Irish basketballers finally receive some Sport Ireland funding

BASKETBALL FUNDING:  John Feehan, Chief Executive of Basketball Ireland, second from left, speaking in a panel discussion. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

IRISH basketballers finally got some Sport Ireland funding for their international programme in the past year but it was only a drop in the ocean compared to the country’s big medal producers.

Basketball Ireland’s decision to go ahead with a women’s European Championship qualifier against Israel last week, despite public calls for a boycott because of the war in Gaza, saw their players engulfed in controversy and criticism.