International

Jun 19 2023

GALLERY: Ireland impress at FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup Qualifier

Ireland impressed on the European stage at the weekend as both our men's and women's team put in strong showings at the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup Qualifier in Cyprus.

The men's team of Jordan Blount, Cian Heaphy, Patrick Lyons and Matt Treacy lost out agonisingly to hosts Cyrpus in overtime in the final, while Ireland's women Grainne Dwyer, Enya Maguire, Áine O'Connor and Claire O'Sullivan were defeated by eventual winners Luxembourg in the last four.

With just one space at the showpiece event on offer in each category, there was very little margin for error and both teams ended day one with a 1-1 record. Colin O'Reilly's men beat Albania 21-12, before losing to a strong Andorra 21-16 in their second outing. Similarly our women, coached by Patrick O'Neill had a perfect start to life in Cyprus, edging Malta 13-12 until succumbing 16-10 to future finalists Azerbaijan. This meant two all or nothing games at the start of the second day.

Ireland's men came out of the traps fast, sweeping aside Kosovo 18-5 in their first game of day two and when they also overcame Azerbaijan in equally convincing fashion 21-6 in mid-afternoon, they set up a final four contest with Luxembourg. Ireland's women were equally impressive in dismissing Kosovo 16-4 in their opening gambit, making it a double header with Luxembourg at the semi-final stage.

Unfortunately it was at this point that the journey ended for Dwyer, Maguire, O'Connor and O'Sullivan. Despite taking the fight to their opponents throughout, they were unable to score with the same efficiency as their morning game and ended up on the losing end, 14-9.

It appeared as though Ireland's men were also heading for the exit door. They trailed 10-8 with just 37 seconds on the clock and it took a long range two and two free-throws from Jordan Blount with the last play of the contest to seal a dramatic 12-11 comeback victory and book a place against hosts Cyprus in the final.

The decider proved equally as dramatic. Ireland led 16-11 with 1:27 left to play until Cyprus kicked into life to make six of the final seven scores and take the game to overtime. Ireland also had their chances in the extra minutes to book their spot in at the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup Finals in Israel but just couldn't get the ball to drop in a windy Limassol and eventually Irish hearts were broken by back to back shots by Cyprus' Simon Michail.