Ireland U20's victorious against Albania in FIBA European Championship

Ireland got the better of Albania, as they wrapped up their third victory in the fourth game of the FIBA U20 European Championship campaign in Tblisi, with the game ending on a 76-60 scoreline. 

Paudie Fleming’s side were fast out of the blocks and started the better of the teams, although the Albanian outfit were well able to take their opportunities on the opposing side of the court. That efficient shooting saw the Albanian’s go in with a 14-15 lead after the first quarter, but Ireland stunted their efforts in the second to guide their way to quite a comfortable victory in the end.

Rapolas Buivydas and CJ Fulton set the tone for the remainder with some dominant play early on in the second, with Buivydas opening the second quarter scoring with a lay-up, assisted by Jamie Muldowney. Following another Buivydas lay-up shortly after, that would be the last Albania would see of the lead. 

☘️ @FIBA 𝐔𝟐𝟎 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 - 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Got ourselves a lead at the break.

𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗤𝟮

IRL 🇮🇪 37-27 🇦🇱 ALB

📺 https://t.co/gj2lMcsB8c#TeamIreland | #GreenMeansGo 🔋 pic.twitter.com/mRLw612x9r

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) July 22, 2022

Ireland showed their hunger around the paint when it mattered most, racking up 46 in comparison to Albania’s 28. Samuel Alajiki led by example with 12 of his own. 

The experience of CJ Fulton once again came to the fore. The Lafayette College man finished up on 14 points, five rebounds and five assists. The impact man from the game against Bulgaria, Sean McCarthy, was also crucial to the victory with 11 points of his own. However, the top scorer on the day came from Kerry, as the impressive Rapolas Buivydas proved effective with 18 points and six rebounds.

☘️ @FIBA 𝐔𝟐𝟎 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 - 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Victory for the U20 side sets up a game against Georgia for the 9-12th classification.

IRL 🇮🇪 76-60 🇦🇱 ALB

📺 https://t.co/gj2lMcs3iE#TeamIreland | #GreenMeansGo 🔋 pic.twitter.com/EgP069IHTL

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) July 22, 2022

Even though, the U20 team have a 3-1 record so far at this year's competition, they narrowly missed out on a quarter final sport, so this win sets up a 9th-12th classification game against Georgia at 18:15 on Saturday evening.

Ireland Top-Scorers:

Rapolas Buivydas (18pts). CJ Fulton (14 pts), Sean McCarthy (11pts)

FIBA U20 Men’s European Championship Result:

• Ireland 76-60 Albania

FIBA U20 Men’s European Championship Fixture:

• Ireland v Georgia - 9th-12th-  classification game