Keenan names Ireland squad for Euro pre-qualifiers

IRELAND senior men’s basketball team head coach, Mark Keenan has included Griffith College Templeogue pair Neil Randolph and Lorcan Murphy in his 17-man extended Ireland squad ahead of next week’s FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers against Switzerland and Cyprus.

Ireland tipped off their qualification campaign back in November with an 81-73 victory over Cyprus in Nicosia, followed by a 97-70 home defeat at the hands of Austria.

They will now turn their attention to their next outing which sees them face Switzerland in Fribourg on February 24 before playing host to Cyprus at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght on February 27.

Pleased with the make-up of his panel ahead of the latest phase of competition, Keenan said “We’ve a strong mix of domestic and foreign-based players and narrowing it down to the final 12 this weekend will be a difficult one, which is a testament to the depth we’re now building.

“We’re just eight days away from our first game of the February window, with a trip to Switzerland and then our home game against Cyprus on Sunday week.

“We’ve got a 1-1 record from the November games, which leave us very much in the shake-up in the group and we’re targeting more wins, as we look to reach the next stage of FIBA EuroBasket qualification” he added.

Keenan will announce his final 12-man squad this Sunday.