Maigh Cuilinn’s reward for a perfect weekend is perhaps the stiffest examination the National League can currently offer, a Saturday night trip to face table-toppers Drogheda Wolves in Ballymakenny College.
Maigh Cuilinn, revitalised and climbing, meet a Wolves outfit that has set the pace for much of the season and still carries the aura of a championship contender despite a couple of recent stumbles. Tip-off is 7.30pm.
Drogheda sit top of the league with a 14–5 record and earlier in the campaign marched all the way to the National Cup final before losing out to Limerick Sport Eagles. They have depth, size and a proven ability to win tight games.
Everything, stems from Vernon Jackson. The 5’10” guard from Tampa, Florida has become one of the most entertaining players in the division, averaging 27 points per game, the third-highest return in the league. Since graduating from Allen University in 2020, Jackson has taken his scoring talent across Bosnia, Ecuador and Mexico, and he now directs the Wolves offence with pace and swagger. Give him daylight and he punishes; overplay him and he slips by.
His quality was evident on February 7 when he buried the game-winner in a dramatic two-point victory over Portlaoise. Yet the margins that once consistently went Drogheda’s way have narrowed. Last weekend they suffered consecutive defeats.
So while Wolves remain leaders, there is a sense they are being hunted — and Maigh Cuilinn are among the most determined pursuers.
Confidence in the Connemara camp is understandably high after successive victories that may come to define their season. Saturday’s 82-73 derby success against Titans was built on control and clarity. Antonio Molina lit the early fuse, knocking down four first-half threes, while Grant Olsson accumulated points with his usual efficiency. When Titans threatened, Maigh Cuilinn had answers, and a brilliant second-half explosion from Ivan Basic ensured the outcome never drifted.
Basic’s ability to penetrate against a retreating defence changed the geometry of the game, and with Cunningham, Hardiman and Hackett producing vital late stops, the win felt both emotional and deserved.
If that result spoke to composure, Sunday’s 99-83 road victory over Tipp Talons showcased resilience and firepower. Without Olsson for the back-to-back, others came to the fore. Molina delivered the finest performance of his Maigh Cuilinn tenure, pouring in 28 points while orchestrating the offence, Basic added 21, and the supporting cast struck at exactly the right moments.
Two wins, two different styles, but one common denominator - collective belief.
That belief will travel north this weekend, but it will be tested like rarely before. Drogheda’s crowd, their pace and Jackson’s brilliance make Ballymakenny one of the hardest stops in the league. For Maigh Cuilinn, matching that intensity from the opening possession is essential. They will need discipline in transition, gang rebounding and multiple scoring threats if they are to keep contact deep into the fourth.
Saturday night will reveal just how far this surge can carry them.
