Ireland U20 women's squad confirmed for 2024 FIBA Youth EuroBasket

Ireland U20 women’s head coach Karl Kilbride has included three senior internationals in his 12-woman squad for the 2024 FIBA Youth EuroBasket in Sofia this July.

Sarah Hickey (SETU Waterford Wildcats) and recently capped Grace Prenter (Metoers BC) - who is also a part of the Ireland U18 squad - make the cut, while there is a debut at FIBA Youth EuroBasket level for UCONN commit Gandy Malou-Mamel. The 6’6” forward earned her first senior international cap against Austria in a friendly at the National Basketball Arena in 2023.

There are also FIBA Youth EuroBasket debuts for Leilani Turner (Pyrobel Killester) and Orla Dullaghan (SETU Waterford Wildcats). Turner featured in 23 games for the MissQuote.ie Super League champions this season, culminating with six-points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal in the MissQuote.ie Champions Trophy final. Dullaghan had 18 senior appearances for her club this campaign, while also featuring heavily in SETU Waterford Wildcats run to the InsureMyHouse.ie U20 Women’s National Cup title. 

Former Brunell BC power forward Michelle Ugwah is included (Morehead State University, USA), making it her first appearance at FIBA Youth EuroBasket in five years. Katie O’Sullivan (FloMAX Liffey Celtics) and Lucy Devoy (Limerick Celtics) step up to this grade following a very successful year at U18 level, while Lucy Coogan (Caldwell University) joins Hickey as the surviving squad members from an 8^th place finish a year ago.

19-year-old guard Amy Duggan (Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell) last featured for Ireland U18 women in 2022, while there are also call-ups for Niamh O’Leary (Ulster University) and Niamh Tolan, who was impressive for McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles in the MissQuote.ie Division One during the past season. 

Ireland have been drawn in Group A alongside Czech Republic, Switzerland and Slovakia, where they will need to finish in the top two to qualify for the last eight.

Speaking after finalising his roster, coach Kilbride said: "As a management team, we’ve been blown away by the dedication and commitment shown by the group over the last few months. Over the course of an open trial and 13 training sessions they’ve really pushed each other, setting standards and constantly raising them, while overcoming a lot of bumps and obstacles in the road with injuries, illness, availability and travel.

We’re in an incredible position where we’re having to leave behind, players who in a different year or with a different set-up are more than good enough to play at international level. And while it’s always horrible news to hear for the people who aren’t progressing, they can be incredibly proud of what they’ve done and what they’ve put in to the programme and the process. 

We have an intense, whirlwind of a schedule the next two months, with games against Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Greece, before we kick-off our FIBA Youth EuroBasket campaign against Slovakia on July 6th in Bulgaria. But with the standards they’ve already set and the effort and commitment levels that the girls have shown so far continuing, we're hoping for a really successful summer ahead."

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Ireland squad: Amy Duggan (Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell), Gandy Malou-Mamel (Gill St.Bernard’s, USA), Grace Prenter (Meteors BC), Katie O’Sullivan (FloMAX Liffey Celtics), Leilani Turner (Pyrobel Killester), Lucy Coogan (Caldwell University, USA), Lucy Devoy (Limerick Celtics), Michelle Ugwah (Morehead State University, USA), Niamh O’Leary (Ulster University), Niamh Tolan (McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles), Orla Dullaghan, Sarah Hickey, (SETU Waterford Wildcats)