Maigh Cuilinn 67
Dublin Lions 29
Women’s BIDL – University of Galway, Kingfisher Sports Arena, Saturday 7 February 2026
Maigh Cuilinn delivered a statement performance in the Women’s BIDL, producing a defensive masterclass to overpower Drogheda Wolves 67–29 at UG Kingfisher.
From the opening tip to the final buzzer, it was a night defined by relentless pressure, energy, and depth, as Maigh Cuilinn imposed their identity on both ends of the floor. Maigh Cuilinn wasted no time stamping their authority on the game. Full-court pressure from the opening possession immediately caused Drogheda major problems, making it extremely difficult for them to advance the ball. Countless turnovers followed as Maigh Cuilinn sped the game up and turned defence into offence. Coach Grant Olsson showcased the squad’s depth early, rotating all 12 players in the opening quarter without any drop in intensity. Offensively, Maigh Cuilinn carved through the Drogheda zone, penetrating the seams and finding cutters at the basket. Excellent movement and unselfish play helped the hosts race into a commanding 22–6 lead by the end of the first.
The second period followed a similar pattern, with Maigh Cuilinn’s defensive pressure continuing to suffocate Drogheda. The Wolves struggled to get into any offensive rhythm, while Maigh Cuilinn’s hustle and anticipation created more transition opportunities. Lara Flynn was outstanding with her timing and movement, repeatedly cutting to the basket and finishing strongly. The home side’s offensive rebounding was also a major feature, with Leah Cunningham, Romy Cunningham, Lara Flynn and Eabheann Conneely all crashing the boards to create second chance scores. Maigh Cuilinn outscored Drogheda 16–8 in the quarter to take a dominant 38–14 lead into halftime.
If there was any doubt about the outcome, Maigh Cuilinn removed it in the third quarter. The defensive intensity never dipped, and Drogheda continued to be rushed into errors by the full-court press. The hosts showed their strength in numbers, with Coach Olsson able to rotate freely, even swapping five players at a time without losing cohesion. Orla Cunningham began to really stretch the floor, knocking down three-pointers with confidence and punishing any gaps in the zone defence. Julie-Ann Russell and Lara Flynn both chipped in during this spell as Maigh Cuilinn extended the lead further, heading into the final quarter comfortably ahead at 53–23.
Despite the scoreboard, Maigh Cuilinn’s work rate never wavered. The full-court pressure remained in place, and the hustle on defence continued right to the final buzzer. Orla Cunningham capped a superb shooting performance by adding more threes – finishing the game with an outstanding five from beyond the arc.
The cutting, ball movement, and offensive rebounding continued to highlight the team’s collective approach, while Drogheda found no respite from the smothering defence. Maigh Cuilinn closed out a comprehensive 67–29 victory, a performance that underlined their defensive identity and squad depth.
This was a complete team performance from Maigh Cuilinn – hustle, energy, depth, and discipline on defence, paired with smart, unselfish offence. A night that perfectly showcased the squad’s identity and left plenty for supporters to be excited about as the season progresses.
Next up, Maigh Cuilinn face their toughest challenge yet in six days’ time, as they take on league leaders Claregalway, who come into the contest unbeaten. The highly anticipated clash takes place on Friday 13th February at 6.30pm in Knocknacarra Community Centre, and promises to be a real test of Maigh Cuilinn’s defensive resolve against one of the league’s in-form sides.
Support from the sidelines will be crucial as Maigh Cuilinn look to bring the same hustle, energy and smothering defence into a massive showdown at home.
Orla Cunningham (20), Lara Flynn (15), Julie-Ann Russell (10), Sarah Folan (6), Leah Cunningham (5), Eabheann Conneely (3), Lily Hynes (2), Ellen Walsh (2), Justine Gaidoux (2), Romy Cunningham (2), Jenny McDonagh, Muireann Elliman
Categories: Men's Superleague, News
CC Mhaigh Cuilinn 