Ireland U16 women's final-12 for FIBA Youth EuroBasket 2024 confirmed

Ireland U16 women’s head coach Paul O'Brien has confirmed his 12-woman squad for this summer’s FIBA Youth EuroBasket. 

The announcement comes less than a month after his squad secured a second place finish behind England at the Four Nations in Dublin. O'Brien led his team to victories against Wales and Scotland, before going down 74-57 to England on day two. Next up on their schedule will be The Dussman Trophy in Luxembourg.  

Belfast Star's Aoibheann Donnelly will captain the side in Turkey, leading a roster who have all come through the Basketball Ireland Academy system. Donnelly is one of three players along with Kaitlyn Summers and Francesca Kyamagero who playedin the 2023 FIBA Youth EuroBasket, when O'Brien was assistant coach. 

Four clubs have two players selected. Katie Behan and Eabha Booth from Templeogue BC, 14 year-old Madelyn Hartigan and Meabh Purtill play their club basketball with Limerick Celitcs, while Caoimhe Timmons (Kilkenny Stars) and Lucy Walsh (Cobh BC) join Summers and Kyamagero respectively. 

Aoibheann Donnelly (Belfast Star) scans the court during the Four Nations final against England.

Ireland's second leading scoring at the Four Nations Naomi Farrington also makes the cut, along with Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell guard Abbie Lyons, who finished with the 6th most assists at the tournament and another guard, 5'9" Muireann Teahan from Caherciveen in Kerry. 

“I am delighted to be able to announce our U16 women's national team that will compete in the  FIBA Youth EuroBasket in Konya this August," said head coach Paul O'Brien.

"It was an incredibly tough selection to make as all the players have been amazing throughout the course of the programme and I am gutted for the girls who weren’t selected. The fact that all 12 of our squad are based in Ireland and have come through the Basketball Ireland academy system is testament to the hard work going on from our u14 and u15 academy programmes. 

We are really looking forward to seeing this group grow over the coming months and hope to be competitive with the high level of opposition that we are going to face," he concluded. 

Ireland will start their FIBA Youth EuroBasket campaign in Konya, Turkey on August 15^th.  They have been drawn in a group alongside the hosts, Ukraine, Kosovo and Slovakia. 

Ireland squad: Katie Behan, Eabha Booth (Templeogue BC), Aoibheann Donnelly (Belfast Star), Naomi Farrington (Tolka Rovers), Madelyn Hartigan, Meabh Purtill (Limerick Celtics), Francesca Kyamagero, Lucy Walsh (Cobh BC), Abbie Lyons (Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell), Kaitlyn Summers, Caoimhe Timmons  (Kilkenny Stars), Muireann Teahan (Caherciveen).