Mayo's Dayna Finn keeps her place in Irish squad for Euro qualifier

IRELAND senior women’s head coach James Weldon has named two uncapped players in his final 12-person squad for their FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2023 qualifiers game against the Netherlands tomorrow (Sunday) at the National Basketball Arena, Tallaght.

Mayo native Dayna Finn, now with Trinity Meteors, keeps her place in the squad, which sees Waterford Wildcats’ Sarah Hickey and Ciara Bracken of Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics make the breakthrough to senior level.

Eighteen-year-old Hickey featured heavily for both the Under 18 and Under 20 Ireland women’s teams in this summer’s FIBA European Championships, while 21-year-old Bracken has also previously represented Ireland through the underage ranks.

American-born Bridget Herlihy, who plays with Mark Basket Marbo Kinna in Sweden, is set for a FIBA Women’s EuroBasket debut against the Dutch following an impressive bow at international level in friendlies against Estonia and Portugal in August. DCU Mercy’s Hannah Thornton and Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics’ Sorcha Tiernan return to the squad after missing the previous international window due to injury and travel commitments respectively.

Also returning to the fold after a 13-year absence is Orla O’Reilly. Head coach Weldon, who has been in constant dialogue with the 32-year-old since he took charge of the Irish team in 2018, has rewarded O’Reilly’s fine form in Australia with a call-up for the tie. She was a key part of the Ireland squad who reached the last eight of the FIBA 3x3 European Games in Azerbaijan in 2015.

Her inclusion adds significant experience to a squad, already boasting Finn's Trinity Meteors team-mate Claire Melia, Ireland senior women’s captain Edel Thornton, as well as Rachel Huijsdens and Killester’s Michelle Clarke, who all have been in scintillating form to start the MissQuote.ie Super League season.

Weldon said: “We are really looking forward to the upcoming FIBA EuroBasket window. We believe that the experience of Orla O’Reilly, as a seasoned Irish professional, will be of immense value to the team we’ve selected as we transition the younger players into the team. Sarah Hickey and Ciara Bracken are in line for their first senior caps and we believe that we have a good blend of youth and experience in the team that we’ve selected.

“The management is also encouraged by the impressive performances the players are putting in the league for their respective clubs. The team have great spirit and belief in their ability in what is a very tough pool. We are confident that we can take the win if we all turn up in character and play with the same form they are showing at the moment.”

The game tips off at 5.15 p.m., with live coverage on TG4 starting at 5 p.m. Ireland lost 82-60 to the Netherlands in Amsterdam last November and are currently third in the three-team Group I, seeking their first win. The group winners and the four best runners-up will advance to the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2023, which is co-hosted by Israel and Slovenia.

TG4’s Cispheil Beo will be presented by Galway sports broadcaster Máire Treasa Ní Cheallaigh, who will be joined by a team of expert basketball analysts. The series is produced by Fogarty Fenwick Services. Spectators tickets for Ireland v Netherlands on November 27 can be purchased on the Basketball Ireland website.

The Ireland senior women’s squad in full is: Ciara Bracken (Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics), Michelle Clarke (Killester), Dayna Finn (Trinity Meteors), Bridget Herlihy (Mark Basket Marbo Kinna, Sweden), Sarah Hickey (Waterford Wildcats), Rachel Huijsdens (DCU Mercy), Claire Melia (Trinity Meteors), Áine O’Connor (Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics), Orla O’Reilly (Waverly Falcons, Australia), Edel Thornton (Singleton SuperValu Brunell), Hannah Thornton (DCU Mercy), Sorcha Tiernan (Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics).

On the standby list are: Mia Furlong (The Address UCC Glanmire), Kate Hickey (Waterford Wildcats), Sarah Kenny (Trinity Meteors) and Maeve Phelan (DCU Mercy).