Maigh Cuilinn 87 (45)
UCC Demons 78 (41)
Maigh Cuilinn shocked the Basketball Ireland Men’s Superleague on Sunday with one of their best performances in years to send a star studded UCC Demons outfit back to Cork with a loss after the home side were fully deserving of an 87 to 78 victory in Galway.
Led by an inspired Patrick Lyons, back playing for his home club after a number of years successfully plying his trade as a pro in Germany, Maigh Cuilinn were full value for the upset win and essentially led start to finish.
The victory was far from an easy one however as UCC Demons put together a few almost devastating runs of momentum that on many a day would have been too much for Maigh Cuilinn to withstand. Thankfully for the large home faithful in attendance, the men from Connemara were in a rare vein of form on the day and managed to repel each and every surge from the visitors, to the extent that they had an opportunity to savour the closing seconds and the standing round off applause from the joyous crowd enjoying the win.
It is perhaps a testament to the outstanding number of seasons from Grant Olsson that his incredible 34 point display was not enough to capture the man of the match comments afterwards. That honour was scooped by Lyons who scored a healthy 14 points but was more importantly at the centre of everything good for Maigh Cuilinn and put in a masterclass defensive performance in marshalling Demons dangerman Seventh Woods from the USA.
Another comparatively low scorer but star man on the day was the brilliant Kyle Cunningham. Cunningham is playing more limited minutes this season than he is used to, forced to a bench role due to work commitments in Dublin taking him away from the majority of team training sessions. Notwithstanding, he was immense at key moments not just finding key scores but also with some sublime passing and a few essential rebounds when needed.
It would be unfair to single out individuals too much however as this was a fine team outing and players like James Connaire (who had a not to be sniffed at 19 point showing), Dylan Cunningham and Josiah Laracey all had big contributions.
While Demons would have been heavily favoured in the game, given their huge scoring power, the tone for the match was set early with Lyons getting to the ring regularly, Olsson grabbing boards like they were free samples and Connaire carving up the Demons zone with ease.
It all had Maigh Cuilinn fans in seventh heaven and enjoying a 24 to 14 end of first quarter lead. Credit to Demons and their excellent head coach Danny O’Mahony for making important adjustments throughout as the Leesiders were the better side in the second quarter, winning it 25 to 21 and going in at the half a little shell shocked but trailing by just 4.
Maigh Cuilinn coach John Cunningham clearly hit the right notes at the half time talk though and it was his players that came out firing in the third, winning it 23 to 18 and setting up a brilliant opportunity to hold on for a second win of the season.
While Demons threw everything at Maigh Cuilinn and had the margin back to just 4 points with three minutes left, Maigh Cuilinn were clinical at the freethrow line (shooting a season best 81 percent) and pushed out the final scoreline to 87 v 78 on a memorable Sunday afternoon in Galway.
It is a perfect way to set up what should be a fun Galway derby day next Sunday (26 November) as Maigh Cuilinn host Maree at the University of Galway Sports Arena for a 3pm tip off.
Maigh Cuilinn Scorers: Grant Olsson 34, James Connaire 19, Patrick Lyons 14, Josiah Laracey 7, Kyle Cunningham 5, Ivan Basic 4, Dylan Cunningham 4, Antonio Molina, Aitor Perez, Joseph Tummon, Kevin Nugent, Donagh McDonagh