THE season of death by a thousand cuts – or, by weekly defeats – continued for both Galway Super League sides at the weekend, with Maree failing to a 13th defeat in 18 games when losing to UCD Marian in the Men’s Super League; while University of Galway Mystics were relegated as a season-long wait for a first win of the season continues as they went 0 for 13 when losing in Killarney to St Paul’s.

Titans recent run of poor results continued in the Men’s Division One when, playing without star player Mike Hayes, they fell to a heavy defeat away to Tipp Talons; but Maigh Cuilinn prevented a local washout with an impressive win in Waterford.

MEN’S SUPER LEAGUE

UCD Marian 106

Maree 97

Lovre Tvrdic came back to haunt his former club on Saturday night, with the Croat guard helping himself to a staggering 48 points against the side he spent the 2021/22 season with to keep the Students fourth in the table as Maree fell to an eighth defeat on the spin.

The visitors looked in good shape midway through the first quarter, at one stage enjoying a six-point lead as they looked to be coping with the absence of their Spanish centre, Bernat Vanaclocha.

However, Tvrdic put on an exhibition in those opening 10 minutes, scoring 20 points to help his side into a 32-30 lead at the buzzer; but Maree dug deep, and a five-player spread of scorers in the second quarter saw the visitors edge 53-51 ahead at half-time.

Joshua McGettigan hit 14 points for Maree in the third quarter – one of five Maree players to hit double figures over the 40 minutes – as the visitors went toe-to-toe with their hosts, their lead cut by a point at 78-77 heading into the final 10 minutes, but despite McGettigan finishing the game with 14 rebounds, and both John Burke and Eoin Rockall recording seven assists apiece, the home side dominated the final quarter to clinch the win.

Maree are back on the road this Saturday to take on a St Vincent’s side that they edged by three points earlier in the season; before a refixed game with Sligo All Stars in Calasanctius College next Wednesday, February 26 (7.30pm).

Maree: M Brown (21), E Rockall (16), J McGettigan (25), J Burke (13), Z Cutuk (14), D Oyeleye (8), G Fernane, M Devaney Wynne.

Pictured: Maigh Cuilinn’s Antonio Molina and Grant Olsson combined for 30 points in the win over Waterford Vikings. Photo: Pat Shanahan.