With a pep in their step, Moycullen head up the motorway to face title holders Templeogue on Saturday (6pm ) after last weekend's superb victory over Thunder.
That 84-74 victory over last year’s National Cup winners has given the Moycullen men greater confidence ahead of this trip to Dublin as they test themselves against last year’s league winners.
“We face a run of games now where, on paper, others might have us as underdogs," says Moycullen guard Patrick Lyons. "But the Thunder game would have been one of those too, so we won’t be fearing anyone going forward."
Last weekend's win in the Jes was significant for the Moycullen team. They surged to their fourth straight Super League victory, just one win behind league leaders UCD Marion.
“We have hit a really nice patch of form. Taking a win over one of the pre-season favourites for the title makes a bit of statement,” says Moycullen guard Patrick Lyons. “What is nice is that we really dominated the game from the start. We took a lead after five minutes and held it to the end.”
An explosive second-quarter offensive display paved the way for this win after nine first-quarter points from Lyons settled the home side. And coupled with some stellar team defence, the home team established an early lead.
They then launched what was probably their best offensive quarter of the season, producing 29 in the period. Brandon McGuire and Cian Nihill helped to put more daylight between the two sides by half-time break, Moycullen leading 44-34.
Moycullen’s growing maturity truly showed after half-time as they continued to restrict Thunder scoring, but the visitors threw caution to the wind in the final quarter. A series of Moycullen turnovers briefly promised a Thunder comeback as they closed the gap to just five with two minutes on the clock. However Moycullen captain James Loughnane showed his leadership qualities with a superb drive to the basket, while a steady hand at the free-throw line from Brandon McGuire put the result beyond doubt.
Moycullen’s next home game is on November 18 when they will take on Belfast Star in NUI Galway.
Moycullen scorers: Brandon McGuire (26 ), Patrick Lyons (17 ), Cian Nihill (14 ), Paul Freeman (14 ), Dylan Cunningham (8 ), James Loughnane (5 ), Stephen Tummon, Joseph Tummon, Kyle Cunningham, Paul Kelly, James Lyons, Conor Curran. Coach, John Cunningham.
