IT was a winning weekend for three of the four Galway sides in national league action, with Maree putting down a marker against Ulster University, who they will meet in the quarter-finals of the President’s Cup next month, when running out 26-point winners in their Men’s Division One meeting in Oranmore.

Maigh Cuilinn snapped a six-game losing run with a gutsy win on the road against team North West also in Men’s Division One; while University of Galway Mystics ended a three-game losing run with a home win over Dublin Raiders in Women’s Division One.

Back in the Men’s Division One, Titans’ up-and-down season continued as they fell to a six-point defeat on the road to a Dublin Lions side that sits just behind a Portlaoise Panthers side at the top of the table that Titans lost to a week previous.

MEN’S DIVISION 1

Team North West 71

Maigh Cuilinn  89

Team North West were the unfortunate side in the wrong place at the wrong time as they faced a possessed Maigh Cuilinn outfit who showed no mercy in ending a six-game losing streak in this clash in Donegal last Saturday.

Maigh Cuilinn opened the game with an astonishing 18-0 run, playing full-court, man-to-man defence with a ferocity and collective purpose that immediately overwhelmed the home side.

North West struggled even to advance the ball across half-court as the Connemara men swarmed passing lanes, forced turnover after turnover, and converted repeatedly in transition. The first quarter ended 30-7, and in truth, the contest was already beyond repair for the hosts.

The second quarter followed a similar pattern, Maigh Cuilinn maintaining their energy and discipline to win the period 21-19 and stretch their advantage to 51-26 at the interval.

It was precisely the sort of response head coach Paul O’Brien would have demanded after a difficult month in which his side had found myriad ways to lose close contests. Here, there were no nerves, no hesitation, no letting inferior opposition linger. Maigh Cuilinn made a clear decision early: this would not be another tight finish.

To their credit, Team North West, and in particular their outstanding American import Thomas DiRienzo, refused to fold. DiRienzo, who has been the lone consistent bright spot for the Letterkenny team all season, delivered a remarkable individual performance, scoring 42 points with an array of drives, pull-ups, and deep shooting that briefly reignited the home crowd.

North West took the third quarter 28-17 as Maigh Cuilinn momentarily eased off the defensive throttle, but any thoughts of an improbable comeback, however, were quickly extinguished. Maigh Cuilinn reasserted control in the fourth quarter, winning it 21-17 and ensuring a comfortable win.

Next up is a marquee Saturday home game at the Kingfisher Arena against last season’s league and cup finalists Portlaoise Panthers (7pm).

The sides produced two dramatic, high-quality battles last year — one decided in overtime in the Cup, the other a nail-biter in the playoff quarter-finals — both of which went Portlaoise’s way.

Maigh Cuilinn: A Molina (11), G Olsson (24), I Basic (10), J Hackett (10), J Hynes (4), B Hardiman, R O’Sullivan (16), L Moloney (4), D Cunningham (8), Ray Bonar, S Tummon.

Pictured: Titan’s Matthew Sweeney in action against Antonio Molina of Maigh Cuilinn in the recent derby clash between the sides in Ballinfoile. Photo: Joe O’Shaughnessy.