IT was a dream weekend for Galway’s two men’s Division One sides, with Maigh Cuillinn securing home wins over both Team Northwest and St Paul’s Killarney; while Titans also made home court advantage count with victory over Dublin Lions.

The news was not so good for the two Super League sides, with Maree pipped by UCC Demons in Oranmore on Friday night; while University of Galway Mystics were toppled at home to Portlaoise Panthers on Saturday as they still remain without a win all season.

MEN’S SUPER LEAGUE

Maree 97

UCC Demons 100

Miles Brown threw in 36 points for Maree in front of barely 50 supporters in Oranmore on Friday night, and the home side also held Demons dangerman, Elijah Tillman, to just 10 points, but it still wasn’t enough for the home side to claim the win as a season to forget can’t end quick enough.

Josh McGettigan’s 3-point attempt with six seconds to go to force overtime, but his shot hit the rim, and while Brown claimed the rebound under the basket, he was unable to swing the ball wide for another shot at a game-tying score.

There was little between the sides throughout, with Demons enjoying a 29-20 lead at the end of the first quarter after dominating the final four minutes of that opening period, going on a 12-1 run of scores at one stage to open a double-digit lead between the sides.

Maree went to work at the start of the second quarter and managed to get the gap back to three points a couple of times, before their own 7-0 run saw them take a 42-40 lead with just over two minutes of the half remaining, but Demons once again finished strong to lead 49-46 at half-time.

The sides traded scores in the third quarter, with Demons always keeping their noses in front until a purple patch saw the beaten cup finalists open another double-digit lead midway through the quarter, but Maree showed incredible guts, holding their visitors scoreless in the final four minutes of the quarter and scoring 12 points of their own to leave the sides tied at 71-apiece heading into the final 10 minutes.

Maree had the momentum and led by five points just short of the midway point in that final quarter, and by three points with three minutes remaining, but Demons wore them down as they went top of the standings.

Maree are in the Kingfisher Arena this Saturday when they take on Tralee Warriors (7pm)

Maree: M Brown (36, E Rockall (7), J McGettigan (19), B Vanaclocha (17), Z Cutuk (4), J Burke (8), H Bevan (5), D Oyeleye (1).

Pictured: Kara McCleane hit 22 points for University of Galway Mystics in their defeat to Portlaoise Panthers over the weekend.