Mayo woman named on Ireland senior basketball squad for upcoming matches
The Ireland senior women's basketball team for upcoming friendlies this month Euro qualifiers later in the year features Kiltimagh native Dayna Finn.
Dayna and her Ireland team-mates will play four friendlies – two at home against Estonia and two away against Portugal – this month before the first of the FIBA EuroBasket 2023 qualifying game at home to the Netherlands on Sunday, November 27.
The first of the friendlies will be played on Saturday (August 6) in the National Basketball Arena, Tallaght, while the second follows on Sunday (August 7) in Oblate Hall, Inchicore. Tickets for this two-game Gotham Drywall Series can be purchased here.
The two games against Portugal will be played at Pavilhao Municipal de Guifoes, Matosinhos, on the following Saturday and Sunday (August 13 and 14).
Meanwhile, Edel Thornton has been appointed as the new captain of the Ireland senior women’s team. The Singleton Supervalu Brunell player says it’s 'an honour' to take on the role. She previously acted as co-captain for the FIBA EuroBasket 2023 qualifiers alongside Gráinne Dwyer.
Thornton said: “I’m delighted. It’s obviously really nice and it’s an honour for me to be captain of my country and captain of a such a good team of girls. I am really looking forward to it and to being a leader for the Irish team.”
There are eight potential international debutants in the 15-person Irish squad for the four games against Estonia and Portugal, and the 25-year-old outlined her captaincy style among a young group.
“I just want to be very positive. It will be a hard road for us – we’re playing against professionals and we’re trying to build the country up to where we want it to be, and that’s the mindset we have to have going into it. I just want to be really positive and really encouraging to the younger girls especially, and to the girls who have been here for a long time.”
Ireland head coach James Weldon added: “I am delighted that Edel will continue her fantastic leadership role as captain of the squad in these upcoming four games and beyond. She will provide invaluable experience as we continue to develop at this level and Edel always brings a great energy in everything she does.”
Concerning the games, Weldon added: “These four friendlies are our first games since last November and are vital building blocks for the FIBA EuroBasket 2023 qualifiers against the Netherlands and Czech Republic in November and February respectively.”
Three players from Ireland’s squad at the recent FIBA Under 20 Women’s European Championship are included in the 15-person squad, namely 19-year-olds Kate Hickey (Waterford Wildcats) and Kara McCleane (NUIG Mystics) along with 18-year-old Ella O’Donnell.
O’Donnell, who will play at Quinnipiac next season, is one of three US-based players in the squad, with Bronagh Power-Cassidy (Holy Cross Crusaders) and Enya Maguire (Houston Baptist University) also in line for their international debuts.
The other three potential debutants are Bridget Herlihy, who plies her trade with Swedish club Marbo Basket, DCU Mercy’s Maeve Phelan and Mia Furlong, a treble winner with The Address UCC Glanmire last season.
The Ireland squad in full is as follows: Áine O’Connor (Liffey Celtics), Bridget Herlihy (Marbo Basket Sweden), Bronagh Power-Cassidy (Holy Cross Crusaders), Kara McCleane (NUIG Mystics), Claire Melia (Trinity Meteors), Dayna Finn (Trinity Meteors), Edel Thornton (Singleton SuperValu Brunell), Enya Maguire (Houston Baptist University), Ella O’Donnell (Quinnipiac), Kate Hickey (Waterford Wildcats), Maeve Phelan (DCU Mercy), Mia Furlong (The Address UCC Glanmire), Michelle Clarke (Killester), Rachel Huijsdens (DCU Mercy) and Sarah Kenny (Trinity Meteors).