Maigh Cuilinn 94

Killarney Cougars 65

University of Galway Sports Arena, 4 Oct 2025

Maigh Cuilinn began their 2025/26 Men’s National League campaign in emphatic fashion on Saturday evening, overpowering Killarney Cougars 94–65 at the University of Galway Sports Arena. Under the guidance of head coach Paul O’Brien, now in his second season at the helm, the home side produced a performance full of energy, cohesion, and attacking fluency to delight a large and vocal opening-night crowd.

From the outset, Maigh Cuilinn stamped their authority on proceedings, moving the ball crisply and defending with purpose. They won each of the first three quarters comfortably — 27–13, 30–14, and 20–11 — before easing off slightly in the final period, which Killarney shaded 27–17. At their peak, the Connemara men led by as many as 43 points, and though the result was beyond doubt long before the final buzzer, the home supporters relished every minute of their side’s confident display.

Guard Ivan Basic set the early tempo with nine points in a blistering first quarter, showcasing the poise and shooting touch that made him such a key figure last season. He finished with 16 points on the night. Captain Grant Olsson led the scoring with 20, including back-to-back three-pointers late in the opening quarter that sent the crowd to their feet and effectively ended the game as a contest even that early.

Head coach O’Brien gave young Liam Moloney the nod to start, and the promising guard repaid the faith with an impressive outing, contributing eight points and two assists while showing excellent composure on both ends of the court. Maigh Cuilinn’s balanced attack saw scoring contributions from all over the roster — Rory O’Sullivan chipped in 12 points, Eoin Cleary added 10, while Spanish duo Antonio Molina and Aitor Perez each notched 11.

Inside, the frontcourt pairing of Dylan Cunningham and John Hackett combined for 40 minutes of rock-solid play, controlling the boards and setting a physical tone that made life difficult for the Cougars’ big men. There was also a welcome moment for returning player Cian Carroll, who made his first appearance in over a year and marked the occasion by getting on the scoresheet to the delight of teammates and supporters alike. It was also a special evening for Luka Simovic, who made his National League debut for the club having played at U20 level last season.

For Killarney, it was a long and frustrating evening. Simon Olanipekun provided most of their scoring with 25 points, though he required 27 attempts to reach that tally, and despite his best efforts, the Cougars never looked capable of staging a serious comeback.

After the game, coach O’Brien praised his side’s focus and intensity while urging perspective. “It’s great to start with a win like that, especially in front of our supporters,” he said. “We did a lot of good things tonight, but it’s only game one — we’ll enjoy it, learn from it, and get ready for next week.”

That next challenge will be a tougher one. Maigh Cuilinn face Carrick Cruisers in Leitir Móir next Saturday evening (7pm tip-off). Carrick were the talk of the opening round after an impressive 79–71 win away to Templeogue, and they battled Maigh Cuilinn all the way to overtime when the sides met last season. With confidence running high, Maigh Cuilinn will look to carry their early momentum into what promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the weekend.

Maigh Cuilinn scorers: Grant Olsson 20, Ivan Basic 16, Rory O’Sullivan 12, Antonio Molina 11, Aitor Perez 11, Eoin Cleary 10, Liam Moloney 8, Dylan Cunningham 4, John Hackett 1, Cian Carroll 1, Luka Simovic

Categories: Men's Superleague, News