Moycullen’s first season in the Superleague enters its final weekend with two away trips against the Hoops and Neptune.
They travel to Dublin for this evening’s encounter before the final match of the season against Neputne in Cork on Sunday.
Both are difficult assigments, but Moycullen will travel in confidence, particularly after overoming Ulster Elks by 78 - 71 on Saturday.
In their final home game, Moycullen did not disappoint their fans, turning in a superb defensive performance, holding senior Irish internationals Paul Cummins scoreless and Ian O’Boyle to just seven points.
Moycullen hit the ground running with Garnett Griffin hitting the first basket and James Loughnane following with five points. Their defensive pressure had Elks at sixes and sevens. Puff Summers and Mike Dowd hounded the Elks guards, Cian Nihill and Loughnane shut down Ian O’Boyle and Paul Cummins, and John and Nollaig Cunningham contained Elks’ inside scoring threat, Kevin Foley. At the other end Cian Nihill and Puff Summers continued their superb form with Nihill hitting five points and Summers nailing 15 points for the quarter, including three three-pointers in a row, to race into a 31-20 lead.
The second quarter was more even, but Moycullen maintained their lead and their composure as the Elks tried to hit back in the third through their leading scorers Kev Foley and Dave Neal. Foley got the first four points of the quarter off two offensive rebounds and Neal continued to torment Moycullen with his size and superb ball handling skills. However Moycullen’s defence settled down and with Summers and Nihill leading by experience, Moycullen retained a 63-58 lead heading into the fourth.
The final quarter was a thriller as Moycullen battled to protect their five-point lead. Defences were on top as both teams dug deep. Every point was hard earned as the superb home crowd found their voices. The visitors cut the deficit to its lowest margin since the start, four points, as the game entered its final three minutes, but Nihill once again showed his class with two crucial baskets to stretch the Moycullen lead.
Moycullen: Puff Summers (27 ), Cian Nihill(21 ), Garnett Griffin(11 ), James Loughnane(7 ), John Cunningham(4 ), Nollaig Cunningham(4 ), Michael Dowd(2 ), Mindaugus Kurcenkovas(2 ), Dylan Cunningham, Eoghan Maxwell, Paul O’Brien, Stephen Tummon. Coach,Enda Byrt.
