Ireland U17 Women

Ireland U17 women's team at FIBA U17 Women's Skills Challenge

Competition

Competed at: FIBA U17 Women’s Skills Challenge ( Official event website)
Finished: Joint top of Group A in European Qualfiying with three wins from four matches, only to be eliminated on a countback

Team: Hazel Finn (Maree BC), Sarah Hickey (Waterford Wildcats), Paris McCarthy (St Mary’s Castleisland), Kara McCleane (Titans Basketball Club), Shannon Cunningham (Letterkenny Blaze), Maria Kealy (Letterkenny Blaze), Rebecca Hynes (Trinity Meteors), Aisling Marmion (Trinity Meteors), Emily O’Dwyer (Kilcock Tigers)

Management: Karl Kilbride (Head Coach)

Commentary

Ireland’s U17 women were agonisingly eliminated from the FIBA U17 Women’s Skills Challenge on Friday, despite finishing joint-top of Group A in European qualifying, with three wins from their four qualifiers. They missed out on a count-back, after three sides in Group A each picked up three wins.

The Irish women, who began with wins over Israel and Belarus on Thursday, followed it with a comfortable 154-181 success over Gibraltar on Friday. A 130-142 defeat to Poland proved costly, as three wins proved not enough to progress.

“I’m very proud of the girls efforts, but obviously bitterly disappointed for them not to have advanced, after the great performances they’ve put in over the last couple of days.

“Finishing tied for 1st with three wins was fantastic. Unfortunately at international level it’s the finest of margins that separates winning and losing. While it stings a little at the moment, it’s a great lesson to learn as we now head into the U18 women’s programme, with an eye on the European Championship next summer.

“A big thank you to Basketball Ireland and FIBA for putting on such a fun and entertaining event for everyone who took part.”

>Watch Irelands Matches

Ireland U17 Men

Ireland U17 Men, FIBA U17 Skills Challenge

Competition

Competed at: FIBA U17 Skills Challenge (Official event website)
Finished: Finished top of Group A in European Qualifying but lost to Portugal in a playoff to reach the tournament finals

Team: Tim Pollmann-Daamen (Ballymac Bobcats), Sean Pollmann-Daamen (Ballymac Bobcats), Ruairi Cronin (Limerick Celtics), Ben Burke (Maree BC) Killian Gribben (Letterkenny Blaze/LYIT Donegal), Daniel O’Sullivan (Neptune Basketball Club)

Management: Paul Kelleher (Head Coach)

>Watch Ireland’s matches

Commentary

Ireland’s U17 men have been beaten 112-126 by Portugal in the final phase of European qualifying on Sunday. Victory would have handed them a place in the tournament finals of the FIBA U17 Skills Challenge 2020, competing against the world’s elite.

Ireland U17 head coach Paul Kelleher, made one change to his starting 5 for the crunch contest against Portugal, with Sean Pollmann-Daamen selected instead of Ben Burke.

Ruairi Cronin began Ireland’s challenge and he picked up three points along the way. He was followed by Tim Pollmann-Daamen (2 points), Daniel O’Sullivan (3 points), Sean Pollmann Daamen (1 point) and Killian Gribben (4 points). They finished with a time of 139 seconds, and their 13-point haul reduced their total to 126.

It wasn’t enough to beat their Portuguese opponents, who completed the course in 132 seconds and picked up 20 points along the way, to finish with a score of 112.

Head coach Paul Kelleher was proud of the performance of his squad.

“The boys gave everything and couldn’t have asked for much more than they did”, he said.

“We improved on the parts of the course that we wanted to. They have been so consistent, so inventive in their course execution. They gave everything and came up with their second best time, so it tells you how good Portugal were today, making a lot of shots with speed over the course. Unfortunately we came out the wrong side.”

Ireland had finished top of Group A in European qualifying with three wins from four matches. They began with victory over Israel on Thursday, a defeat against Slovakia on Friday was followed by wins over highly-fancied Belarus and Poland.

Ireland ESports Men

Ireland Esports team at FIBA Esports Open

Competed at: FIBA Esports Open II
Finished: Ireland finished third in Group 2 of Europe Conference. They picked up their maiden Esports win in their tournament opener, beating Cyprus 75-82 in overtime. A 53-44 defeat to Austria was followed by an 87-32 loss to eventual Europe Conference champions Turkey.

Team: Mick Curley (captain), Dale West, Eoghan Daly, Josh Stedman, Jack Tobin    
Management: N/A

Watch Ireland’s matches: Day 1  Day 2  Official event website 

Ireland U16 Women

Due to compete at: FIBA Under 16 Women’s European Championship Division B. Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, July 17-26th, 2020

Team: Aoife O'Connell (Malahide BC), Amy Duggan (Cobh), Amy Harrington (Kenmare), Caitlin Gloeckner (Waterford Wildcats), Emily O’Dwyer (Kilcock Tigers), Issey Leahy (Limerick Celtics), Lana Walsh (Killester), Lucy Coogan (Kilkenny Stars), Lucy Devoy (Limerick Celtics), Maria Kealey (Letterkenny Blaze), Marta Banek (Corrib), Michelle Ugwah (Brunell), Morgan Murphy (Northwest Catholic HS Connecticut), Niamh O’Leary (Liffey Celtics), Sarah Hickey (Waterford Wildcats), Shauna Slattery (Tullamore), Tania Salvado-McCormack (Kenmare)

