Leixlip woman Tiernan selected for Irish basketball squad for European Championships

Leixlip woman Sorcha Tiernan has been selected as part of the Irish national team that will play at this year's European Championships for small countries. Tiernan, who starred for the Irish U18 side last summer, is part of 12-strong squad that will feature at the FIBA tournament which will be held in Cork this summer. The team was unveiled at a special team announcement at the River Lee Hotel in Cork yesterday evening and, speaking about the news, Coach Mark Scannell stated: “It’s been a long process and we have looked at over 20 players these past two years and have had to make tough choices, but we are happy that we are now at the best available 12 players to represent Ireland in Cork. “I want to thank all those players, who tried out and who didn’t make it, for their dedication and time. I would also like to thank the staff for their hard work to date and to congratulate the players selected as well. I have no doubt that we will compete and challenge for the gold medal in Cork next month. The focus narrows now though, as we go to Poland next week for preparation games and we will give our all from now until our first game.” Ireland will play in Group B at the championships – which will run from June 26th to July 1st at the Mardyke Arena UCC – facing the challenges of Luxembourg, Norway and Cyprus. Reigning champions Malta, who pipped Ireland to the gold medal in 2016, will also compete, and will contest Group A alongside Gibraltar, Moldova and Denmark. The Ireland Senior Women’s team 2018 is: Aine McKenna, Ambassador UCC Glanmire (Listowel, Co. Kerry) Amy Waters, Singleton SuperValu Brunell (Gurranabraher, Co. Cork) Casey Grace, Ambassador UCC Glanmire (Carrigaline Co. Cork) Claire Rockall, Ambassador UCC Glanmire (Maree, Co. Galway) Danielle O'Leary, Singleton SuperValu Brunell (Gurranabraher, Co. Cork) Edel Thornton, Quinnipiac University (Gurranabraher, Co. Cork) Fiona O'Dwyer, A.S.D Basket Femminile Stabia (Stamford, Connecticut, USA) Grainne Dwyer, Ambassador UCC Glanmire (Thurles, Co. Tipperary) Hannah Thornton, Pyrobel Killester (Clontarf, Co. Dublin) Sarah Woods, DCU Mercy (Clontarf, Co. Dublin) Sorcha Tiernan, Courtyard Liffey Celtics (Leixlip, Co. Kildare) Stephanie O'Shea, Maxol WIT Wildcats (Butlerstown, Co. Waterford)