August 25, 2016
Ireland Senior Men’s Squad 2016
Ireland finish 4th in first International Tournament in 7 years.
Ireland’s bid for a third ever medal at the FIBA Men’s European Championships for Small Countries came up just in a 60-53 defeat to San Marino in the bronze medal match.
It was the third time in tournament history that Ireland had lost to a team they had beaten in Group Stages and the microstate celebrated wildly as they ran down the clock. Ireland were having a poor day from the three-point line with just two successes from 26 attempts, making it all the harder to reel in a deficit heading down the stretch.
Ciaran O’Sullivan came in for his second start of the tournament and substitute Keelan Cairns hit some early baskets before a 5-0 run gave San Marino a 13-12 lead for the first quarter.
Jordan Blount pulled off some explosive moves to help forge a 21-15 lead midway through the second period. The University of Illinois at Chicago recruit completed his double-double in 16 minutes of the first half while Brian Fitzpatrick took his chances in the paint for seven points.
Fitzpatrick made Ireland’s first three to help build on a 29-21 half-time lead and with Kyle Hosford penetrating well, Ireland were poised to close out the win.
San Marino replied with back-to-back threes and pulled off a spectacular alley-oop to swing momentum firmly in their favour. Ireland’s challenge ultimately faded and they failed to score in the last 3:45 of the game.
Ireland: Kyle Hosford*(6), Kevin Lacey*, Jordan Blount* (16), Ciaran O’Sullivan*, Brian Fitzpatrick*(16), Adrian O’Sullivan, Paul Dick (4), Lorcan Murphy (1), Stephen James (3), Keelan Cairns (7), Colin O’Reilly, Conor Gallagher.