Moycullen look to repeat earlier win over Killester
Moycullen's American player Patrick Sullivan scores in the Nivea For Men’s SuperLeague game against UCD Marian at NUI Galway Kingfisher on Saturday. Photo:-Mike Shaughnessy
Moycullen Basketball are back on the road this weekend in search of their sixth SuperLeague win, and they will face Killester with confidence when they clash in Clontarf on Saturday (8pm).
On the last occasion the two sides met Moycullen claimed a valuable 79-58 home win against a side they have traditionally struggled to overcome with Patrick O’Sullivan (23) player/coach Salvador Camps, Cian Nihill and Paul O’Brin spearheading the attack.
However Moycullen can expect a backlash from Killester this weekend as the Dubliners seek to consolidate their top four position.
Both sides lost to Dublin Inter in last weekend’s double headers, but Moycullen started the weekend positively when they claimed their fifth SuperLeague win of the season in NUI Galway.
In a high-scoring encounter with UCD Marian on Saturday, the home side came from behind to finish 91-78 winners.
Moycullen enjoyed a good start with Cian Nihill and Pat Sullivan, in particular, sharing 10 of Moycullen’s 19 first-quarter points.
The second quarter continued to be evenly matchedwith Stephen Tummon doing a great job crashing the boards and picking up baskets on offensive rebounds. UCD Marian edged in front for a 39-38 half-time lead before Moycullen player/coach Salva Camps and Pat Sullivan led the charge in the third quarter, combining for 20 points. At the defensive end Moycullen did a better job containing Vigliano, but they struggled to stop Kev Foley, who scored 11 points in the third quarter, as UCD entered the final period with a two-point lead, 64-62.
However in the final quarter Moycullen upped their defensive intensity, holding UCD to 14 points. Camps continued to carry the Galway side on the offensive end, finishing with a game high 31 points as Moycullen ran out winners.
In the second game of the double header Moycullen faced a resilient Dublin Inter side that were fresh from a victory against Killester on Friday night. Moycullen struggled with the Dublin side’s three-point shooting ability, while at the offensive end Moycullen relyied on the dynamic duo of Salva Camps and Pat Sullivan in the early stages, as they combined for 13 of Moycullen’s first quarter points.
However Moycullen continued to struggle on the defensive end as Dublin capitalised from the free throw line, scoring eight free throws in the quarter. Although Sullivan, aided by Nollaig Cunningham and Paul O’Brien, worked hard at the other end, Dublin Inter went in at the half leading 47-38.
The second half continued much as the first as Moycullen failed to deal with Dublin Inter’s inside duo of Statkus and Tamusauskas who combined for an impressive 41 points on the day as the visitors ran out comfortable winners.
Moycullen: Pat Sullivan (21), Salva Camps (13), Paul O’Brien (13), Nollaig Cunningham (7), James O’Brien (4), Patrick Lyons (2), Dylan Costelloe (2), Ian Burke (2), Stephen Tummon (2), Rory Gilson.
