Maigh Cuilinn 86 – Tipp Talons 76
Galway, 14 March 2025

Maigh Cuilinn booked their place in the National League playoffs with a determined 86–76 victory over Tipp Talons at the University of Galway Sports Arena on Saturday night. The win not only secured a postseason berth but also eliminated the visitors from playoff contention, setting up a quarter-final showdown with Portlaoise Panthers next weekend.

It was a game that constantly shifted between a likely comfortable victory and a tense battle, as Maigh Cuilinn led throughout but struggled at times to fully shake off the persistent Talons.

Olsson Leads the Charge as Maigh Cuilinn Start Strong

The home side wasted no time in setting the tone, racing into a 20–11 first-quarter lead. Cian Walsh provided some spectacular scoring moments, knocking down three-pointers in Maigh Cuilinn’s structured half-court sets while also converting tough finishes under pressure on the fast break. His versatility was key in keeping Tipp’s defense off-balance.

While Tipp found more success in the second quarter, matching Maigh Cuilinn 22–22, Grant Olsson remained the rock for his team. Every time Maigh Cuilinn needed a big basket, it was Olsson who delivered, often sheerly through force of will. His ability to get to the rim and finish in traffic kept Maigh Cuilinn in control despite the Talons’ best efforts to close the gap.

Tipp Talons Keep It Close

The visitors refused to fade, producing a strong third quarter that saw them outscore Maigh Cuilinn 26–24. A key focus of the Maigh Cuilinn game plan was limiting Tipp’s primary scorer, Joshua Reynolds. While Reynolds still finished with 29 points, he had to battle for every single one, shooting just 30% from three-point range—well below his usual efficiency. James Loughnane was instrumental in this defensive effort, with Antonio Molina providing crucial minutes in rotation to keep the pressure on.

Despite Reynolds’ struggles, Tipp’s full-court press caused some late issues for Maigh Cuilinn, exposing a lack of composure in the closing minutes. The home side coughed up a few careless turnovers that could have been costly in a tighter contest.

Composure Needed for Portlaoise Playoff Test

In the final quarter, Maigh Cuilinn did just enough to keep Tipp at arm’s length, edging the period 20–17 to see out the win. It was a strong performance overall, one that head coach Paul O’Brien can take confidence from heading into the playoffs.

However, he will know that to overcome Portlaoise in the quarter-finals, his team will need to rediscover the defensive intensity that has been a hallmark of Maigh Cuilinn sides in years past but has been lacking for much of this season. Perhaps Loughnane’s superb individual defensive display against Tipp will set the standard for the team in the games ahead.

Maigh Cuilinn now travel to Portlaoise on Saturday, March 22, for their National League quarter-final. The exact tip-off time is yet to be confirmed, but if this young squad can build on their best moments from Saturday, they could yet cause problems for the Panthers.

Maigh Cuilinn scorers: Grant Olsson 24, Cian Walsh 18, Antonio Molina 15, Aitor Perez 15, Dylan Cunningham 5, James Loughnane 4, Liam Moloney 3, Rhys Plower 2, Eoin Cleary, Donagh McDonagh, John Hynes, Rory O’Sullivan

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