Dublin Lions 91
Maigh Cuilinn 90
Coláiste Bride, Dublin – 11 Jan 2025

Maigh Cuilinn produced a remarkable late rally but ultimately fell just short, losing 91–90 to Dublin Lions in a heart-stopping National League clash on Saturday night. Trailing by as many as 19 points late in the third quarter, the Galway side fought their way back into contention, coming within a whisker of pulling off an unlikely win in the closing seconds.

A Tale of Two Big Runs

Maigh Cuilinn’s resilience and fighting spirit were on full display as they clawed back into a game that appeared lost after two major scoring bursts from Lions. The first came at the end of the opening quarter when the hosts went on an 11–3 run to turn a narrow 15–14 advantage into a 26–17 lead. Lions guard Tiernan Howe, using his strength and physicality, dominated during this stretch, leaving Maigh Cuilinn struggling to contain him.

The second decisive spell came midway through the third quarter. Despite a strong start to the second half led by captain Grant Olsson, who scored on a mix of drives, post-ups, and three-point shots to briefly put Maigh Cuilinn ahead 55–54, Lions responded with a devastating 20–0 run. This sequence, fuelled by turnovers, static offence, and defensive lapses, left Maigh Cuilinn trailing 74–58 early in the fourth quarter and seemingly out of the game.

A Spirited Fightback

But Maigh Cuilinn refused to roll over. A three-pointer from Antonio Molina with just over six minutes left gave the visitors a flicker of hope, cutting the deficit to 76–63. From there, good shooting from Dylan Cunningham and a season-high 13 points from youngster Cian Walsh brought the gap down to single digits, setting the stage for a tense finish.

With under two minutes remaining, Olsson delivered a crucial and-one play, bringing the score to 89–86. Moments later, an incredible defensive effort by Eoin Cleary forced a Lions turnover, giving Maigh Cuilinn the ball with a chance to tie. Olsson obliged, driving to score and cutting the Lions’ lead to a single point, 89–88.

An ill-advised shot by Lions on their next possession allowed Molina to grab a rebound and drive coast-to-coast, earning a trip to the free-throw line. He split his shots, tying the game at 89 apiece. Walsh then came up with a critical rebound off Molina’s miss, was fouled, and calmly sank one of two free throws to give Maigh Cuilinn their first lead since the third quarter, 90–89.

A Cruel Finish

However, Lions had one final twist in store. With just 1.3 seconds left, Aitor Perez was whistled for a foul on Lions’ Aran Lee, who stepped up to the line and sank both free throws to put the hosts ahead 91–90. A well-designed final play gave Perez a decent look for Maigh Cuilinn, but his shot fell short, sealing a gut-wrenching loss for the visitors.

Positives and Next Steps

Despite the defeat, Maigh Cuilinn will take heart from their ability to fight back against adversity. Olsson’s 29 points led the way, while Perez and Molina chipped in with 17 apiece. Walsh’s breakout performance will also give the team confidence heading into an important stretch of games.

Coach Paul O’Brien will look to address the lapses that allowed Lions’ runs to swing the momentum, but he’ll also know that his team’s fighting spirit and ability to score in bunches can keep them competitive against any opponent.

Scorers

Maigh Cuilinn: Grant Olsson 29, Aitor Perez 17, Antonio Molina 17, Cian Walsh 13, Dylan Cunningham 8, Rory O’Sullivan 3, Eoin Cleary 2, Liam Moloney 1, Donagh McDonagh, Rhys Plower.

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