Keenan includes Templeogue trio in squad for European Championships

IRELAND senior men’s basketball team head coach, Mark Keenan has included three players from Griffith College Templeogue in his 12-man line-up for the FIBA European Championship for Small Countries, set to take place at the National Basketball Arena from August 10-15.

Keenan, who has coached Templeogue to Super League, National Cup and Champions Trophy success in recent years, has installed Jason Killeen as captain in his national squad with Templeogue clubmates Lorcan Murphy and Neil Randolph also joining him on the panel.

And there could be more interest for the Reds with Stephen James and James Gormley named in the reserves along with Isaac Westbrooks of Killester and Belfast Star’s Aidan Quinn.

Former Templeogue player Sean Flood is one of four competitors in the squad who played European basketball last season, yet he is currently unattached to a club and has yet to reveal where he will be playing next season.

Hosts Ireland will face Andorra in their opening fixture of the round robin tournament on August 10 with games against San Marino (August 12), Gibraltar (August 14) and Malta (August 15) following.

Keenan was captain of Ireland the last time they won a senior men’s international tournament, when they claimed the Promotions Cup in 1994, which also took place at the National Basketball Arena.

Speaking about his team selection for the upcoming tournament, he said “As a coaching staff we are delighted with the squad selection we have made.

“It was a very difficult task as we anticipated at the start of the programme that many great players would not make the final tournament squad.

“From 2019 to now we have worked with a group of approximately 30 players in total. All have contributed greatly to the progress of the team and I consider all those players as still being a part of our extended squad and part of our group.

“I would like to thank all those players for their dedication, hard work and desire for wanting to be part of this Irish senior men’s team.

“We are pleased to announce Jason Killeen as our team captain and Kyle Hosford as vice-captain for the tournament.

“Jason has been a constant with the national team over the past 14 years, barring injury, and has been a prominent player in the Super League for many years. With his experience and personality he will be a great leader for this team” he insisted.