Moycullen coach Nollaig Cunningham still fuming at Templeogue controversy

Killester produced a season best performance last week to thrash Belfast Star in the Men’s Premier National Cup and will hope to build on that effort tomorrow when they travel to play Moycullen, whose coach is still fuming about the treatment of his players last week.

The Dublin side trailed by 12 points from their first leg National Cup clash in Belfast, but won by 39 in Clontarf and with ace Irish player Paul Dick returning to full fitness, they could pose many teams problems for the remainder of this campaign.

Moycullen were involved in a competitive cup tie with Templeogue, with two of their players sent off before half time and Conor Grace of Templeogue also red-carded.

The Galway side eventually lost by the minimum, with coach Nollaig Cunningham particularly upset by the invident.

“Both Ronan O’Sullivan and Dylan Cunningham were totally innocent and the Templeogue player will have some questions to answer when the disciplinary committee see the tape of what actually happened,” Cunningham said.

The Moycullen chief believes the action of the officials possibly cost his side a place in the semi final.

“Ronan and Dylan had scored 18 of our 36 points at that stage of the game and in my book we would have won if they weren’t dismissed,” added Cunningham, who insists the standard of officiating at the top level of basketball in this country must be improved.

“No matter what job you do in there is always accountability attached to it but for me that’s the one word missing from referees in this country.

“It takes a lot of fundraising and time to play in this league but luckily the tape of our game will vindicate what I am saying and my players should escape punishment but I am still hurt by the fact we lost the game.” Belfast Star were left reeling following their cup exit to Killester and they will be hoping to get back on the winning track when they host UCD Marian.

DCU Saints have improved since signing athletic American Duane Johnson and his credentials will be tested when his side entertain UL Eagles.

It has been a tough season for the DCU coach Joey Boylan but he is happy with the progress his young side are making.

“We are improving as Duane has added a new dimension to our squad and hopefully we will be able to compete with UL,” Boylan said.

Swords Thunder have defeated Eanna twice in the National Cup and they should have little difficulty chalking up win number three at the Alsaa gym.

There is an interesting series of games in the Women’s Premier league with the champions Team Montenotte travelling to Waterford to take on the in-form WIT Wildcats.

Montenotte qualified for the National Cup semi-final by virtue of a hard-earned win over fellow Cork side Brunell but coach Mark Scannell is relatively happy with the progress of his side.

“There seems to be a lot of clubs doing a lot of shouting in recent times but I never remember trophies been handed out in December,” Scannell said.

“I have always aimed for my teams to be ready for January and that hasn’t changed because deep down I know we will be up for battle at the appropriate time.”

The bad news for Montenotte is that their ace forward Grainne Dwyer is considered a major doubt with an ankle injury picked up against Brunell.