NUIG Maree upset the odds with stunning first round win

NUIG Maree produced the shock of the round on the opening weekend of the four National Cup competitions when ending the reign of defending champions, Templeogue, in a thriller at the NUIG Kingfisher.

It was Maree’s first-ever win in a cup tie in the top flight, and will give the side a massive lift after suffering back-to-back defeats on the road in the league in the past two weeks to the Cork duo of Neptune and Ballincollig

Titans were the only other Galway side in cup action, and the city club is still looking for a first win of the season as their President’s National Cup hopes were ended in UL by Limerick Sport Eagles.

The two other Galway clubs, Moycullen (Pat Duffy Cup) and NUIG Mystics (Women’s Division 1 Cup) were both given first round byes, but will be in action in the next round on the weekend of December 4 & 5.

In the Pat Duffy Cup, NUIG Maree will be at home to UCD Marian in the quarter-finals, while on the other side of the draw Moycullen make the trek to Kerry to take on Tralee. NUIG Mystics will host defending champions, Portlaoise Panthers, in the quarter-finals of the Women’s Division 1 Cup,

NUIG Maree   85

Templeogue    83

NUIG Maree overcame a 17-point first quarter deficit to dump star-studded cup holders Templeogue out of this year’s Pat Duffy Cup at the first hurdle.

Three members of the Irish squad that won the European Championships for Small Countries in August – Jason Killeen, Lorcan Murphy, and Neil Randolph – were in the Templeogue side last Saturday. In addition, the coaching duo that led Ireland to that first European title in 27 years, Mark Keenan and Lawrence ‘Puff’ Summers, are the head coach (Keenan) and player/assistant coach (Summers) with the Dublin side.

It looked like being a comfortable trip west for the visitors as they raced into an early 21-4 lead in the first quarter, forcing Maree head coach Charlie Crowley into an early time-out to try and steady the ship, and at the end of the opening 10 minutes he had done just that with his side clawing back the deficit to trail 25-20 at the first hooter, with seven different home players getting on the scoresheet.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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