Maigh Cuilinn will look to make it two wins from two in the Men’s National League this weekend when they welcome Carrick Cruisers to Spórtlann Mhichael Mhóir in Leitir Móir for their first home fixture this season.
Tip-off is set for 7pm in Connemara on Saturday evening, and the matchup promises to be one of the most intriguing contests of the early campaign.
The visitors from Carrick have added real firepower to their squad over the summer, most notably in the form of American import Keon Edwards. The 6’8” Texas native arrives with an impressive pedigree, having played NCAA Division 1 basketball with DePaul University and later Nebraska. Edwards wasted no time making an impact in his debut last weekend, scoring 25 points and hitting four three-pointers as Carrick stunned Templeogue 79–71 on the road — one of the standout results from the league’s opening round.
Carrick’s new-look line-up will provide a serious challenge for Paul O’Brien’s Maigh Cuilinn side, who began their own season in style with a comprehensive 94–65 win over Killarney Cougars at the University of Galway Sports Arena. Saturday’s clash in Leitir Móir will be a step up in class, and O’Brien will be aware that defensive focus and rebounding discipline will be key to containing Edwards and the Cruisers’ inside-out attack.
When these sides last met, Maigh Cuilinn edged out a thriller — a dramatic overtime victory by just three points that became one of the highlights of their 2024/25 season. With both teams showing offensive firepower early this year, another close contest could be on the cards, and the home crowd in Leitir Móir will be hoping for a repeat of last season’s outcome.
Maigh Cuilinn’s season opener offered plenty of encouraging signs. They controlled their clash with Killarney from start to finish, winning each of the first three quarters and leading by as many as 43 points at one stage. Captain Grant Olsson led the scoring with 20 points, including a pair of first-quarter three-pointers that helped break the game wide open. Croatian guard Ivan Basic was equally effective, posting 16 points and orchestrating the tempo with sharp playmaking.
Young guard Liam Moloney made his first National League start and impressed with eight points and two assists, while there were double-digit contributions from Rory O’Sullivan (12 ), Eoin Cleary (10 ), and Spanish duo Antonio Molina and Aitor Perez (11 ). Inside, the frontcourt of Dylan Cunningham and John Hackett provided a strong physical presence, and there was a welcome return for Cian Carroll, who marked his first appearance in over a year by getting on the scoresheet.
While Maigh Cuilinn could hardly have asked for a better start, Carrick represent an altogether sterner examination. Edwards’ combination of size, shooting, and athleticism adds a new dimension to the visitors, while Maigh Cuilinn will look to their balanced scoring and home-court energy to meet the challenge.
With both sides unbeaten after Round 1, Saturday night’s clash in Leitir Móir has all the makings of an early-season classic.
