Ireland’s Edel Thornton in action during the Fiba Women’s EuroBasket 2027 qualifiers Group A match with Luxembourg at the National Basketball Arena. Photo: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Captain Edel Thornton hopes Ireland can bounce back against Bosnia and Herzegovina tonight in their second EuroBasket 2027 qualifier after what she described as a “kick in the teeth” in Thursday’s defeat to Luxembourg.
The women in green will look to improve their shooting at the National Basketball Arena (7.25pm) after converting just under 25pc of their attempts from the floor in a 69–53 loss in Tallaght.
But Thornton hopes the chance to play again so soon after that defeat, brought about by a changed qualifying competition, will help Ireland to get back on track.
“It’s a quick turnaround but, as a basketball player, I like to get out there again straight away and I guess a lot of the team also would,” the Corkwoman said.
“You get a chance to right those wrongs, like you said. And again, we’re back at home, we’re in our safe place. We’ve a big crowd coming on Saturday and we’re really, really looking forward to it.
“But we’ve got to give them something to cheer about and when the ball goes in the basket, that’s when people get excited – so we just need to execute better.”
Head coach James Weldon named the strongest squad available to him for this three-game window, making the 16-point defeat all the more disappointing. But there were some positives.
Bronagh Power-Cassidy made a promising EuroBasket debut on Thursday, when she scored nine points, after enjoying an impressive US college career with Holy Cross.
Claire Melia also returned on Thursday, and she will be a welcome addition against a side that sit 54 places above Ireland in the world rankings tonight.
Bosnia (world No 29) are well able to put up a big score, and will be hoping to right their own wrongs in Dublin after losing their opener to Israel 98-91.
That game was played behind closed doors in Sarajevo, highlighting the sensitive nature of facing Israel following the recent conflict and dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Ireland will hope to get their European campaign back on track tonight before they travel to the neutral venue of Riga for their own controversial clash with Israel.
Ireland v Bosnia, TG4, 7.25