SSE Renewables Moycullen will be hoping to build on their improved performances when they welcome joint top-of-the-table Killester to the Jes on Saturday.
After last week’s excellent win against Templeogue, SSE Renewables Moycullen were edged out by Dublin Inter (71-65 ) in last Saturday’s round 15 of Basketball Ireland’s premier league.
Some excellent three-point shooting from the experienced Dublin oufit put them into an early lead, but with Paul O’Brien running the lanes to get some great fast break scores, SSE Renewables Moycullen stayed very much in the game. However, just when it appeared that Moycullen had weathered the early storm, Inter hit back-to-back threes at the end of the quarter to leave eight between the teams.
A better start to the second saw them keep pace with the home side, but with Mike Callaghan once again getting some harsh treatment inside, it was Dylan Cunningham who led the young Moycullen team in scoring, with help from Stephen O’Brien. At the end of the half there the gap had decreased to six.
With better defence at the start of the third quarter, Moycullen looked to make headway, but each time Inter responded and with six minutes left in the contest, the gap had increased to 14 points.
Moycullen, to their credit, responded magnificently. Some excellent defence from the team, but in particular Eoghan Maxwell and Cunningham, led to turnovers and shot clock violations and, with Callaghan eventually having broken free from the Dublin Inter shackles, the lead was tumbling. After Maxwell made two free throws, the gap was down to five points with 40 seconds to go. Once again excellent defence led to a turnover and SSE Renewables had the ball with an opportunity to bring the gap down yet again.
However, a baffling decision gave two free throws and the ball back to Inter. An excellent steal by Cunningham and finish from O’Brien saw the gap down to four, but Inter were able to run the clock out and Moycullen were left with at least a losing bonus point.
Moycullen: Mike Callaghan 19, Dylan Cunningham 15, Paul O’Brien 15, Stephen O’Brien 8, Eoghan Maxwell 6, Darragh Mulkerrins 2, Ronan O’Sullivan, Tomas Gilson, Gerald Lyons, Ian Burke, Nollaig Cunningham.
