Maigh Cuilinn secured a crucial 75-61 victory over Team Northwest in front of an enthusiastic home crowd at the University of Galway Kingfisher. The result, which sees Maigh Cuilinn build momentum heading into a pivotal matchup against Scott Lakers Killarney on Monday, was hard-fought, with the home side needing to step up their defensive intensity late in the contest to pull away.

The game got off to a fast pace, with Maigh Cuilinn’s captain, Grant Olsson, leading the charge. Despite controlling much of the opening quarter, the hosts were left frustrated after missing several open shots that could have extended their lead significantly. Instead, they held a narrow 20-16 advantage at the first break.

In the second quarter, Team Northwest’s star man, Shakeil Bertrand, asserted himself inside, giving Maigh Cuilinn plenty of problems. Bertrand’s steal and emphatic dunk with six and a half minutes left in the quarter put the visitors ahead, 26-23. That moment seemed to jolt Maigh Cuilinn into action, and they responded with an 8-0 run, powered by back-to-back three-pointers from Antonio Molina. However, the visitors stayed in touch thanks to an increasingly influential display from Alberto Rodriguez, who drained a buzzer-beater to leave his team trailing by just one point at halftime, 43-42.

The third quarter proved to be a scrappy affair, with Maigh Cuilinn struggling to break down Team Northwest’s defence. Poor offensive execution saw them score just six points in the first seven and a half minutes, as they became too reliant on static perimeter passing. Bertrand and Rodriguez continued to shine for the visitors, but Maigh Cuilinn managed to edge ahead once again, with Olsson’s score at the end of the quarter giving them a slender 55-53 lead heading into the final ten minutes.

Maigh Cuilinn ramped up their defensive intensity in the fourth quarter, and the benefits were immediately clear. With their key players—Rodriguez, Bertrand, and English guard Tyler Mutemasango—logging heavy minutes and accumulating four personal fouls each, Team Northwest began to tire. Maigh Cuilinn capitalised with a series of strong defensive stands that generated transition opportunities. They stretched their lead to 69-61 with two and a half minutes to go, forcing their opponents into difficult shots and taking control of the game.

The victory was sealed when Dylan Cunningham calmly banked in two free throws in the closing moments, ensuring a 75-61 win. James Loughnane was a standout performer for Maigh Cuilinn, contributing not only 14 points but also delivering excellent pressure defence throughout.

With this victory in the books, Maigh Cuilinn quickly shift focus to their next home encounter, a vital clash against Scott Lakers Killarney on Monday. Given their recent form and defensive resurgence, they will be hoping to carry this momentum into the Bank Holiday fixture.

Maigh Cuilinn Scorers: Grant Olsson 24, James Loughnane 14, Aitor Perez 14, Antonio Molina 11, Dylan Cunningham 7, Eoin Cleary 4, Liam Moloney 1, Rory O’Sullivan, Donagh McDonagh, Cian Walsh, John Hynes, Rhys Plower.

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