NUIG Mystics duo Hazel Finn and Kara McCleane have been selected on the Ireland under 20 women’s squad for the European Championships in June.
They’re part of coach Karl Kilbride’s side that will travel to Hungary and compete in the ‘A’ Division alongside Serbia, Russia and Latvia in Group D.
Both players contested last year’s European under 18 championship.
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Ireland U20 women’s head coach Karl Kilbride has announced his provisional 21-person squad, as preparations continue ahead of the FIBA U20 Women’s European Championships. The tournament will take place in Sopron, Hungary from July 8th-16th and sees Ireland competing against Europe’s elite in the ‘A’ Division, alongside Serbia, Russia and Latvia in Group D.
Five players from Portlaoise Panthers have been selected - Ciara Byrne, Lisa Blaney, Shauna Dooley, Sarah Fleming and Jasmine Burke. Burke, Byrne and Fleming all played at the FIBA U20 Women’s European Challengers last summer, while two others from that squad, Erin Maguire of Houston Baptist University and WIT Waterford Wildcats’ Kate Hickey, are also included.
There are three Trinity Meteors representatives - Ella O’Donnell, Sinead Keane and Rebecca Hynes, all three played for Ireland’s U18’s at the FIBA U18 Women’s European Challengers last summer, as did Tullamore twins Ellie and Emma Glavin. Also making the step up from the U18’s are NUIG Mystics duo of Hazel Finn and Kara McCleane, along with Team Garvey’s St. Mary’s guard Paris McCarthy and WIT Waterford Wildcats guard Sarah Hickey.
Head coach Karl Kilbride said: "Having got to watch the girls at Super League and National League level over the season and then up close at the last few trial sessions, we were in the enviable position of being able to pick, what we think, is a really strong group. We obviously have a massive task ahead of us, competing in the A division of the European Championships, against some of the best players in the world. But it's a task we couldn't be more excited for.
“We have a hectic schedule of practices over the next few months, in preparation. We all know the amount and the level of work that's ahead of us, and what's required, but this is why you want to be involved with International teams - to work with and compete against the absolute best. We all can't wait for the journey ahead."
Ireland U20 Women’s Squad
Abigail Raffery (Ulster University), Ava Coogan (IT Carlow), Ciara Byrne (Portlaoise Panthers), Ella O’Donnell (Trinity Meteors), Ellie Glavin (Tullamore), Emma Glavin (Tullamore), Erin Maguire (Houston Baptist University), Hazel Finn (NUIG Mystics), Jasmine Burke (Portlaoise Panthers), Kara McCleane (NUIG Mystics), Kate Hickey (WIT Waterford Wilcats), Lauryn Homan (Singleton SuperValu Brunell), Lilli Brady (Malahide), Lisa Blaney (Portlaoise Panthers), Paris McCarthy (Team Garvey’s St. Mary’s), Rebecca Hynes (Trinity Meteors), Sabhbh Edwards Murphy (Akron University), Sarah Fleming (Portlaoise Panthers), Sarah Hickey (WIT Waterford Wildcats), Shauna Dooley (Portlaoise Panthers), Sinead Keane (Trinity Meteors)
