Jan 08 2026
Ireland U18 WNT head coach Ian Lynch has selected a squad of 18 as he continues preparations for this summer’s FIBA Youth EuroBasket.
The squad contains six players who will feature in the U18 Women’s National Cup Final at the National Basketball Arena a week on Saturday. Jean Ahern, Francesca Kyamagero and Abbie Lyons of Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell will face off against Limerick Celtics’ Laura Buckley, Madelyn Hartigan and Meabh Purtil for the top honours in the country.
Kyamagero, Purtill and Lyons join Aoibheann Donnelly and Naomi Farrington as five players who featured in the squad a year ago. A further five players who featured in FIBA Youth EuroBasket U16 level, Buckley, Ahern, Madelyn Hartigan and Amy Elliot continue to make the grade, while Kilkenny Stars Caoimhe Timmons is also included following a huge personal performance in their defeat to Brunell at the semi-final stages of the National Cup.
The squad contains players from Cork, Dublin, Limerick Antrim, Kerry and Kilkenny.
“The team is progressing well, and good progress has been made,” said Lynch. “These decisions are never easy, given the high level of talent across the group. We sincerely thank all players who were not selected on this occasion for their time, effort, and commitment.”
Ireland Squad:
Jean Ahern (Brunell BC), Katie Behan (Templeogue BC), Éabha Booth (Templeogue BC), Laura Buckely (Limerick Celtics), Aoibheann Donnelly (Belfast Star), Amy Elliot (Killester BC), Naomi Farrington (Tolka Rovers), Madelyn Hartigan (Limerick Celtics), Francesca Kyamagero (Brunell BC), Abbie Lyons (Brunell BC), Grace Miley (Templeogue BC), Julie O’Connor (St. Marys Castleisland), Aimee O’Reilly (Kilkenny Stars), Meabh Purtill (Limerick Celtics), Kaitlyn Summers (Meteors), Caoimhe Timmons (Kilkenny Stars), Udochukwu Uzor (Tolka Rovers), Lucy Walsh (Glanmire BC).
Full Squad Breakdown
First Name
First Name
Last Name
Club
Position
Jean
Ahern
Brunell BC
Shooting Guard
Katie
Behan
Templeogue BC
Shooting Guard
Éabha
Booth
Templeogue BC
Shooting Guard
Laura
Buckley
Limerick Celtics
Small Forward
Aoibheann
Donnelly
Belfast Star
Point Guard
Amy
Elliot
Killester BC
Small Forward
Naomi
Farrington
Tolka Rovers
Shooting Guard
Madelyn
Hartigan
Limerick Celtics
Centre
Francesca
Kyamagero
Brunell BC
Shooting Guard
Abbie
Lyons
Brunell BC
Point Guard
Grace
Miley
Templeogue BC
Point Guard
Julie
O’Connor
St. Marys Castleisland
Point Guard
Aimee
O’Reilly
Kilkenny Stars
Centre
Meabh
Purtill
Limerick Celtics
Power Forward
Kaitlyn
Summers
Meteors
Point Guard
Caoimhe
Timmons
Kilkenny Stars
Shooting Guard
Udochukwu
Uzor
Tolka Rovers
Centre
Lucy
Walsh
Glanmire BC
Power Forward