Maigh Cuilinn return to home action this Saturday night as they host Dublin Lions in the University of Galway Sports Arena at 7pm.
It is the first home fixture of 2026 for the men’s side after a January dominated by road trips, and it comes at a point in the season where every result has genuine play-off implications.
The Lions arrive in Galway as one of the most formidable outfits in the National League. Sitting second in the Northern Conference, they boast an 11–4 record and have won eight of their last nine games, underpinned by an attack that averages just over 85 points per game. This is a cross-conference matchup, meaning it is the only scheduled meeting between the sides this season unless they meet again in the playoffs — adding extra intrigue to what is already a marquee fixture.
Central to the Lions’ success is American guard Russ Marr, one of the standout performers in the league this season. The 6’3” Alabama native, in his first year as a professional, is averaging 26 points per game and combines deep shooting range with the ability to attack off the dribble and defend aggressively. Slowing Marr will be a primary concern for Maigh Cuilinn, but the Lions’ recent run has also been built on discipline, balance and an ability to close games efficiently.
For Maigh Cuilinn, the opportunity is clear. They sit one game outside the playoff places and remain well positioned to make the postseason for a second consecutive year, but home form over the coming weeks will be crucial. With Titans, Maree and Malahide all still to visit Galway later in February and March, Saturday night represents a chance to set the tone for the run-in.
The evening also forms part of a club double header, with Maigh Cuilinn’s women in action earlier at 4pm, hosting Drogheda Wolves in the Basketball Ireland Development League. Led by former Irish soccer international Julie-Ann Russell, Maigh Cuilinn are enjoying a highly creditable maiden season at national level.
While playoff qualification remains unlikely, they have competed strongly throughout and will be favourites against a Wolves side near the foot of the table, as they look to finish the campaign on a high. The club will be hoping to replicate the success of the last home double header, which yielded wins for both teams.
The men come into Saturday’s clash following a narrow 83–74 defeat away to Limerick Sport Eagles, leaders of the Southern Conference, last weekend. It was a game that in many ways encapsulated both Maigh Cuilinn’s promise and the fine margins that currently separate them from the league’s frontrunners.
Grant Olsson was outstanding throughout, finishing with 31 points in a performance that combined scoring from range, aggressive drives and leadership when momentum threatened to swing away. Ivan Basic and Dylan Cunningham provided important support, and Maigh Cuilinn’s ability to respond to adversity against the league leaders was a clear positive, even if the final outcome was disappointing.
That performance underlined a key message ahead of Saturday’s test: Maigh Cuilinn are capable of competing with the best sides in the league when their defensive intensity, execution and discipline align. Against Dublin Lions, those elements will again be non-negotiable.
With a full afternoon and evening of basketball on the programme, and a home crowd expected to build across both games, the setting is right for a significant night at the University of Galway Sports Arena.
