The bonfires were blazing in Moycullen on Saturday night after An Cearnog Nua, Moycullen were crowned this year’s National Basketball Cup winners.
A trademark defensive performance saw Moycullen clinch a first National Cup with a dominant 25-point victory over old rivals Castleisland on Saturday afternoon in Dublin.
Dominating from start to finish, Moycullen’s superb team performance ensured captain Nollaig Cunningham lifted the cup - a fitting reward for a club that has been a long time seeking a second national title to add to their All Ireland Club title of 2000.
The victory is a reflection of the club’s development policy with 11 of the 12 players on duty having come through its underage programme - the 12th man being Mindaugus Kurcenkovas who has played for the club for the last three seasons.
Coached by Zbigniew Mardon, who took over from Gerry Nihill, Moycullen’s European approach to training and, in particular, to the team’s defence, helped them limit Castleisland to just 42 points - thus ensuring a deserved victory for the westerners.
Moycullen did have some worrying times prior to the tip-off when captain Cunningham suffered a recurrence of a calf injury picked up in training during the week. However with heavy strapping and some physio, he was able to lead his team to victory.
From the start Moycullen put down a marker with Glenn Hynes posting a pair of early scores. The dangerous Dainius Varanauskas and John Galvin replied for St Mary’s, but Moycullen, and Hynes in particular, were in rhythm early. Two three-pointers from Hynes and Nihill stretched the lead as the Moycullen defence caused Castleisland problems. James Loughnane all but shared a jersey with Declan Wall, while Nollaig Cunningham and Garnett Griffin contained Galvin close to the hoop. And with Eoghan Maxwell doing his usual excellent defensive job on Varanauskas with help from Cian Nihill, the quarter ended with the westerners up by 10, 19-9.
The confidence flowed from Moycullen as James Loughnane, Paul O’Brien (who gave a superb performance off the bench ) and Hynes again all connected on threes to further stretch the lead. When the Castleisland defence pushed out on the shooters, Moycullen went inside with Nollaig Cunningham picking up a pair of scores. Castleisland enjoyed a mini-run with Brian Clernon and Tommy Fleming nailing three-pointers and Michael Broderick matching Cunningham’s inside scores, but Moycullen had stretched the lead to 42-26 at half time.
With Eoghan Maxwell picking up an injury, Nihill took over the job on Varanauskas and continued to frustrate the Lithuanian. When he got in foul trouble, Mindaugus Kurcenkovas matched up with his country man and did a superb job. With Cunningham also struggling, Garnett Griffin, the inspired Paul O’Brien, and Dylan Cunningham came into the game. But it was the game’s MVP Nihill who put on an offensive show to extend the lead to 56-31.
With the battle already won, the final quarter was something of an anti-climax. Kurcenkovas provided some highlights with his superb athleticism, while Loughnane continued his wasp-like defence. Glenn Hynes was taking nothing for granted as he dove for every loose ball, but, in truth, the celebrations had already begun. This allowed Varanauskas some freedom and he showed what he could do given space, connecting on six points, but an 11-11 share of the quarter was enough to give Moycullen a magnificent 67-42 victory.
An Cearnog Nua, Moycullen: Cian Nihill (17 ), Glenn Hynes (13 ), James Loughnane (10 ), Mindaugus Kurcenkovas (8 ), Paul O’Brien (7 ), Garnett Griffin (6 ), Nollaig Cunningham (4 ), Dylan Cunningham (2 ), Eoghan Maxwell, David Lee, James Brophy, Gerald Lyons, James O’Brien. Coach: Zbigniew Mardon
Team Garveys, St Mary’s, Castleisland; Dainius Varanauskas (14 ), John Galvin (11 ), Brian Clernon (7 ), Michael Broderick (5 ), Tommy Fleming (3 ), Declan Wall (2 ), Maurice Casey, Niall Muphy, Conor Brosnan, Joe Watson, Donal McCarthy, Liam Brosnan. Coach: Brian Clernon.
