Thornton can't mask pain of missing star-studded French

Specialist ruled out captain Edel Thornton's plan to wear a protective mask against France at the National Arena on Sunday

PROTECTIVE MASK: Ireland captain Edel Thornton was prepared to go full Kobe and wear a mask to protect her broken nose in order to play in tomorrow’s opening Eurobasket 2025 group game against France in the National Arena. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie

IRELAND captain Edel Thornton was prepared to go full Kobe and wear a mask to protect her broken nose in order to play in tomorrow’s opening Eurobasket 2025 group game against France in the National Arena (5pm, live TG4).

The Brunell star had already purchased one but when her nose was re-set mid-week - it was broken in a Super League game against Glanmire two weeks ago - the specialist said ‘no way’ and there were tears.