Ireland squad finalised for FIBA U18 Women's Youth EuroBasket

Ireland U18 Women’s squad has been finalised by head coach Tommy O’Mahony ahead of their FIBA Youth EuroBasket, which takes place in Ploiesti, Romania from August 2^nd to August 11^th.

O’Mahony is able to call upon Irish senior international Grace Prenter (Meteors BC), who is also part of the Ireland U20 Women’s FIBA Youth EuroBasket squad announced by Karl Kilbride recently. Prenter is one of 10 players based in Ireland, with Sidney Quinn (Gill St. Bernard’s) and Sophie Nascimento (Ursuline School, New Rochelle, USA) the players joining the group from overseas.

Following on from victory in the Four Nations tournament in April, Ireland will play a two-game series with Ukraine in the Virginia Show Centre in Cavan on July 20^th and 21^st sandwiched between trips to Luxembourg (July 11^th/12^th) and Croatia (July 28^th/29^th) in preparation for their opening game of Group ‘A’ against North Macedonia on Friday.

Speaking after the announcement of his squad, Ireland head coach Tommy O’Mahony said: “We are delighted to announce the final 12 that will go to Romania in August. We have some good preparation games coming up which should really test us. We have Ukraine coming here in July and we hope we get a lot of people up to Cavan to support the girls.  We under no illusions how tough are games are going to be in Romania, but are eager to put in the work to be ready for the battle.”

Ireland have been drawn in Group A alongside North Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria and Norway. Two teams will advance to the quarter-final stage from each of four groups, with three teams gaining promotion to Division 'A' for the following year. 

---

Groups: 

Group A: Greece, Bulgaria, Ireland, North Macedonia, Norway
Group B: Lithuania, Denmark, Netherlands, Great Britain
Group C: Czechia, Iceland, Slovakia, Austria
Group D: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Sweden, Ukraine, Montenegro

Ireland squad:

Aisling Moran, Kira Lynch, Grace Prenter (Meteors BC), Ava Walshe (Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell), Kelly Bracken, Clara Boyce (FloMAX Liffey Celtics), Caoimhe Gilligan (Abbey Seals Dublin Lions), Faye McDonnell (Marble City Hawks/Kilkenny Stars), Emma Tolan (McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles), Sarah Courtney (Killester BC), Sophie Nascimento (Ursuline School New Rochelle, USA), Sidney Quinn (Gill St. Bernard’s, New Jersey, USA)