A “hell of a battle” is how Moycullen Superleague basketball coach describes what he expects this weekend when his side welcomes Killester to Galway for a 3pm Sunday tip off in Coláiste Bhaile Chláir.
The game represents Moycullen’s last chance to secure a top flight win in 2021 against one of the blue-bloods of Irish basketball.
“Like ourselves, Killester is a club with a very proud tradition,” says Nollaig Cunningham.“They have come through some really tough, tight games this year to put themselves right in the mix for the league title. They have a very balanced team with so many scoring options. For us to end the calendar year with a win will likely require our best performance.
“That said, they have been a little inconsistent. We feel we are one of the best defensive teams in the country, so you won’t get it easy coming to play Moycullen. We’ll give them a hell of a battle, and if we can find a scoring touch, we’ll be right there with a great chance.”
Moycullen and Killester will be coming off very different weekends as the Dubliners endured a titanic battle with NUIG to win in overtime in Dublin while across the River Liffey, Moycullen were unable to get the better of a sharp UCD side in a 77 to 56 loss.
The men from Connemara will need to finally discover some offensive gold at the end of the rainbow this weekend as they have repeatedly failed to turn strong defensive performances into victories.
Last Sunday, they held a normally explosive UCD offence to below 80 points, which would be the goal of any team venturing to the capital to play them, Moycullen however managed only a measly 56.
The game looked to be on a knife edge at 40 points apiece heading to the end of the third quarter. However, in a game where neither side seemed capable of finding a scoring rhythm, UCD’s Serbian sharpshooter Srdjan Stojanovic broke free for a flurry of scores to end the period helping his side to a 48 to 40 end of period lead.
From there, while Moycullen huffed and puffed, they never looked genuinely like overturning UCD as Stojanovic continued his onslaught, now joined by his American teammate Jonathan Jean who was finding his shooting touch after what had been a tough night.
Moycullen were ably led by their American Grant Olsson, who had 17 points, and new Turkish signing Ayberk Taylan, who had 16, but failed to generate scores from their remaining Irish contingent who combined for just 23 points total.
“Once again, a tremendous physical effort from the lads and our defence was really superb,” Cunningham says. “We were probably just forced out of rhythm on the other side of the court by an aggressive UCD defence and didn’t create enough high percentage scoring chances to be there in the end challenging to win.”
NUIG Maree
NUIG Maree hope to get back to winning ways when they take on DBS Éanna Coláiste Éanna (7pm ).
Last week's fixture with Killester BC went into overtime at IWA Clontarf as both sides were evenly matched at the final buzzer (83-83 ).However, the home team fought hard in the extra period to secure the win by a margin of five (99-94 ).
Ireland international player Ciarán Roe was in form for Killester BC, while NUIG Maree’s American duo combined for 43 points, De’Ondre Jackson producing 31 points with Jeryn Lucas adding 12luka Kraljic the next top scorer for the NUIG side with seven.
In the InsureMyVan.ie division 1 fixtures Titans host Drogheda Wolves in Ballinfoile Centre tomorrow evening at 6pm. In the MissQuote.ie Division 1 Fixtures NUIG Mystics are away to Swords Thunder at the ALSAA Sports Complex on Saturday at 5.30pm.
Titans lost 60-85 to EJ Sligo All-Stars, after a 45-36 half-time lead. Top scorers for the Galway side were Comhghall McCormack 19, Peter Brown 15, and Malik Thiam.
NUIG Mystics enjoyed a 75-90 win away to LYIT Donegal to lead the women's division one southern conference with six wins from seven. Top scorers for NUIG Mystics were Kara McCeane 22, Hazel Finn 19, and Courtney Cecere 18.
