International

Nov 15 2021

Keenan names three uncapped players in 19-man extended Ireland senior men’s squad

Ireland senior men’s head coach Mark Keenan has selected three uncapped players in his extended 19-man squad for their FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers Round 1 games later this month. Tradehouse Central Ballincollig’s Dylan Corkery and C&S Neptune’s Cian Heaphy have both previously represented Ireland at underage level, while Cian Sullivan, who plays with Spanish club Unión Baloncesto Archena, is in line for his first ever international cap.

 C&S Neptune's Cian Heaphy and Tradehouse Central Ballincollig's Dylan Corkery.

Ireland head coach Mark Keenan said: “Obviously with Jason Killeen retiring and CJ Fulton playing Stateside, there was always going to be changes and additions to the team and extended squad. We are very happy with the squad of nineteen players we are announcing for this first window of two games. Dylan Corkery has been part of our squad since 2019 and Cian Sullivan came into our squad just last summer. Cian Heaphy has been included for the first time. It’s important for us as a management team to be bringing younger quality players through to the senior squad and all three young men have fully deserved their inclusion.”

Ireland start their campaign in Cyprus on November 25th, followed by a home game with Austria at the National Basketball Arena on November 28th. The squad will be pared down to 12 ahead of those games.

“We are all getting very excited as the start of our FIBA EuroBasket qualifying campaign is getting close to tipping off. This will be a big step up for us in competition level, but it’s a challenge that we are relishing”, Keenan added.

Ireland will also play Switzerland in Group A of qualifying. The group winners and the best ranked second-placed team from three qualifying groups will progress to the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers Second Round.

Tickets for Ireland versus Austria at the National Basketball Arena will go on sale on Tuesday at 1pm. The game will also be live on TG4 from 1650.

Neil Randolph, Mark Keenan and Kyle Hosford at announcement that TG4 will broadcast Ireland's home game with Austria on November 28th

Ireland senior men’s squad:

Taiwo Badmus (U.M.F Tindastoll Sauoarkrokur), Jordan Blount (Thor AK), John Carroll (Bueno Albacete Basket), Dylan Corkery (Tradehouse Central Ballincollig), Paul Dick (Belfast Star), Brian Fitzpatrick (Odessa BC), Sean Flood (Omnia Nicosia), William Hanley (Unattached), Cian Heaphy (C&S Neptune), Kyle Hosford (UCC Demons), James Gormley (Baloncestro Aguimes), Stephen James (Griffith College Templeogue), Lorcan Murphy (Griffith College Templeogue) Adrian O’Sullivan (Tradehouse Central Ballincollig), Cian Sullivan (Unión Baloncesto Archena), Eoin Quigley (Garvey’s Tralee Warriors), Conor Quinn (Belfast Star), Neil Randolph (Griffith College Templeogue), Ciaran Roe (Killester).

FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers First Round – Group A fixtures

FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers First Round – Group A fixtures:

25th November 2021

Cyprus v Ireland 1700 Tassos Papadopoulous Eleftheria SC, Nicosia. Watch here.

28th November 2021

Ireland v Austria, 1700, National Basketball Arena, Dublin. LIVE ON TG4

24th February 2022

Switzerland v Ireland, Time TBC, Venue TBC.

27th February 2022

Ireland v Cyprus, Time TBC, National Basketball Arena, Dublin.

30th June 2022

Austria v Ireland, Time TBC, Venue TBC.

3rd July 2022

Ireland v Switzerland, Time TBC, National Basketball Arena, Dublin.