Ireland Kick Off FIBA Euros For Small Countries With Win

JoeNa Connacht — Wed, 21 Jul 2021 10:42:17 +0000

Ireland 104-33 Andorra

Ireland Women kicked-off their FIBA European Championship For Small Countries campaign in Nicosia, Cyprus with a 71-point victory over Andorra.

The game marks their first match since 2019 after they were forced into a Covid-induced break, and also their first win.

Ireland started as they meant to go on with the offensive power of the side proving to be too much for the Andorran defence early on.

Dayna Finn, who was on her debut, led the side in scoring on the night with 14 points and was an important figure at the start of the game.

Finn helped her side gain a commanding 17-0 lead and James Weldon’s side marched on from there, never letting go of the advantage they had.

Edel Thornton was the thorn in the Andorrans’ sides as she racked up three steals in the first quarter alone.

Ireland upped their game in the second quarter, posting 32 points – their largest haul in any quarter.

The side’s defensive rebounds were instrumental in their attacking display as their counter-attacks proved lethal against the Andorran defence.

The Andorrans suffered an error-filled display courtesy of the hard work and tenacity of the likes of Thornton and Rachel Huijsdens.

Hower, Noah Mico Lorenzo and Cristina Andres Rabasa showed up for their country and put up double-digit points.

Through this solid defence, the Irish continued to have unanswered high-scoring runs.

The side finished the game with 36 defensive rebounds and 27 offensive rebounds, including the one that led to the lay-up Grainne O’Dwyer pounced on to break the 100-point barrier.

Weldon and co. will be impressed with their showing in the opener in Nicosia and will now look towards a game against Malta on Thursday afternoon.

Ireland: Michelle Clarke (9), Aine McKenna (10), Dayna Finn (14), Claire Rockall (7), Rachel Huijsdens (9), Grainne Dwyer (11), Edel Thornton (4), Fiona O’Dwyer (10), Claire Melia (9), Hannah Thornton (5), Sorcha Tiernan (12), Aine O’Connor (4).

Andorra: Cristina Andres Rabasa (10), Noah Mico Lorenzo (13), Laura Laurent Marrugat, Mariona Palou Vidal, Carla Solana Perez (2), Claudia Brunet Solano (6), Julia Marquez Tomas (2), Anna Mana Buscall, Patricia Meira Gallego, Mireia Magrinya Alonso, Cloe Torcuato Rodriguez (DNP).

To see the recently announced Men’s squad, click here.

The post Ireland Kick Off FIBA Euros For Small Countries With Win appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Ireland FIBA European Championship For Small Countries Squad Named

JoeNa Connacht — Wed, 21 Jul 2021 10:16:03 +0000

Ireland National Basketball Team head coach Mark Keenan has finalised his 12-man squad for the FIBA European Championship for Small Countries.

Jason Killeen has been given the captaincy for the tournament and is one of three Griffith College players in the squad.

The Griffith College star will want to follow on in the footsteps of Keenan and captain Ireland to glory at an international tournament in Dublin.

Lorcan Murphy and Neil Randolph are also part of the Ireland squad for the competition.

UCC Demons’ Kyle Hosford will be the Ireland vice-captain for the FIBA competition.

The tournament will take place in less than three weeks’ time at the National Basketball Arena in Dublin, from August 10-15th.

Speaking about his selection for the FIBA European Championship for Small Countries, Ireland head coach Mark Keenan said: “As a coaching staff we are delighted with the squad selection we have made. It was a very difficult task as we anticipated at the start of the programme that many great players would not make the final tournament squad.

“From 2019 to now we have worked with a group of approximately 30 players in total. All have contributed greatly to the progress of the team and I consider all those players as still being a part of our extended squad and part of our group.

“I would like to thank all those players for their dedication, hard work and desire for wanting to be part of this Irish senior men’s team.”

Twice-capped CJ Fulton has made the squad with Will Hanley joining him on the teamsheet, in line for his international debut at the tournament.

Hanley and Power Forward Jason Blount will be the two unsigned players on the side.

Four players who played European basketball last season are included – John Carroll (Albacete), Adrian O’Sullivan (Aquimisa Carbajosa), Jordan Blount (Aquimisa Carbajosa) and Sean Flood (Arvato College Wizards), however both Blount and Flood are now unattached and have yet to reveal where they’ll be playing next season.

Tralee Warriors forward Eoin Quigley and Pryrobel Killester point guard Ciaran Roe complete the squad.

Ireland will play their opening fixture against Andorra on August 10th, with games against San Marino, Gibraltar and Monaco also scheduled for the 12th, 14th and 15th respectively.

Ireland Men’s Squad For FIBA EC for SC

CJ Fulton (Lafayette College)

Ciaran Roe (Pyrobel Killester)

Kyle Hosford (UCC Demons) (VC)

Sean Flood (Unsigned)

Lorcan Murphy (Griffith College Templeogue)

Neil Randolph (Griffith College Templeogue)

Adrian O’Sullivan (Aquimisa Carbajosa)

Jordan Blount (Unsigned)

Eoin Quigley (Tralee Warriors)

Will Hanley (Unsigned)

John Carroll (Albacete)

Jason Killeen (Griffith College Templeogue) C

Replacements

Isaac Westbrooks (Pyrobel Killester)

Aidan Quinn (Belfast Star)

Stephen James (Griffith College Templeogue)

James Gormley (Griffith College Templeogue)

The post Ireland FIBA European Championship For Small Countries Squad Named appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

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