Saturday 21 February 2026
Drogheda Wolves 90 – 65 Maigh Cuilinn
Ballymakenny College, Drogheda, Co. Louth

Maigh Cuilinn’s playoff hopes took a severe blow on Saturday night as league leaders Drogheda Wolves pulled away in the second half to record a 90–65 victory in Ballymakenny College.

Already facing a formidable task on the road, Maigh Cuilinn were without injured captain Grant Olsson & John Hackett, and while they competed bravely for long stretches, the depth and firepower a Wolves team that is second in the league overall ultimately told.

Wolves edged the opening quarter 18–15, with Vernon Jackson quickly finding his rhythm. The dynamic guard would go on to finish with 34 points, repeatedly breaking down defenders and converting under pressure. Yet Maigh Cuilinn remained firmly in the contest early on. Dylan Cunningham led the charge with confident perimeter shooting, while Antonio Molina and Ivan Basic attacked the lane to keep the scoreboard ticking.

The second quarter was Maigh Cuilinn’s strongest spell. They tightened defensively, shared the ball well and won the period 19–17. Cunningham knocked down three three-pointers across the game, and was particularly influential in this stretch. Meanwhile Brendan Hardiman’s work inside provided valuable second-chance opportunities. When the halftime whistle sounded, Maigh Cuilinn trailed by just a single point and carried genuine momentum into the dressing room.

There was a real sense that an upset might be brewing.

However, Wolves responded like league challengers. The third quarter proved pivotal as Drogheda outscored the visitors 23–16. Jackson asserted himself, scoring in a variety of ways, while Chima Obikwelu began to dominate the glass. The powerful forward would finish with 19 points and 13 rebounds, his physical presence gradually shifting control back toward the home side.

Even entering the final period, Maigh Cuilinn were still within reach. But the fourth quarter saw Wolves deliver a decisive surge, outscoring the visitors 32–15. As legs tired and rotations shortened, Jackson and Obikwelu combined to stretch the margin, and the contest slipped away.

To their credit, Maigh Cuilinn continued to compete. Molina maintained his strong recent form with 15 points, Basic contributed 12 despite close attention from the Wolves defence, and Hardiman’s 11-point return underlined his steady development through the season. Cunningham’s 16 points were a reminder of his experience and scoring touch on nights when leadership was required.

Ultimately, though, the absence of Olsson’s scoring and rebounding and Hackett’s inside presence was keenly felt, and against a side of Drogheda’s calibre, the margin for error proved too small.

The defeat leaves Maigh Cuilinn’s playoff prospects hanging by a thread, but there will be no shortage of motivation next weekend. They return home to the University of Galway Sports Arena on Saturday, 28 February (7pm) for a Galway derby against Maree — a fixture that rarely lacks intensity and one that offers an immediate opportunity to respond in front of their own supporters.

Maigh Cuilinn scorers: Dylan Cunningham 16, Antonio Molina 15, Ivan Basic 12, Brendan Hardiman 11, James Loughnane 6, Liam Moloney 3, Rory O’Sullivan 2, John Hynes, Ray Bonar.

Categories: News