Ireland hosts biggest ever basketball tournament

The biggest ever international basketball tournament to take place in Ireland begins tomorrow.

Tue, 13 Aug, 2002 - 10:56

The biggest ever international basketball tournament to take place in Ireland begins tomorrow.

Irish Basketball will host the European Championships for Cadets and Cadettes in the National Basketball Arena from August 14 until August 18.

During the five-day tournament, ten teams including 120 athletes will participate in the competition.

The Irish Cadets (boys) drew a tough group in Italy, England, Iceland and Finland, while the Cadettes (girls) will have an equally formidable task against Portugal, Italy, Germany and Israel.

The top three teams in each group will qualify to the semi-final stages of the Championships, with Italy the absolute favourites in both contests.

While most basketball enthusiasts have hung up their boots for the summer, the U16 boys and girls representing Ireland have been in intensive training since school broke up in May.

There are some familiar names in the boy's squad, players who have already made their mark in the national schools finals including Ciaran White, brother to Eoghan White who played with the Irish Junior men in Greece this year.

At the tender age of 15, Ciaran has notched up 10 international Caps and enjoyed several school and club successes.

He will co-Captain the Irish team with Longford's Niall Morrissey. Darren Randolf, son of stalwart Ed, is a 6'1'' sharp shooter and also goalkeeper for the Irish U15 soccer team.

Other budding stars include Gary Walsh, the North Mon point-guard who led his school to Cup and League success this season.

The 6'5'' Eoin McDermott from Naas should also feature prominently in Ireland's qualifying campaign.

The Cadettes got their first taste of International basketball when they played Luxembourg in February and as part of their training programme, they travelled to Denmark in May 2002.

Eileen O'Connor, from St Joseph's Castleisland will co-Captain the Cadettte squad alongside Coolock's Annemarie Butler.

O'Connor has enjoyed numerous school and club successes, most recently the Kerry League and Championship with St Mary's.

Other influential players on the Cadettes squad include 5'11" Jean Kenny and Killester's Lynn Ferrari. Kenny won the Cork U16 League and Championships this season with Skibbereen while the 6' Ferrari has won four in a row in the Dublin ladies league.

Ireland are still relatively new to this level of competition, their third year competing in the European Championships for Under-16's.

The Cadets and Cadettes are yet to qualify to the semi-finals stage.

European Championship Qualifiers

National Basketball Arena

Wednesday 14 August:

Italy v England 12.30 (boys)

Ireland v Israel 15.30 (girls)

Iceland v Finland 17.30 (boys)

Italy v Portugal 19.30 (girls)

Thursday 15 August:

Italy v Finland 13.00 (boys)

Italy v Germany 15.00 (girls)