Moycullen Basketball has its first real road game of the season this weekend when facing Killorglin in Kerry.
It will be a battle of two teams fresh off narrow losses and looking for redemption - Moycullen having fallen by just three points to Garveys Tralee Warriors on Sunday in NUIG, and Killorglin having lost to Ballincollig of Cork by five.
Moycullen head coach John Cunningham says the challenge presented by Killorglin on Saturday is having to match what is a very physical outfit, and then for Moycullen to rediscover a consistent shooting touch as they go in search of a maiden win of the season following two defeats by a single basket.
“They [Killorglin] are big and they are physical, and their own gym is a tough place to play in - it is a very different court,” says Cunningham.
“We haven’t really shot the ball well yet, and when we do, which will hopefully be against Killorglin, we will be in the game.”
However, in last weekend's three point loss to Tralee, Moycullen’s woes were not at the offensive side of the court, but the defensive end.
The first quarter brought ominous signs for the westerners in the form of several explosive and successful drives to the basket by American guard Aaron Calixte, who finished as the game’s top scorer with 31 points.
He was matched basket for basket at that juncture by the inside Moycullen pairing of Joe Tummon and Grant Olsson, who established a nice rhythm to edge Moycullen out to a 14 to 12 lead mid-way through the first quarter.
Scores from both teams came thick and fast with Superleague debutant Niall Bree impressing in particular for the Galwegians, and when the dust settled on a somewhat frantic, but nonetheless exciting first half, Tralee were nine points to the good, 47 to 38 on the back of their guard combo of Calixte and Fergal O’Sullivan.
That lead was to collapse with a strong Moycullen start to the third quarter as Kyle Cunningham and Josh Marvesley found more space, and it was 56 apiece with just under four minutes to go in the third quarter.
Having expended a significant amount of energy on that comeback, Moycullen then fell a little flat for the crucial period, and the men from the Kingdom took full advantage. A quick succession of scores produced a 10-point lead, and looking likely to leave Galway with a win.
Moycullen fought right to the final whistle. Scores from Conor Curran, Cunningham and Olsson reduced the deficit to as close as a single point with 45 seconds to go, But that was as close as Moycullen could get. A Calixte drive and dish for a strong finish by his teammate gave them the cushion needed to just about see out a three point win.
