Moycullen come up short against favourites in U-18 Boys National Cup Final

Date Published: 31-Jan-2013

Belfast Star 68

Moycullen 57

Moycullen came up short in the club’s first ever appearance in the U-18 National Cup Final, losing to a classy Belfast Star team that completed a club double, having won the U-19 title earlier in the day.

Moycullen entered the game as slight underdogs, and Belfast lived up to their status as favourites early on as they raced into an early 8-0 lead as Conor Quinn had the hot hand, connecting on two 3-point shots to start the game.

As the quarter wore on Moycullen began to settle into the game as Paddy Lyons and Stephen O’Brien in particular found their scoring touch as they combined for 13 points in the first quarter which Moycullen trailed 23-19.

The second quarter was another close affair as both teams really stepped up their defensive intensity with Sean Candon and Stephen O’Brien doing an excellent job defending Belfast two 6-8 inside players, while Darragh Mulkerrins, Mark Rohan and Paddy Lyons shared the responsibility of guarding Belfast’s Aidan and Conor Quinn.

Belfast held the slight lead at the end of the first half 35-32 with Conor Quinn leading the way for Belfast with a total of 17 first half points while Stephen O’Brien continued where he left off in the first quarter by scoring 16 first half points for the Galway team.

Belfast went on a scoring run in the third quarter, giving themselves a 10-point lead midway through the period. Belfast were doing an excellent job switching their defences as Moycullen’s usually free flowing offence really struggled to gain any sort of momentum in the 3rd period.

The introduction of Joseph Tummon off the bench seemed to settle Moycullen back into the game as he scored six straight points towards the end of the third period.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.