Ulster University 59
Maigh Cuilinn 76
Men’s National League – 25 January 2026, Ulster University, Jordanstown

Maigh Cuilinn produced a composed and authoritative second-half performance on Saturday night in Jordanstown to claim a deserved 75–59 victory over Ulster University, extending their strong run of form and underlining their growing confidence on the road.

The visitors set the tone immediately. Fresh off the team bus and clearly intent on dictating terms, Maigh Cuilinn burst into a 12–0 lead inside the opening minutes, with Dylan Cunningham, Grant Olsson and Antonio Molina all connecting from beyond the arc. It was a statement start that momentarily stunned the home side and showcased the sharpness and intent Maigh Cuilinn have been building toward in recent weeks.

Ulster, to their credit, settled well after that early shock. Former Irish underage international Darragh Ferguson and Belgian import Max Postiglione began to find rhythm, dragging the hosts back into contention. By the end of the first quarter, Maigh Cuilinn still held the advantage at 22–18, but the initial gap had been trimmed to something manageable.

The second quarter proved more difficult for the visitors. Maigh Cuilinn struggled to maintain their early shooting touch, converting just 29 per cent of their three-point attempts in the period. That lull allowed Ulster to build momentum, and with just under a minute remaining before the break, the home side took their first lead of the night. Ulster edged the quarter 19–14 and went into halftime narrowly ahead, 37–36, with the game delicately poised.

What followed after the interval, however, was decisive.

Maigh Cuilinn emerged with renewed defensive intensity and a clear plan to impose themselves physically and athletically. They began winning the small but crucial battles — loose balls, contested rebounds and transition races — that often decide games at this level. A highly effective full-court press disrupted Ulster’s rhythm, creating turnovers and generating easy baskets, while in the half court Maigh Cuilinn’s guards repeatedly got past their markers off the dribble.

The third quarter swung firmly in Maigh Cuilinn’s favour as they outscored Ulster 19–13 to regain control. James Loughnane was a central figure in that shift, combining strong drives to the basket with timely long-range shooting, while also producing a number of important defensive stops and turnovers that halted Ulster runs before they could gather momentum.

Any lingering resistance from the home side was extinguished midway through the fourth quarter. With six minutes remaining, Cunningham knocked down a corner three and punctuated it with a fist pump toward the Maigh Cuilinn bench as the lead stretched to 63–53. Though only a ten-point margin on the scoreboard, it felt far more significant in the context of the game. From that moment on, Ulster were unable to respond, managing just six further points as Maigh Cuilinn closed out the contest with authority.

The final quarter was won 21–9 by the visitors, sealing a comprehensive 75–59 victory that was built on defensive pressure, transition speed and growing maturity in game management.

Olsson led the scoring with 24 points, while Ivan Basic, Loughnane, Hackett, Molina and Cunningham all made meaningful contributions in a balanced team effort. More than the individual numbers, however, it was Maigh Cuilinn’s control of the second half that stood out — a performance marked by composure, intensity and a clear understanding of how to close out a road win.

Maigh Cuilinn scorers: Grant Olsson 24, Ivan Basic 12, James Loughnane 10, John Hackett 9, Antonio Molina 9, Dylan Cunningham 8, Brendan Hardiman 4, John Hynes, Liam Moloney, Rory O’Sullivan, Ray O’Cnaimhsi.

Categories: News