Ireland U16 women's head coach to continue with squad of 15 following Four Nations

Ireland U16 women’s head coach Laura Mullally will continue preparations for this summer’s FIBA European Championships with a squad of 15, following a successful Four Nations campaign at the National Basketball Arena.  

Ireland defeated Scotland and Wales before a narrow defeat to England on the final day which saw the team finish second in the standings. On the back of that, Mullally and her coaching staff have trimmed the roster, with one eye on the tournament in Montenegro. They will only be permitted to select a squad of 12 for the competition.

Andrea Chrislyn Jude takes on her Welsh opponent at the recent Four Nations tournament at the National Basketball Arena. 

Ireland’s leading points scorer in the Four Nations Sophie Staunton is included, as is second on that list Kira Lynch and her Meteors teammates Helena Keane, Andrea Chrislyn Jude and Ríondhna McGrath. Liffey Celtics’ Ciara Brogan is retained as the only member of the squad with previous experience at the FIBA U16 Women’s European Championships having played a year ago. 

Elsewhere Kilkenny Stars have two players included, Faye McDonnell and Kaitlyn Summers. Belfast Star Aoibheann Donnelly of Belfast Star makes the grade having operated the point excellently, while Sidney Quinn of Gill St Bernard’s, New Jersey is the sole player based outside of Ireland chosen by Mullally.

Liffey Celtics Ciara Brogan in action at the Four Nations. 

Nine different Irish clubs are represented. Meteors lead the way with four players, Kilkenny Stars and Cobh BC both have two on the panel, with Tullamore BC, Oblate BC, Ballyshannon 88ers, Belfast Star, Drogheda Wolves and Liffey Celtics also represented.   

‘After a successful Four Nations showing by all squad players, the management had a difficult job in selecting the group to move forward,’ said Mullally. ‘This group of young women are eager to learn, dedicated to individually and collectively getting better in all ways and most importantly, excited for the challenges ahead. We know we have a big task at hand in continuing our preparation for the FIBA European Championships, but we are excited to get to work,’ added the Athlone native. 

Ireland U16 Squad:

Andrea Chrislyn Jude, Aoibheann Donnelly, Ciara Brogan, Clodagh Downey, Faye McDonnell, Francesca Kyamagero, Helena Keane, Kaitlyn Summers, Kira Lynch, Lauren Foy, Layla Ryan, Ríodhna McGrath, Sidney Quinn, Sophie Staunton, Úna O'Brien.

 Full Squad Breakdown: