After last weekend’s epic clash in the Kingfisher, Maigh Cuilinn and Maree do it all again at the same venue this Friday evening in the Basketball Ireland Men’s Superleague.
A postponement in November meant that the first of two Galway derbies this season has been refixed to exactly one week after the first. That first derby happened last Saturday. After a game that saw no fewer than 12 ties, 13 lead changes and where the margin between the sides never grew to more than single digits, it was Maree that had the cool nerves down the stretch to edge out an 82 to 76 thriller.
Maree were led by a superb Terence Lewis II who had 20 points and 12 rebounds and Maigh Cuilinn will be working hard this week to find an answer for the Maryland USA native.
Aside from trying to figure out a means to put the shackles on Lewis II, Maigh Cuilinn will be concerned that they could not get over the line despite their top three players, Grant Olsson, Patrick Lyons and James Connaire all having stellar outings and combining for 44 points between them.
Maree meanwhile will be pleased with the showings from long serving duo Eoin Rockall and Cathal Finn while John Burke, who was somewhat quiet throughout, hit some massive baskets in key moments in the fourth quarter.
As with all derbies however, form (even form as recent as 6 days earlier ) will likely go out the window once the ball is thrown up Friday evening and, whatever happens, it is bound to be fascinating.
As difficult as it is to predict an outcome in this fixture, it is hard to see anything other than another tight and tense contest that goes right down to the wire.
The game, if nothing else, will be a delightful contrast of styles. Maigh Cuilinn pride themselves on tough defence and keeping teams well below season averages but can struggle to find attacking rhythm at times. Maree are a team who try (and very often succeed ) to outscore opponents first and foremost while living with their defensive frailties. .
The unstoppable force against immovable object served a thriller last week that, for all the world, looked like it was going to need overtimes to resolve. Neutrals and basketball lovers in Galway generally will be hoping for more of the same again Friday night at the University of Galway Sports Arena.
The outcome will have major implications for both teams’ playoff aspirations and so while local bragging rights will of course be on everyone’s mind, the side that can keep composure and find the winning touch will emerge from the game with a lot more than that in terms of the league standings.
