While most sport fans might be glued to rugby this Saturday evening, Galway's basketball fanatics will be in the Kingfisher Arena for the always hotly anticipated Superleague derby between Maigh Cuilinn and University of Galway Maree.
Neutrals and Maigh Cuilinn supporters will be hoping the old adage that derby games defy form holds true. The men from Conemara have had possibly their worst season at the top table of Irish basketball since making the leap back in 2010. Not helped by a season ravaged with injury, they are still are awaiting their first win.
University of Galway Maree, on the other hand, are having their best season, having benefited from some excellent off-season signings. Their trio of imports Joe Junior Mvuezolo (UK ), Jarrett Haines (USA ) and Rodrigo Gomez (Spain ) are their top scorers, combining for an impressive 57 points per game. That tally alone is more than Maigh Cuilinn have averaged as a team per game.
University of Galway currently sit atop the Superleague table on a superb six wins and one loss, while Maigh Cuilinn are rooted firmly the base of the table. Struggling to cope with lengthy injuries to three of their starting five, depleting what was already a thinner squad than the rest of the league, they have relied on home grown players more than any other team.
However, this is a derby game, and Moycullen will hope the expected sparkling atmosphere will create some magic on the night. If the opening meeting between these sides twelve months ago is anything to go by, drama will not be in short supply.
University of Galway edged that contest, only after a last-second shot that would have won the game for Maigh Cuilinn fell short by an inch.
Veteran of many local derbies, Dylan Cunningham of Maigh Cuilinn, is looking forward to the challenge.
“University of Galway are flying, no doubt about it, while we have had our struggles. But a derby game is a weird thing and the pressure is really on their side of the ledger given the expectations now building for them.
“The guys they signed this summer are really good and give them incredible depth and different ways to attack. We will have to play a perfect game to compete with that fire power, but what a weekend it would be to find that perfect form, and why not?”
Maigh Cuilinn enter the game on the back of an improved performance, but one which was not enough to earn them their first win of the Superleague season.
Maigh Cuilinn faced a visiting Tralee Warriors side that, as defending league and cup champions, had lost four of their five opening games and struggled to hit prior heights.
However, the men from the kingdom showed enough firepower when it counted in Galway, and a sparkling 30=point performance from American Deondre Jackson, in particular, paved the way for their deserved 64-85 road victory.
University of Galway Maree, on the other hand, secured a real statement win away from home, defeating Ballincollig 100 to 90, their American Jarett Haines, sinking 32 points alongside Spanish teammate Joe-Junior Mvuezolo who had 29.
