Offaly player set for Ireland senior debut
Tullamore's Emma Glavin is in line for her senior international basketball debut after being included in the Ireland women’s squad by head coach James Weldon’s for two upcoming friendlies.
Ireland will play against Denmark and the Netherlands this Friday, August 2 and Saturday, August 3 respectively.
Glavin (20) contributed 17 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 18 games for University of Galway Mystics in the MissQuote.ie Super League in 2023/24.
Having started her basketball career with Tullamore Basketball Club, Glavin has previously represented Ireland at U18 and U20 level. She was a part of Karl Kilbride’s squad which secured an 8th place finish at the FIBA U20 Women’s Youth EuroBasket in 2023.
A native of Mucklagh, near Tullamore, Glavin is one of two uncapped players along with Laura Bello included in Ireland senior women's squad for the upcoming friendlies. Emma's twin sister Ellie is also a talented basketball player.
6’3” forward Bello (21) played with Idaho State last season, averaging 8.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and a block during 30 games, as her side finished 11-19. She has transferred to UT Arlington for her senior season.
There is a recall for Trinity Meteors Sarah Kenny (27) – who last featured for Ireland in 2021, having missed out on her last call up for a friendly series against Austria in 2023 after sustaining a serious injury. T
Elsewhere, Bridget Herlihy returns to the fold having missed the recent series against Uganda through illness, while Gandy Malou-Mamel and Sarah Hickey are handed call-ups after their U20 international commitments at FIBA Youth EuroBasket came to a conclusion.
“It’s another fantastic opportunity for players to put their hands up for selection with our next FIBA Women’s EuroBasket qualifying window on the horizon,” said head coach James Weldon.
“I was really pleased with the performance against Uganda – especially considering the short amount of time we had in camp beforehand. Denmark and the Netherlands are two great teams that will provide a good test for us and in particular to Laura (Bello) and Emma (Glavin) on their introduction to senior international basketball. We’re all very excited to get back on the court in front of our supporters at the National Basketball Arena,” he added.
In total eight of the squad who featured against Uganda return. Abigail Rafferty and Alex Mulligan miss out after being included in the Ireland U23 3x3 squad for the upcoming FIBA Nations League.
Fixtures: Ireland v Denmark, Friday August 2, 5pm, National Basketball Arena. Ireland v Netherlands, Saturday, August 3, 4pm, National Basketball Arena - both games live on basketballireland.tv
Ireland squad: Enya Maguire, Sorcha Tiernan, Lauryn Homan, Sarah Hickey, Kate Hickey, Mimi Clarke, Bridget Herlihy, Claire Melia, Amy Dooley, Ella O’Donnell, Laura Bello, Sarah Kenny, Emma Glavin, Gandy Malou-Mamel.