SETU Waterford Vikings 95-115 Maigh Cuilinn
Saturday, 15 February 2025
Waterford

Maigh Cuilinn continued their impressive run of form with a commanding 115-95 road victory over SETU Waterford Vikings on Saturday night. A superb second quarter surge set the foundation for the win, with Maigh Cuilinn stretching their current streak to four consecutive victories.

The game started with Waterford taking the early initiative, outscoring Maigh Cuilinn 25-18 in the first quarter. The hosts’ American star, Aaron Jackson, started red hot, scoring nine points in the first quarter including a monstrous dunk on the very first half court play. However, Maigh Cuilinn soon shook off the long road journey cobwebs and by the end of the quarter started to look the more dangerous team.

A blistering second quarter saw the visitors from Galway exploit Waterford’s shift to a zone defense, finding open shooters who punished the hosts from beyond the arc. Maigh Cuilinn outscored Waterford 36-22 in the period, taking a seven-point lead into halftime. Aitor Perez, a constant mismatch for Waterford’s big men, stepped outside to drain shots from deep, while James Loughnane produced a vintage display, scoring 22 points in just 22 minutes with an astonishing 86% accuracy from three-point range (6 of 7). His efficiency, combined with three assists and zero turnovers, was a major factor in Maigh Cuilinn’s offensive success.

The third quarter was a tightly contested affair, with both teams putting up 25 points apiece. Waterford kept fighting, refusing to let Maigh Cuilinn pull away, and the lead was just seven points entering the final period despite what felt like a relatively dominant Maigh Cuilinn display. Thankfully for the Galway club, when the game was in the balance, Maigh Cuilinn found another gear.

Two clutch three-pointers from Grant Olsson early in the fourth re-established a double-digit cushion, and from there, Maigh Cuilinn never looked back. They outscored Waterford 36-23 in the final frame, closing out the game with composure and efficiency. Perez led all Maigh Cuilinn scorers with 34 points, using his versatility to devastating effect, while Olsson (18 points), Antonio Molina (12), and Dylan Cunningham (10) also made key contributions.

With four wins in a row, Maigh Cuilinn now turn their attention to a crucial final stretch of regular season games. They remain in a strong position to secure a playoff berth but will need to keep their momentum going through a challenging schedule. Next up is a road trip to face Carrick Cruisers on 22 February, followed by another away game against local rivals Titans on 1 March. They will then travel to Portlaoise Panthers on 8 March before closing out the regular season at home against Tipp Talons on 15 March at the University of Galway Kingfisher.

If Maigh Cuilinn can maintain their current form, a well-earned playoff spot could be within reach.

Maigh Cuilinn Scorers:
Aitor Perez 34, James Loughnane 22, Grant Olsson 18, Antonio Molina 12, Dylan Cunningham 10, Cian Walsh 7, Liam Moloney 4, Rhys Plower 3, John Hynes 2, Rory O’Sullivan 2, Eoin Cleary 1, Donagh McDonagh.

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