FIBA 1057
Ireland impress in qualifier win over Cyprus
Ireland’s first step in the long, long, road to FIBA EuroBasket 2025 ended in success with an impressive victory away to Cyprus. Emmet Ryan watched the game from a Starbucks rather than Nicosia but still got his report in shortly after the buzzer Whatever fear that Ireland would be walking into hostile territory was dispelled […]
Tough lessons well learned by Ireland on Euros return
The opening quarter removed any doubt about the result but Ireland’s first appearance in a EuroBasket qualifier since 2009 was a valuable learning experience that offered real promise for the future after a rotten start. Emmet Ryan reports from Amsterdam. It’s a step up. Everyone knew it was going to be but you don’t know […]
Tough draws for both Irish national teams
Ireland hasn’t participated in EuroBasket qualification for men or women since 2009 and the draws for both the men and women’s sides will prove tough tests Started from the bottom, now we’re here. Started from the bottom, now the whole team here, or teams technically in this case. After gold for the men and silver […]
What a return to international qualification would look like for Ireland
With the men taking gold in Dublin and silver for the women in Cyprus at the 2021 FIBA European Championships for Small Countries, Emmet Ryan explains what a return to the main international qualification pool would look like for Ireland Two things to bear in mind before we get to the nitty gritty. No formal […]
The long wait is over
Ireland ended a near three decade wait to complete a perfect 4-0 week and lift the trophy at the 2021 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries. Emmet Ryan was at the arena in Dublin to drink it all in That night in 1994, I was 13 years old and didn’t even know the game was […]
Carroll efficient as Ireland crush Gibraltar
John Carroll waited long enough to get his chance to play competitive hoops for Ireland. Now that he’s got it, he’s determined to stay unbeaten in competitive action while wearing a green jersey for as long as possible. Emmet Ryan watched him as Ireland moved to 3-0 at the FIBA European Championships for Small Countries […]
Interview: The Falzon bros bring the fire to Dublin
Two brothers from just outside of Boston have been the standouts for Malta so far at the FIBA European Championships for Small Countries. Tevin and Aaron Falzon are proud to be representing the nation of the family and want to claim a second straight crown in Dublin European countries tend to be quite proud of […]
And you will know them by the trail of dead
Nobody was expecting a close run thing between Ireland and San Marino but the sheer barbarity the hosts put on display in the opening quarter set the tone for an utter rout. Emmet Ryan witnessed the carnage up close The first few days of action had shown that San Marino appeared to be the weakest […]
The little guys that do
Watching Malta take on Gibraltar at the FIBA European Championships for Small Countries, Emmet Ryan saw the spirit that makes this tournament special It was Gibraltar’s tournament opener and, whatever else, they weren’t going to go down quietly. From the off their bench was loud and into it, to a point that they clearly rubbed […]
Small countries but a big deal
Ireland opened their account on night one of the FIBA European Championships for Small Countries by winning a lively encounter over Andorra. Emmet Ryan would have settled for a damp squib of a game, he was just happy to be back courtside in person. The second half of Malta’s win over San Marino was well […]
The long wait for something real
Ireland’s senior sides return to competitive action for the first time in three years this summer. With the women’s European championships for small countries tipping off in Nicosia on 20 July and the men’s a few weeks later in Dublin, Emmet Ryan spoke with Dayna Finn and Ciaran Roe of the Irish senior teams about […]
The thing about All Star games
Kyle Hines threw an idea in the air on Sunday and Emmet Ryan decided to bite. What if Euroleague or Europe as a whole decided to have an All Star Weekend? What would it look like? Who would it serve? And what would be the point of it? It’s time for a deep dive Team […]