Basketball Ireland announce coaching appointments for U14 & U15 Four Nations

Basketball Ireland has appointed four academy coaches, Elaine Scally (U14 Girls), Keith Daly (U14 Boys), Ian Lynch (U15 Girls) and Gareth O'Reilly (U15 Boys) to lead our respective programmes at the Four Nations tournament in May and June.

The Four Nations tournament comprises of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales and has previously been contested at U16 and U18 level. Basketball Ireland hosted the U16 grade in both 2023 and 2024 at the National Basketball Arena in Dublin, with both the boys and girls reaching the final against England in consecutive years, including capturing the U16 boys crown two years ago. This is the first time it will be played at U14 and U15 level. 

The U14 Four Nations will be held in East Kilbride, Scotland between June 13th and 15th, while the U15 Four Nations is set to take place in the National Basketball Performance Centre in Manchester from May 30th to June 1st. 

Ireland U15 Girls - Elaine Scally 

Elaine Scally will take charge of the U14 girls programme, assisted by Kelly Ahern and Jenn Dinan. Scally has previous international experience as an assistant coach with the U20 and U16 women's teams, while she is in her 6th year coaching in the Basketball Ireland Academy. She's also been involved in coaching with her club Drogheda Wolves for the last decade and lead their U14 girls side to the AIG All-Ireland Club Championship Division 1 title in 2024. 

Elaine Scally during her time as assistant coach on Ireland U16 women's team. 

Speaking on her appointment, Scally said: 

"It's an incredible honour to have this opportunity to coach at this level . I am really excited about this age group and it will show the amazing underage talent we have in this country. Representing your country at any age level is extremely special so to be able to share this journey for the first time with these players and staff will be extra special."

"This is the first year the Four Nations Tournament is being held at under 14 level . It's extremely exciting as in reality its "expect the unexpected" so for me it gives us a great opportunity to showcase what we have been working on in our academies. These players have started on their academy journey with Basketball Ireland from under 14 level and some younger. For them to have this amazing opportunity and to wear the green jersey for the first time is just amazing."

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Ireland U14 Boys - Keith Daly

Keith Daly has been appointed head coach of the U14 boys, assisted by Dave Barry and Jake Tiernan. Daly is coming off the back of his first season as head coach of Catalyst Fr. Mathews in the Domino's Women's Super League adding to his resume with Neptune BC, where he was in charge of their U18 programme for four seasons, winning an U18 National Cup in 2020. He acted as assistant coach to their Domino's Men's Super League team last season. Daly has been part of the Basketball Ireland Academy since 2022, running the U14 South Boys Academy before switching to the U15 Boys Munster Regional head coach this year. 

Keith Daly coaches Catalyst Fr. Mathews during the Domino's Women's Super League this season. 

"I am incredibly honoured to be appointed as the Irish U14 Boys coach, " said Daly. Developing young talent and fostering a passion for the game at this level is a privilege. I look forward to working with Dave Barry & Jake Tiernan in helping these players grow both on and off the court as we build for the future of Irish basketball."

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Ireland U15 Girls - Ian Lynch

Ian Lynch has been selected as head coach of the U15 girls team, working with Shauna Kavanagh and Sara Persson. Lynch is a former head coach with Swords Thunder in Domino's Women's Division One, most recently working as an assistant coach on the Griffith College Éanna team who won the Men's Super League title last year. At international level, the Dubliner has been assistant coach on three FIBA U16 Women's Youth EuroBasket teams, while his work in the Basketball Ireland Academy has included stints at U17, U14 and currently the U15 Girls Leinster Regional programme.

 Ian Lynch (right) while acting as an assistant coach at FIBA Youth EuroBasket. 

"It’s an honour to be selected as head coach for the u15 Irish girls team in the first year of changing the Four Nations to an u15 tournament. It's very exciting for myself, Shauna and Sara to be part of that history. We are well aware that there is some great talent at this age group and we are excited to get down to work on the challenge ahead and continue developing that talent ahead of this June.”

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Ireland U15 Boys - Gareth O'Reilly 

Gareth O'Reilly will lead the U15 boys programme for the Four Nations, assisted by Gareth Winders and Pat Curran. O'Reilly is very experienced at international level, having been involved in the U16, U18 and U20 men's set-ups between 2018 and 2023, including as assistant coach during Ireland's victory at the U16 Men's Four Nations tournament at the National Basketball Arena in 2023. He started coaching in the Basketball Ireland Academy in 2020 as head coach of the U17 Men's Academy until 2022, before taking on a role in the Dublin Regional Academy in August 2024. O'Reilly is heavily involved in his club UCD Marian, working as an assistant coach on their Domino's Men's Super League team and their underage teams, having previously won two NICC Cup's with the club as coach. He also coaches at schools level with St. Andrew's College. 

 Gareth O'Reilly watches on during a Basketball Ireland Academy scrimmage. 

"I would like to thank Basketball Ireland for the opportunity to coach the U15 team in the upcoming Four Nations,"  said O'Reilly. I am looking forward to selecting a team, in close collaboration with the academy coaches from around the country, that can compete against England, Scotland and Wales. Most importantly these games will provide an opportunity for the players to continue their development as they enter international competition for the very first time."