An Cearnog Nua, Moycullen, in suffering their first loss of the season at the weekend, must move on in what looks like being a highly competitive division one season in the National League.
It does not get any easier with Castleisland up next at 4pm in NUIG on Saturday. Castleisland, having added depth to last year’s panel with the addition of ex-Superleague players Brian Clernon and Darius Varanauskas, are currently unbeaten with three wins.
Last weekend Moycullen played in the first of a number of double headers. On Saturday evening in Limerick, they achieved the expected win on the road against the Limerick based Lithuanians by 77 - 62, but on Sunday they faced a different challenge againt Lisburn Star, who, having arrived Galway on the back of a solid win in Ballina the previous night.
Moycullen rested many of their key players for Saturday’s fixture against A Taste of Europe and cruised to a 15-point win
Early scores from Garnett Griffin, Cian Nihill, and the returning Mindaugus Kurcenkovas established the pattern and good defence saw Moycullen give limited opportunities to their opponents. By the end of the first quarter, the margin was 15 points, 22-7 and the contest was already decided.
Moycullen used the second half to give their younger stars a chance to feature. James O’Brien and James Brophy joined their more established u-18 team mate Dylan Cunningham and logged some useful minutes while Gerald Lyons did a solid job as well. Neil Cantwell came it at the point and confidently knocked down five points.
On Sunday, however, the level of competition was considerably stronger.
Cian Nihill connecting on their first six points, while at the other end Marcus Conigliaro, an American in the North on the “Playing for Peace” programme, nailed 11 for Lisburn Star. Mindaugus Kurcenkovas came off the bench for Moycullen to hit a couple of lay-ups and nothing separated the teams at the quarter, 20-20.
The second quarter was a tighter affair with both defences stepping up their performance, although a couple of missed chances proved costly with the visitors taking a 35-33 lead.
Moycullen’s offensive production dropped drastically as they struggled with the solid Lisburn defence, and despite limiting Lisburn to 14, they trailed by four, 47-43 entering the fourth.
With the game still to be won, Lisburn matched every Moycullen score before pulling ahead to take the game by 77-61.
An Cearnog Nua, Moycullen v A Taste of Europe: Garnett Griffin (21 ), Paul O’Brien (10 ), Mindaugus Kurcenkovas (9 ), Nollaig Cunningham (8 ), Dylan Cunningham (8 ), Eoghan Maxwell (5 ), Cian Nihill (6 ), Glenn Hynes (5 ), Neil Cantwell (5 ), James Brophy, James O’Brien, Gerald Lyons.
An Cearnog Nua, Moycullen v Lisburn Star: Cian Nihill (18 ), Mindaugus Kurcenkovas (17 ), Garnett Griffin(10 ), Eoghan Maxwell (6 ), Glenn Hynes (6 ), Paul O’Brien (2 ), Nollaig Cunningham (2 ), Dylan Cunningham, Neil Cantwell, James Brophy, James O’Brien, Gerald Lyons. Coach: Zbigniew Mardon.