Management: Andy Gill (Head Coach)

Ireland U16 Men

Due to compete at: FIBA Under 16 Men’s European Championship Division B. Sofia, Bulgaria, August 13-22nd, 2020

Team: Ben Burke (Maree BC), Ben Martin (Belfast Phoenix), Brendan Douanla (Ballincollig BC), Caolan Lynch (Longford Falcons), Christian McDonnell (Malahide BC), Cian O'Sullivan (Blue Demons), Dara Walsh (Corrib BC), Eimantas Spuduliene (Ongar Chasers), Greg Marinkovic Augustine (Templeogue BC), Isaac Eroutteh (Ballincollig BC) Jack Golden (Limerick Celtics), Jake Morris (Drogheda Wolves), Jamie Cotter (Ballincollig BC), Max Tyndall (Drogheda Wolves), Paul Ryan (St Vincent’s BC), Ruairi Cronin (Limerick Celtics), Tobi Ogunbare (Ongar Chasers), Tony Ezeonu (Titans BC)

Management: Pat Price (Head Coach)

Ireland U18 Women

Due to compete at: FIBA Under 18 Women’s European Championship Division B. Oberwart, Gussing & Furstenfeld, Austria. July 3-12th, 2020

Team: Kate Kelly (Drogheda Wolves), Kate Hickey, (Waterford Wildcats), Emma Carroll (DCU Mercy),  Sarah Hickey (Waterford Wildcats), Abigail Rafferty (Ulster University Tigers), Lisa Blaney (Portlaoise Panthers),  Erin Maguire (Ulster University Tigers), Lauren Homan (Brunell) , Ava Coogan (Kilkenny Stars), Anna Grogan (Waterford Wildcats), Emma Galvin (Tullamore BC), Siofra O’Shea (St Mary's Castleisland), Ciara Byrne (Portlaoise Panthers), Aisling Marmion (Meteors BC), Sabhbh Edwards Murphy (Limerick Celtics), Shannon Cunningham (Letterkenny Blaze), Sinead Boyle (Killester) , Paris McCarthy (St Mary's Castleisland),  Ella O’Donnell (Meteors BC), Ciara Mulleady (Liffey Celtics), Shauna Dooley (Portlaoise Panthers), Eva Moloney (Meteors BC)

Management: Tommy O’Mahony (Head Coach)

Ireland U18 Men

Due to compete at: FIBA Under 18 Men’s European Championship Division B. Oradea, Romania, July 24-August 2nd, 2020

Team: CJ Fulton (Belfast Star), Danas Smigelskis (Dundalk Ravens), Darragh Ferguson (Belfast Star), Denzel Ebose (Dundalk Ravens), Eli Lenihan (Neptune BC), Jamie Muldowney (UCD Marian), Killian Gribben (Letterkenny Blaze/LYIT Donegal), Leeroy Odiahi (Tralee Imperials/Warriors), Luke O’Sullivan (Ballincollig BC), ND Okafor (NBA Academy Mexico), Páraic Moran (UCD Marian), Rapolas Buivydas (St. Brendan’s/Tralee Warriors), Sam Alijiki (Barking Abbey, London), Sean McCarthy (Neptune BC), Tadhg Crowley (Trinity Pawling, New York), Wede Esajobar (Dundalk Ravens)

Management: Paul Kelleher (Head Coach)

Ireland U20 Women

Due to compete at: FIBA Under 20 Women’s European Championship Division A. Sopron, Hungary, August 8-16th, 2020 

Team:  Alison Blaney (Maree BC), Annalise Murphy (Ambassador UCC Glanmire), Bronagh Power Cassidy (DCU Mercy), Dayna Finn (Maree BC), Ella McCloskey (Killester BC) Enya Maguire (UU Elks), Katie Williamson (Liffey Celtics), Lynn Tunnah (Templeogue) Maeve O’Seaghdha (DCU Mercy), Niamh Masterson (Liffey Celtics), Nicole Clancy (DCU Mercy), Simone O’Shea (Fr. Mathews)

Management: Martin Conroy (Head Coach)

Ireland U20 Men

Due to compete at: FIBA Under 20 Men’s European Championship Division B. Tbilisi, Georgia, July 10-19th, 2020
Team:  Team not selected due to Covid-19
Management:  Mike Lynch (Head Coach)

Ireland Senior Women

Due to compete at: FIBA European Championship For Small Countries, Nicosia, Cyrpus. June 30-July 5th, 2020
postponed due to Covid-19

Team:  Team not selected due to Covid-19
Management: James Weldon (Head Coach)

Ireland Senior Men

Due to compete at: FIBA European Championship For Small Countries, Limerick, Ireland. June 29-July 4th, 2020
postponed due to Covid-19

Team:  Team not selected due to Covid-19
Management: Mark Keenan (Head Coach)