist unfolded. Maigh Cuilinn’s Ivan Basic, scrambling to make something happen, misdirected a pass that landed squarely in the hands of Titans’ Viktor Tashev. Intent on stopping the clock, Basic fouled Tashev immediately, sending him to the line. But as Titans players erupted from the bench in premature celebration, the officials called a series of technical fouls against them for storming the court. Suddenly, what seemed like a decisive possession for Titans transformed into a shootout at the charity stripe.

The tension reached a peak as both Tashev and Basic stepped to the free-throw line, surrounded by the deafening noise of rival fans. Tashev, showing no signs of pressure, drained both free throws to put Titans up by three. Then, in a show of equal nerves, Basic coolly sank his two technical free throws to cut the gap back to one, and with the technical foul, Maigh Cuilinn gained possession for a final shot.

The final inbound with four seconds remaining had every spectator on edge, as the ball was quickly moved to Basic, who swung into a shooting motion as the Titans’ defence collapsed around him. There were cries from Maigh Cuilinn fans for a foul, but officials deemed it a clean strip. The ball spilled loose, and Titans scooped it up, securing an electrifying win as the final buzzer sounded, sending their supporters into wild celebration.

Early Control and a Commanding First Half from Maigh Cuilinn

Before the dramatic conclusion, Maigh Cuilinn had looked to be in control for most of the game. Led by captain Grant Olsson’s phenomenal first-half performance, which saw him pour in 20 points, Maigh Cuilinn built a steady lead, capitalising on Titans’ early struggles. Olsson’s buzzer-beater at the end of the second quarter highlighted Maigh Cuilinn’s dominance, taking them into halftime with a ten-point advantage, 40–30. Titans’ key scorer, American import Michael Hayes, found it difficult to get his rhythm against Maigh Cuilinn’s focused defense, though he still managed to contribute 14 points by the break through sheer persistence.

In the third quarter, however, Maigh Cuilinn faltered slightly, allowing Titans to narrow the gap. Titans’ big man Charles Peppin used his size to great effect, muscling his way to crucial baskets in the paint and keeping his team within striking distance. With Olsson and the Maigh Cuilinn shooters slowing down, Titans crept back into contention, highlighted by a late three-pointer from Joe Coughlan as the third-quarter buzzer sounded. At the end of the third, Maigh Cuilinn’s lead was trimmed to 53–45, and the momentum had subtly shifted.

Titans’ Fourth-Quarter Zone Defense Shakes Maigh Cuilinn

In the fourth quarter, Titans threw a wrench into Maigh Cuilinn’s plans, switching to a 2-3 zone defense that disrupted Maigh Cuilinn’s offensive flow. The scoring stalled, and Maigh Cuilinn struggled to penetrate the zone or find open looks from beyond the arc. Titans capitalised on Maigh Cuilinn’s missed opportunities, with Hayes and Coughlan finding ways to cut further into the lead.

As the minutes dwindled, Titans’ persistence paid off, and they claimed their first lead of the game with only moments remaining. The game had quickly transformed from a Maigh Cuilinn-dominated showcase to a tightly contested, nail-biting affair. Maigh Cuilinn fans, who had spent much of the night cheering confidently, now watched with bated breath as Titans looked poised to claim a famous win.

A Galway Rivalry Renewed

Maigh Cuilinn’s head coach Paul O’Brien, meanwhile, noted both the disappointment of the loss and his team’s fighting spirit: “It’s a tough one to take, especially when we had control early on. But that’s what makes these games so intense. Credit to Titans—they showed a lot of grit, and we’ll learn from this experience. We’re building something, and the crowd tonight showed just how much this rivalry means. It is great for Galway basketball”

This result adds another layer to what has already been a thrilling season for both Galway teams. Titans remain undefeated, while Maigh Cuilinn, at 2–2, will be hungry to bounce back.

Maigh Cuilinn Scorers: Grant Olsson 30, Aitor Perez 11, Liam Moloney 9, Ivan Basic 9, Antonio Molina 7, Rhys Plower 2, John Hynes, Dylan Cunningham, James Loughnane, Rory O’Sullivan, Donogh McDonagh, Cian Walsh

Titans Scorers: Michael Hayes 22, Charles Peppin 13, Joseph Coughlan 12, Viktor Tashev 10, Fortune Igbokwe 5, Matthew Sweeney 3, Ben Powell 2, Brian Gaffney, Declan Gbinigie, Senan O’Leary, Eoin Coughlan

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