Panthers maul Maree in a blistering start to Men’s National League campaign

Domino’s Men’s Division One

ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers 102 

Maree 71 

ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers made a serious statement in their opening game of the 2025/26 Domino’s Men’s Division One season, as they picked apart a Maree team looking to make an immediate return to the Super League ranks following their relegation earlier in the year.

Xabi Arriaga and the newly-signed Michael Wallace spearheaded the demolition of their Galway rivals in St Mary’s Hall on Saturday night with a combined 53 points, the latter also carding 10 assists.

Another of the new arrivals to Portlaoise, Rich Ashu also made his presence felt with 12 points and as many rebounds, Arriaga, himself, proving immense under the boards as he soaked up 13 defensive rebounds.

Their weighty contribution was more than enough to see off a Maree side, who relied heavily on Isaiah Taylor and Justin Wickham, the former bagging 24 points, while Wickham totalled 18 rebounds.

For Portlaoise head coach, Jack Scully, it was a hugely satisfying night, made all the more enjoyable by the sight of three of the club’s emerging stars, Jayden Umeh, Justice Iheme and Love Omoijade all making their National League debuts.

“I’m absolutely delighted to get the first win on the board,” Portlaoise head coach, Scully told the Laois Nationalist.

“I’m really pleased with the overall performance. I felt we worked hard at both ends of the floor all night.

“Defensively, keeping a team like that, with the options they have, to 71 points is always pleasing, but I’m delighted with the overall squad performance.

“All 11 players played, and all 11 had big moments throughout the game and contributed to the win.

“I was also delighted to give three young lads their National League debut tonight and, for them all to have big moments throughout the game, was huge as well.

“It’s a good victory, but we won’t get too excited about it. It’s only one game in, but it’s always great to get off to a winning start,” he said.

Portlaoise took every quarter on Saturday and had nine points on the board by the time Maree opened their account by way of a Justin Wickham bucket.

Arriaga was on fire throughout the opening 10 minutes, draining four of his five three-point efforts to help see Panthers lead 29-20 at the close of that quarter.

The visitors did battle back in the second period, reducing their arrears to just a solitary point, helped no end by big buckets from Taylor.

But just as the Galway side threatened a recovery, Portlaoise pushed on again with 12 unanswered points that included two timely threes from Dylan Dunne.

That, combined with buckets from Davin McEvoy, Kyle Burke and Ashe, left Panthers up 47-33 at the half-time interval, and they enlarged that gap to 21 points (81-60) by the close of the third as Arriaga and Wallace totalled a further 19 between them.

McEvoy, Kevin Donohoe and Dunne also struck from beyond the arc in that penultimate period to help see their side tighten their grip on this tie despite the best efforts of Taylor who responded with half of the 24 points he would serve up for Maree on the night.

Portlaoise refused to take their foot off the pedal in the final quarter, as Cillian Cannon’s deuce for Maree was met with 10 unanswered points from the hosts, Umeh and Wallace serving up baskets either side of a big three from Arriaga.

Indeed, Portlaoise outgunned their guests by ten in the fourth to ensure there would be no late Maree recovery, Umeh’s fellow National League debutants, Iheme and Omoijade all chalking up points to see the hosts surpass the century mark and leave themselves on a sound footing ahead of next Saturday’s trip to Malahide.

Panthers boss, Scully is anticipating a very strong test by the Dublin side, who will be looking to put up their first W of the campaign after having been edged out 80-77 by Drogheda Wolves in their respective National League opener on Sunday.

“We’ll refocus now as we prepare to head to Malahide next week which will be a much tougher assignment” stressed Scully.

“The National League, I think, is wide open, and every week is going to be tough, but we’re just delighted to get off to a winning start,” he said.

ND AUDIT PORTLAOISE PANTHERS: Dylan Dunne, Michael Wallace, Jayden Umeh, Trevor Swayne, Davin McEvoy, Kevin Donohoe, Rich Ashu, Xabi Arriaga, Love Omoijade, Kyle Burke Justice Iheme.

Top Scorers: Xabi Arriaga (30), Michael Wallace (23), Rich Ashu (12), Dylan Dunne (9).

MAREE: Mark Wynne, Isaiah Taylor, Daniel Oyeleye, Rinor Dragusha, Huw Bevan, Cillian Cannon, Brian McGrath, Jake Morris, John Burke, Justin Wickham.

Top Scorers: Isaiah Taylor (24), Cillian Cannon (13), Justin Wickham (13).