A blistering 10-point unanswered run to start the final quarter ultimately saved Belfast Star from suffering the shock of the Basketball Ireland Superleague season as a gallant Maigh Cuilnn effort fell just short in the northern capital on Saturday.
The final score of 90-81 undoubtedly flattered the home side as a single basket had been the margin between the teams for the majority of the contest.
“We will look it as one that slipped away,” was the view of Maigh Cuilinn head coach John Cunningham.
“We played really well in so many ways, and it was probably one of our best offensive performances of the season, but against a team like Star, who are competing at the top of the table for a reason, you need everything to go right. We perhaps lost a little bit of focus to start the fourth and they punished us. That was the game.”
If the suspicion was that Belfast Star had taken their eye off the ball coming into this one, given that their opponents in Maigh Cuilinn were seated at the far end of the table, then it was not evident from the outset.
An intense start to proceedings saw Belfast Star main man Max Richardson explode out of the blocks and establish a five-point early advantage for the 2020 champs.
The early lead was not maintained, however, as Maigh Cuilnn quickly found their feet, a three-pointer by Dylan Cunningham followed by a nice bucket from the impressive Grant Olsson to bring things level.
The margin between the teams was rarely more than a single basket for the remainder of the first quarter through to the end of the third.
While Star, through USA import Shon Briggs, and the English duo of Max Cooper and Max Richardson, were able to find gaps in the Maigh Cuilinn defence - all three together combining for 75 points - Maigh Cuilnn were in a good attacking rhythm of their own.
Star attempted throughout the game to mix between zone and man-to-man defence, and between full-court pressure and picking up in the half-court, but in truth it seemed to confuse the home team more than the visitors who looked particularly comfortable against the zone when it presented.
Olsson, of course, was to the fore, finishing with 26 points and scoring in a variety of ways, but he was ably helped by a superb 23 points from Mateo Liberatore, along with good scoring contributions by Kyle Cunningham, Ayberk Taylan and Joe Tummon.
There can be little surprise, however, that Maigh Cuilinn’s new-found offensive form has come just as James Connaire has returned from injury, and his nine-point personal tally significantly under represented his contribution by way of general movement, offensive rebounds, and passing.
This was ultimately still a loss for the Galwegians, and they will rue a disastrous first three minutes to the final quarter. A sudden Star run, included a four-point play as Maigh Cuilinn battled gamely to the final whistle. But they never managed to get closer than eight points again as a possible shock upset win slipped through their hands.
They can take heart from a good performance in a fixture few, if any, would have given them much of a chance of recording a win, and with a weekend’s break coming up before the Galway derby against University of Galway Maree, they can prepare with some hope.
