Keenan’s men overpowered by Austria despite bright start

IRELAND were unable to build on a gritty first-quarter performance and consequently lost out 92-66 to Austria in their FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers in Salzburg yesterday.

Captained by Sean flood from Kingswood, Mark Keenan’s outfit went toe-to-toe with their hosts early on, with a three-point jump shot by Jordan Blount and two free throws from Taiwo Badmus leaving the match deadlocked at 10 points apiece midway through the opening quarter.

Yet within a minute Austria, propelled by Thomas Kelpeisz’s three-pointer, had moved into a seven-point advantage, only to see Ireland respond with a 12-point run that featured a trademark dunk by Griffith College Templeogue’s Lorcan Murphy.

That, together with pair of three-point jump shots by Badmus and Flood, edged Ireland 22-17 in front before Austria overtook into a one-point lead heading into the second quarter.

That narrow advantage was extended to seven with the second quarter just three minutes old as Renato Poljak landed two three-point jump shots.

The homeside was moving through the gears at this stage and led 51-35 at the halftime recess after which Ireland whittled the gap down to 12 when Blount sank two three-pointers.

Making his senior international debut, Clondalkin man, Aidan Harris Igiehon weighed in with four points, but Austria had opened up an 86-59 lead with just over two minutes remaining and that stranglehold on the tie was never really threatened.

“It was a tough defeat after such a bright start” Keenan told TG4 after the game.

“We were right in the game, but to be fair, they shot the lights out again tonight, as they did in Dublin” he added.

Ireland will now take on Switzerland on Sunday at a sold-out National Basketball Arena.