Battling Ireland defeated 89-49 by Croatia in FIBA EuroBasket Pre-Qualifier Group G opener

Ireland were defeated 89-49 by the world number 25 ranked side Croatia in their FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers Round 3 opener in Opatija on Wednesday. Neal Quinn had fine performance on his Ireland debut with 12 points, and there were plenty of positives including the return from injury of John Carroll and a strong second half, where they outscored their illustrious opponents in the third quarter.

Ireland got off to the perfect start with a layup from 7ft centre Quinn, to take an early 2-0 lead. They were very much in the shake-up four minutes in, when Taiwo Badmus converted one of his two free throws to trail 7-3. Croatia then went on a run of 15 points to put them in control, 22-3. Lorcan Murphy’s layup stemmed the tide with two minutes to go in the quarter, however the hosts would lead 24-5 by the end of the first.

Ireland needed a fast start in the second quarter, but it was Croatia’s offence who had the upper hand, another 15 point run put them 39-5 up. Tony Perkovic’s three point jump shot completed that sequence, he’d finish with a game-high of 17 points. A long range three from CJ Fulton four minutes into the quarter finally got Ireland up and running in the second.

Sam Alajiki made his Ireland international debut against Croatia in the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifier in Opatija on Wednesday.

But Croatia had a firm grip of this game, Roko Badzim, who had 12 points by half-time, landed another three to put them 46-8 with 3’21” to go. Quinn was Ireland’s leading light in the opening half with eight points, however Ireland’s offence in general struggled with a 22.5% conversion rate in the first half, not helped by a stern defensive effort from Croatia, who are former Olympic silver medallists. A Matt Treacy three, on his FIBA EuroBasket debut in the dying seconds of the second quarter helped close the gap to 53-17, Quinn with the assist. But it was Croatia who had the last score of the half, thanks to Goran Filipovic’s lovely three point pull-up jump shot.

Ireland captain John Carroll made his return against Croatia, following his recovery from an ACL injury. 

Mark Keenan would have been eager for a response after the break and his team provided it by outscoring the Croatians 16-14 in the third, all kicked off by a trademark Taiwo Badmus dunk. Jordan Blount, who’d been kept scoreless in the first half, finally got off the mark with a layup in the fouth minute of the third quarter to trail 61-21. A dunk from Neal Quinn followed not long afterwards. Captain John Carroll, playing in his first game since recovering from an ACL injury, finished the third quarter strongly with a layup, along with a free throw in the final minute to see Ireland trail 70-33.

An Ceathrú Ceathrú / Fourth Quarter 4️⃣

🇭🇷 an Chróit - 83
🇮🇪 Éire - 44

Scór eile faigthe ag Badmus 🙌

Taiwo Badmus keeping the score board ticking for Ireland!@BballIrl| #Greenmeansgo #EuroBasket

🏀 Cispheil Bheo ar @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/AHC3ZUsrNY

— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) July 19, 2023

Ireland’s improved aggression and tempo continued to the finish, CJ Fulton landed his second three point jump shot of the day in the final seconds, as it finished 89-49.

Head coach Mark Keenan said: “We dug massive hole didn’t we in that first quarter, first half, but we had to forget about the score at half-time and say ‘let’s win the second half’ and I think we lost that second half by a point. I suppose the difference in the level in the first half was that they were making every open shot that they got and we couldn’t when we got it, so that was a huge gap. Look we kept playing, even though it was very hard to keep your head up and keep going, the guys didn’t give up and we played right to the end. At half-time it wasn’t all about this game, it was getting our mindset right in the second half for the next phase of it (qualifying) as well. We have some positives to take, but obviously very disappointed with the first half.”

Ireland’s attentions will now turn to Luxembourg, who they travel to face next Wednesday, before a pair of home games against Croatia and Luxembourg, all of which will be broadcast live on TG4.

Quarter scores:

Q1: 24-5, Q2: 56-17, Q3: 70-33, Q4: 89:49

Ireland

John Carroll (3), Sean Flood (0), CJ Fulton (8), Conor Quinn (3), Lorcan Murphy (9), Paul Dick (0), Sam Alajiki (0), Taiwo Badmus (7), Matt Treacy (5), Jordan Blount (2), Aidan Harris Igiehon (0), Neal Quinn (12)

Croatia

Toni Perkovic (17), Goran Filipovic (3), Borna Kapusta (0), Roko Prkacin (14), Mate Kalajzic (3), Lovro Gnjidic (0), Lovro Mazalin (0), Roko Badzim (18), Danko Brankovic (11), Mateo Dreznjak (8), Dario Dreznjak (9), Kresimir Ljubicic (6)

Ireland FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers Round 3

Group G result:

July 19th

Croatia 89-49 Ireland

Ireland FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers Round 3

Group G fixtures:

July 26th

Luxembourg v Ireland, 1915,  Centre National Sportif & Culturel d'Coque, Luxembourg (Live on TG4)

July 29th

Ireland v Croatia, 1430, National Basketball Arena (Live on TG4)

August 5^th

Ireland v Luxembourg, 1930, National Basketball Arena (Live on TG4)