Ireland earn back-to-back wins in Fiba EuroBasket Pre-Qualifiers
BOOM SHAKA-LAKA: Neal Quinn dunks during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Pre-Qualifiers first round match between Ireland and Kosovo. Pic: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
Ireland’s Senior Men got two critical wins this week over Azerbaijan on Thursday and Kosovo on Sunday.
Sunday’s 91-85 win was trickier than Thursday's, as Kosovo provided a real threat despite missing some of their leading scorers. A huge 22-2 start for Ireland ultimately proved the difference, as Kosovo kept knocking on the door, but never got close enough to scare the Irish.
What will please Mark Keenan most is the number of Irish players who got into the game and contributed. For a team that are largely Super League based, it’s a testament to the improving nature of the league that Irish players aren’t facing a massive gulf when competing at the lower levels of European qualification.
The other standout factor of the week’s action was a sold-out Arena on Sunday and a packed house on Thursday. I went back and watched some of our qualifiers featuring our three NBA players Pat Burke, Marty Conlon and Cal Bowdler and the Arena didn’t even open the seating behind the benches.
It’s safe to say the Irish public has bought into this homegrown side and is behind them as they continue to try and claw their way up the international ladder.
Despite the home-based players doing well, it was Neal Quinn, Ireland’s naturalised American, and Sean Flood who led the way overall with 23 and 21 points respectively.
Quinn is now playing professionally in Europe, and the former College teammate of CJ Fulton had his best day so far in an Irish jersey. He’s big and mobile and there’s even more possible out of the big man.
It was back-to-back strong outings for Sean Flood, the Dublin native playing in the British Super League for the London Lions. Despite an inconsistent league season so far, Flood showed his class with 49 points across the two games.
Ireland needs more players pushing through and playing professionally to really push on as a nation and Sean is hopefully showing the way to a talented group coming up behind him.
Watching the Men’s games over the week, it’s an interesting comparison between their return to qualification and that of the women’s team.
Due to more teams competing in the men’s competition, Ireland are involved in pre-qualifiers which allows them to play against teams like Kosovo and Azerbaijan, who are at a similar level to us.
What we’re seeing from the Men’s team is a steady growth, which has continued on from their Small Countries success during Covid. The Women on the other hand are thrown in at the deep end and have to compete with some of the world’s top teams including France in the current campaign.
Watching both teams, there’s a positive in either route, although I’m sure James Weldon would wish to have some competitive games against lower-ranked teams to get that winning experience.
As much as pundits, including myself, have tried to overlook this year’s Glanmire team, Mark Scannell still has them competing at a high level.
Once again, Glanmire’s Americans delivered as they combined for 50 points and 21 rebounds. As has been the case in recent weeks, the headlines have been reserved for the ageless Aine McKenna, who had an incredible 19 points and 15 rebounds.
The win brings Glanmire level with Killester on 4-2 and just one off the league leaders, which given the losses to his team, is incredible for Scannell. For Killester, it’s their second loss of less than five points this season.
With their Cup appeal failing, their coach going and a points deduction being implemented, Maree’s season has been a challenge so far, to say the least.
Talented wing Joe Mvezolo added to those woes as he seemingly left the team during the week. So going into Saturday’s game, a win was the only option for Maree against UCD Marian, who are one of the three teams they are likely targeting to avoid relegation.
In a scrappy game between two struggling teams, Jarret Haines and Bernat Vanaclocha were the difference makers as they made all the big plays to secure a home win for Maree.
Haines got whatever he wanted, particularly in the second half and scored a game high 32 points. Vanaclocha had his best game of the year too scoring 19, from a variety of mid-range jumpers, while also stifling Marian around the rim.
Also of importance for Maree was new signing Joshua McGettigan, who added 17 vital points in his debut. Overall, it was an important win for the Galway side, just how important it is, we may not know until next March.
Liffey Celtics were businesslike again over the weekend as they beat Fr Mathews 72-59.
Defensively Karl Kilbride’s team are holding opponents to an incredible 60.7 points a game this season which is 8 points better than Killester the second-best defense in the country.
Fr Mathews struggled like many others before them scoring just 33 in the first half and 59 overall despite the best efforts of Grainne Dwyer and Shannon Brady. Liffey face bottom of the table Mystics next before a huge game versus Killester in early December, which could have a major impact on the title race.
They will also be concerned over Ieva Bagdanaviciene, who only managed 13 minutes as is a major part of their game plan. With two more trips to Cork and a home game versus Liffey Celtics coming up in December, we will know by Christmas where Killester’s title defense stands.
Meteor's young talented team have struggled away from home this year and they lost out again at the weekend as Brunell beat the Dublin side 91-83.
It makes it zero away wins so far this season for Meteors, which will be a major concern for Coach Hilary Nets. Meteors were brilliant offensively in the first half scoring 48 points, but they couldn’t keep that going as they only managed 35 in the second, as Brunell stormed back into the game.
Deaja Richardson scored 18 of her 26 in that second half, helping to support Trinity Hudson, who had a game-high 31.
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