Poor first half proves costly for Moycullen
Moycullen 68 Bord Gais Neptune 90
Moycullen can look forward to a weekend off from Superleague action to lick their wounds before travelling to UCD to face Marian on November 3.
The break in games will come as welcome news for head coach Salva Camps after his team put in their worst performance of the season in a disastrous first half against Neptune of Cork on Saturday.
Both teams were looking for their first win of the 2012/13 campaign and it was the visitors who showed a far greater hunger for the battle than Moycullen.
Early baskets from Ger Noonan and Ian McLoughlin set the tone for Neptune, who instantly jumped out to a 10-point lead.
Trailing by 21 points entering the second half, Moycullen made a brave re-start and did begin to stage what was nearly a miraculous comeback.
A transformed Paddy Lyons began to push the ball up the court, creating a multitude of problems for Neptune. With increasing penetration into the lane, Lyons was able to set up his teammates for easy shots, as well as source some breathtaking baskets for himself.
Moycullen continued to narrow the gap and, aided by a hot streak of shooting by 17-years-old Stephen O'Brien, who made four big shots in the fourth quarter, they found themselves trailing by just eight with five minutes remaining.
The growing excitement in the NUI Galway Kingfisher hall was dampened, however, when Moycullen coach Salva Camps was given a technical foul for criticising the referees.
A contentious call, it quenched the comeback as Neptune connected on four points from the resulting free throws and possession.
Trailing by 12 with just over three minutes, Moycullen threw caution to the wind and were duly punished by a Neptune side determined to make amends for their three previous close losses so far this season.
Two gut-wrenching three-pointers by Cork guard Ian McLoughlin ended all hopes for the home fans as Neptune ran out deserving 90-68 winners.
Moycullen: Pat Sullivan (19), Stephen O'Brien (14), Patrick Lyons (10),Dylan Costello (7), James O'Brien (6), Steven Tummon (4), Cian Nihill (4), Ian Burke (2), Nollaig Cunningham (2), Paul O'Brien, Sean Candon.
