Maigh Cuilinn 95 v Portlaoise Panther 97 (after overtime)

Watch back here –

Part 1:
https://basketballireland.tv/home/videos/wCYaeb85rTMbiHLoDWJH

Part 2:
https://basketballireland.tv/home/videos/2xNG1vrplGNi2kPHmqYr

In a tense and nail-biting encounter, Maigh Cuilinn narrowly fell to Portlaoise Panthers 97-95 in a dramatic overtime clash in the first round of the National Cup at Spórtlann Mhichael Mhóir, Leitir Móir. The loss means Maigh Cuilinn’s hopes of replicating their famous 2008/09 Cup victory were dashed despite a heroic team effort and thrilling final minutes that will be remembered by fans.

Maigh Cuilinn had started slowly, conceding 27 points in the first quarter and allowing the Panthers to establish a strong offensive rhythm. This gave Portlaoise frequent opportunities to apply a full-court zone press, which initially disrupted Maigh Cuilinn’s tempo. However, Maigh Cuilinn managed to keep pace offensively, with James Loughnane and Liam Moloney finding the net from beyond the arc and helping the home team close the quarter at 27-18.

In the second quarter, Grant Olsson led the charge, scoring 8 points in a stretch that saw Maigh Cuilinn outscore the Panthers 25-11 to take a narrow lead at halftime. Meanwhile, Antonio Molina and Loughnane injected energy into Maigh Cuilinn’s attack, while a much-improved defensive effort held Portlaoise to their lowest quarter of the game. The only setback came when Aitor Perez went down with a calf strain, sidelining him for the remainder of the contest.

The third quarter saw Maigh Cuilinn face further challenges, with Olsson picking up his fourth foul and Loughnane taking a rest after heavy first-half minutes. Missing both Perez and Croatian point guard Ivan Basic, who was suspended, Maigh Cuilinn looked to veteran Dylan Cunningham for stability. Cunningham delivered, providing a steady offensive presence and attacking the basket with timely drives that kept Maigh Cuilinn within reach. Youngster Donagh McDonagh also stepped up, bringing a burst of defensive energy and hitting a clutch three-pointer to help counter Portlaoise’s offensive push. By the end of the third, Maigh Cuilinn trailed by just eight, down 67-59.

The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth battle, with Olsson making an electrifying return and attacking the basket with authority. Despite playing with four fouls, he remained relentless, scoring and setting up key plays. As the minutes ticked down, McDonagh’s defensive tenacity contributed to critical turnovers, keeping Maigh Cuilinn within striking distance. In the final seconds of regulation, Antonio Molina sank two clutch free throws to send the game into overtime, tied at 86.

Overtime brought further drama. Olsson’s inspired play continued, but he picked up a controversial technical foul for ‘flopping’ on a drive that tied the game at 88-88, fouling him out with three minutes left. Portlaoise capitalized, with Aleksander Kovacevic and James Phelan scoring to stretch the Panthers’ lead. Though Loughnane provided a late surge of scoring to keep the game within a single basket, Maigh Cuilinn’s final attempt—a last-second heave in transition—fell short, giving Portlaoise a hard-fought victory.

Maigh Cuilinn now turns their focus back to league action, where they will host Malahide next Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the University of Galway Sports Arena.

Maigh Cuilinn Scorers: Grant Olsson 32, Antonio Molina 26, James Loughnane 17, Dylan Cunningham 7, Liam Moloney 6, Donagh McDonagh 3, John Hynes 2, Aitor Perez 2, Rory O’Sullivan, Rhys Plower, Cian Walsh.

Categories: News