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Maigh Cuilinn upset odds

MAIGH Cuilinn and Titans kept themselves right in the race for the play-offs in Men’s Division One action at the weekend, but Maree slumped to another defeat in the Men’s Super League.

University of Galway Mystics’ game against Killester in the Women’s Super League was postponed, so they have to wait until this Saturday (Kingfisher, 3:30pm) for another shot at getting a first win of the season on the board when they host a Portlaoise Panthers side that sits on a 5-7 record.

MEN’S SUPER ELAGUE

Killorglin 85

Maree 82

A Beni Fungula three-pointer with 10 seconds remaining proved the difference in the end as Killorglin heaped more misery on a season to forget to a Maree side that has appointed a new head coach.

Gavin Garland has come on board as a replacement for Fernando Bethencourt – Bethencourt’s assistant, Ciaran McGroggan, has been operating as assistant coach since Bethencourt left in mid-November.

The side will hope for an immediate bounce in form when they host defeated cup finalists, UCC Demons, this Friday in Calasanctius College (7.45pm), but he will have a lot of work to do with a side that is blown of confidence and playing with the almost certain fate of relegation at the end of the season.

Mind you, they showed incredible guts down in Kerry on Saturday, overhauling a 21-point deficit to lead by seven points two minutes into the fourth quarter after Huw Bevan nailed a 3-pointer, but the effort of that fightback had drained them and Killorglin rallied to finish strongly and claim the win.

Josh McGettigan and Miles Brown combined for 44 points for Maree, but they were eclipsed by Jeffrey Okeke and Irish international, Jordan Blount, who together bagged 45 points and 15 rebounds for the home side.

A slow start by Maree left them trailing by double points at the end of the first quarter, Okeke hitting 10 points alone in the quarter to ease the home side into a 26-13 lead; and a free-throw from Okeke just past the midway point in the second quarter had his side 45-24 in front with only one outcome looking likely.

Maree dug deep, however, and a stunning third quarter performance in which they outscored their hosts 28-12 saw them right back in the game, Brown (14) and McGettigan (12) leading the way on offence.

That saw Maree trail 64-63, and Rockall drained a 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter to give them an improbable lead. When Bevan added his own score from distance two minutes into the quarter, Maree led 73-66 and looked like heading to an improbable win, but Killorglin outscored them 19-9 down the stretch to seal the win.

Maree: M Brown (20), E Rockall (14), J McGettigan (24), B Vanaclocha (2), Z Cutuk (12), J Burke (7), H Bevan (3), D Oy.

Pictured: Dylan Cunningham hit 21 points for Maigh Cuilinn in their win over Killarney Cougars on Saturday.

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