Denmark squeeze Ireland out of Europe's top tier

Denmark 86 (152) Ireland 70 (150)

* Denmark qualify for European Championship Division A on a 152-150 aggregate win.

Ireland's qualification bid for European basketball's top tier cruelly came apart at the seams in Aarhus this afternoon as Denmark scored an 86-70 over-time win to squeeze through on aggregate.

The difference over the two legs at the finish was just two points - 152-150 - the dominant Danes led 74-60 at the end of normal time as Ireland's first leg lead of 14 points was effectively chalked out.

Barcelona forward Christian Drejer, who was a shell of himself in Tallaght last week, chipped in with an incredible 44 points to almost single-handedly send Gerry Fitzpatrick's side packing.

Minus the Phoenix Suns-tied Pat Burke, the Irish trailed 39-25 at half-time. Drejer (13 points) and the 7ft 3in Chris Christoffersen (14) topped the scoring charts.

Ireland were reliant on Jay Larranaga (7), Michael Bree (6) and Dan Callahan (6), but in the third quarter, 37-year-old NBA star Marty Conlon managed a three-pointer and lay-up to make it a nine-point game.

With three minutes to go, the Irish remained eleven points down and on course for a spot in Division A thanks to a Jim Moran three-pointer and a Callahan free throw.

The aggregate lead ebbed and flowed but Larranaga had a late chance to send Ireland through. 74-60 down and with seven seconds to go, the Charlotte-born guard, in driving to the basket, was evidently body-checked but their was no foul forthcoming.

The young Danes could breathe again and two Drejer three-pointers in the five minutes of over-time help push them agonisingly beyond Ireland's grasp.