Portlaoise Panthers 88 v Maigh Cuilinn 66
Portlaoise, 8 March 2025

Maigh Cuilinn endured a difficult night in Laois as they fell to a clinical Portlaoise Panthers side, 88–66, in a game that could well serve as a preview for a National League quarter-final showdown in the coming weeks. Despite flashes of promise, particularly from their young players, Maigh Cuilinn struggled to contain Portlaoise’s offensive weapons and were ultimately outmatched by a well-balanced home side.

Arriaga Dominates Early as Maigh Cuilinn Struggle to Find Their Rhythm

From the outset, Portlaoise looked the more comfortable side, dictating the pace and putting up 24 points in the opening quarter. Their main weapon was Xabier Arriaga, a rangy forward whose size and skill made him a nightmare matchup for the Maigh Cuilinn defense. Arriaga scored in a variety of ways, mixing inside finishes, free throws, and two three-pointers to rack up 17 first-half points.

Maigh Cuilinn, on the other hand, struggled to get into an offensive flow. Their lack of defensive impact on Portlaoise seemed to sap their usual attacking rhythm, and their 15-point output in the opening period set the tone for a night in which they would finish with just 66 points—well below their season average of over 80 per game. The one bright spot was the ever-improving young duo of Liam Moloney and Eoin Cleary, who provided some much-needed energy to keep Maigh Cuilinn within touching distance.

Balanced Portlaoise Attack Stretches the Lead

The second quarter followed a similar pattern. While Arriaga continued to cause problems, it was the Panthers’ depth that really hurt Maigh Cuilinn. Seven different players found the scoresheet in the quarter, making it difficult for the visitors to focus their defensive efforts on any one player. With Maigh Cuilinn still struggling to generate stops, their offense remained out of sync, though James Loughnane and Antonio Molina chipped in with some important baskets to try to keep the visitors in touch.

At halftime, Portlaoise had built a commanding 48–33 lead, and with Maigh Cuilinn’s attack struggling to click, the road back looked steep.

Olsson Battles, but Portlaoise Remain Ruthless

Determined to claw their way back, Maigh Cuilinn looked to their leader, Grant Olsson, in the third quarter. The American forward was aggressive in attacking the basket, determined to spark a comeback, but Portlaoise remained ruthless. Their defense forced Maigh Cuilinn into difficult shots, holding them to just 14 points in the period while continuing to score efficiently at the other end. Maigh Cuilinn’s guards, normally adept at breaking down defenses, struggled against the sheer length of their opponents, and by the end of the third, the game looked beyond reach at 71–47.

Moloney Hits Career-High as Bench Provides Late Energy

Despite the daunting deficit, Maigh Cuilinn refused to go quietly. The fourth quarter saw a noticeable lift in defensive intensity, led by the energetic bench contributions of Donagh McDonagh, Moloney, Rhys Plower, and Cleary. This young quartet combined to produce easily Maigh Cuilinn’s best defensive stretch of the night, forcing multiple turnovers and disrupting Portlaoise’s rhythm. The improved effort was enough to worry Portlaoise head coach Jack Scully, as Maigh Cuilinn significantly cut into the lead midway through the final period.

A bright spot in the defeat was the performance of Moloney, who notched a National League career-high 17 points, further underlining his growing importance to the squad. His confident scoring, combined with his defensive energy in the fourth quarter, was one of the few positives for the visitors on an otherwise frustrating night.

Unfortunately for Maigh Cuilinn, time was against them. In their urgency to close the gap, they were forced into rushed offensive decisions, allowing Portlaoise to capitalize on easy transition scores to maintain control and ultimately see out the win comfortably.

A Potential Playoff Rematch Looms

With just one league game remaining, Maigh Cuilinn will have to regroup quickly. If results see them slip to the fourth seed, they will return to this very venue for a high-stakes quarter-final against Portlaoise. They will know that a much-improved defensive start will be required if they are to turn the tables in that potential rematch.

For now, the loss is a reminder of the fine margins at this level. Maigh Cuilinn’s young players showed promising signs, but against a well-rounded and disciplined Portlaoise team, they will need a more complete performance next time out.

Maigh Cuilinn Scorers: Liam Moloney 17, Grant Olsson 16, Aitor Perez 11, Antonio Molina 7, Eoin Cleary 5, James Loughnane 4, John Hynes 3, Rhys Plower 3, Donagh McDonagh, Cian Walsh, Rory O’Sullivan, Dylan Cunningham.

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