International

Aug 13 2024

Preview: FIBA U16 Women's Youth EuroBasket

Ireland have arrived in Konya, Turkey ahead of their FIBA U16 Women's Youth EuroBasket campaign, which begins against Ukraine at 19:30 on Thursday on the FIBA YouTube Channel and Basketball Ireland website.

OUR OPPOSITION

Ireland have been drawn in Group C alongside Slovakia (41st), Kosovo (95^th) Turkey (24^th), and Ukraine (55th). Ireland are currently ranked 59^th following the 2023 competitions.

They will face each other once over four game days starting on Thursday, August 15th before the top two teams in each of four groups advance to the quarter-finals. The third and fourth placed teams will go into the 9-16^th classification games and the 5th placed sides will play in the 17th-20th bracket.

SQUAD NEWS

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 has been highlighted by FIBA as a player to watch during the tournament. She is one of three players along with Kaitlyn Summers and Francesca Kyamagero who played in 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 (Glanmire) join Summers and Kyamagero respectively. Naomi Farrington (Tolka Rovers), Abbie Lyons (Brunell BC) and Muireann Teahan (Caherciveen) make up the remainder of the group .

Ireland come into the tournament in good form after two strong performances against Netherlands earlier this month in Dublin. It follows on from a brilliant 2-1 performance in the Four Nations tournament at the National Basketball Arena in April.

VIEW FROM THE BENCH

Speaking ahead of the opening game, Head Coach Paul O'Brien said: “Really excited to get things underway in Turkey later this week. The girls have been excellent in how they have prepared. We have learned a lot from our games against Netherlands and it's just about putting it into practice for our opening FIBA Youth EuroBasket game against Ukraine. Knowing the girls - I have no doubt they will be ready to put their best foot forward and enjoy playing international basketball and representing their country in such a high level competition."

LAST TIME OUT

Ireland finished 14th in this competition in 2023 with a 3-4 record, beating Cyprus, Bulgaria and Luxembourg and losing out narrowly against Denmark, Austria, Montenegro and Sweden.

FIXTURES

Ireland v Ukraine, Thursday, August 15th, 19:30, Konya (TUR)

WATCH LIVE

Ireland v Slovakia, Friday, August 16th, 19:30, Konya (TUR)

WATCH LIVE

Ireland v Kosovo, Monday, August 19^th, 14:30, Konya (TUR)

WATCH LIVE

Ireland v Turkey, Tuesday, August 20^th, 17:00, Konya (TUR)

WATCH LIVE

Ireland squad:

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