After defeating Superleague powerhouse Killester last weekend, Moycullen were attempting to make it two wins from two when they entertained DCU Saints in the NUI Galway Kingfisher.
Unfortunately for the home side, a poor second half showing meant Moycullen dropped points against one of the league’s more beatable sides, losing 64 to 87.
In the first half Moycullen started strong. Youngsters Paul Kelly and Conor Curran combined for a handful of driving scores, while American player Grant Olsson used his physicality inside to pick up some easy baskets.
It was a classic case of defence facilitating offence, as Moycullen’s defensive pressure allowed their guards to run in some easy fastbreak points at the opposite end.
DCU though, through the sharpshooting of former Irish internationals Eoin Darling and Charlie Coombes, were able to keep within constant touching distance of the Connemara men. Indeed, Eoin Darling registered 22 points in the game, shooting a perfect seven from seven from the field. At the end of the first quarter Moycullen led by only one point.
The second quarter played out in a similar fashion. Olsson and Kelly continued their solid play to added to their tallies. Frustratingly, a pair of costly turnovers in the final minute of the second quarter allowed handed DCU five points in about 10 seconds, reducing Moycullen’s lead to a single point when the half-time buzzer sounded.
In the third quarter, Moycullen looked less sharp. DCU’s inside pairing of veteran players Martins Provizors and Micheal Bonaparte come to life. Their size proved too much for Moycullen to handle. Having been outscored by 20 points to 10 in the period, Moycullen were nine points adrift at the end of the third.
In the final quarter DCU killed the game off. To their credit, Olsson and Dylan Cunningham were playing some stellar defense inside, but DCU’s post players would not be denied.
As Moycullen’s offence continued to falter, DCU added to their lead. In the end, the scoreline probably did not reflect the games exchanges, and with the game beyond the team’s reach, Moycullen gave some playing time to some of their younger players before travelling to UCD on Saturday.
Moycullen: Paul Kelly (14 ), Grant Olsson (13 ), Conor Curran (10 ), Dan Vila (7 ), James Conaire (5 ), Josh Marvesely (5 ), Kyle Cunningham (3 ), Dylan Cunningham (3 ), Joseph Tummon (2 ), James Lyons (2 ), Dara Kenna. Coach, John Cunningham.
