The Ireland Under 18 men’s and women’s 3x3 teams are in action this weekend at the 2019 FIBA 3x3 Under 18 Europe Cup qualifiers in Rieti, Italy.
The men’s team has been drawn in a very tough Pool A alongside Germany, Croatia, Poland and hosts Italy, while the women’s team has also been drawn in Pool A and will face Poland and hosts Italy in their qualifiers.

You can check out the official event website here: http://www.fiba.basketball/europe/3x3U18/2019/Italy

Ireland U18 Women’s 3x3 Results

Saturday, August 3rd
Poland 21-13 Ireland

Italy 19-10 Ireland

Ireland U18 Men’s 3x3 Results

Saturday, August 3rd
Germany 21-8 Ireland
Ireland 8-19 Poland

Sunday, August 4th 
Croatia 15-10 Ireland
Ireland 12-20 Italy

Ireland U18 Men’s 3x3 Fixtures - All times are Irish times

Ireland U18 Women’s 3x3 Detailed Results

GAME 1
Poland: 21
Ireland: 13

Ireland U18 Women’s 3x3 team fell short of victory as they lost out 13-21 in their opening pool game of the FIBA U18 3x3 Europe qualifiers. Ireland entered foul trouble early as both teams played physically from the get-go. It took Ireland a few passages of play to get into a rhythm but Ciara Mulleady and Mia Furlong got Ireland on the board. Erin Maguire played the point as she set up scores for Kate Hickey and Furlong, as well as picking up a score herself. Furlong contributed a pair of two pointers, while also heading to the free throw line multiple times. In the end, Ireland’s foul trouble allowed Poland to capitalise on free throws and come away victorious.

IRELAND: Mia Furlong (8), Erin Maguire (1), Kate Hickey (2), Ciara Mulleady (2)

GAME 2
Italy: 19
Ireland: 10
In their final game, the Irish Under 18 Women 3x3 started well but ultimately struggled against the home side, Italy, in a 10-19 loss. Furlong performed well, making crucial scores in an attempt to regain the lead. Hickey and Mulleady rebounded well, allowing Ireland to start new possessions. Maguire hit some nice shots and had multiple assists, but the physicality and skill of the Italian team led Ireland to their second loss.
IRELAND: Mia Furlong (5), Erin Maguire (4), Kate Hickey (1), Ciara Mulleady

Speaking after her side’s losses, Ireland Under 18 Women’s 3x3 head coach Niamh Dwyer stated, “I'm very happy with many of the aspects of the team’s performance. They worked extremely hard in the games which kept them competitive right up to the last minute when both Poland and Italy pulled away. A lack of execution and teething problems, given this was their first official 3x3 games, cost us key moments. The struggle for the girls was with game management and understanding that only comes with playing experience of the 3x3 format but they proved they are very competent and capable of competing at a high level.”

Ireland U18 Men’s 3x3 Detailed Results

GAME 1

Germany: 21

Ireland: 8 

Ireland U18 Men’s 3x3 team lost out 10-21 to Germany in their first pool game of the FIBA U18 3x3 Europe Cup qualifiers. Germany got the first score of the game but Ireland replied quickly with two scores from beyond the arc by Sam Alajiki. Scores were traded for a period between both teams, including a huge dunk from Alajiki. Germany began to pull away but Ireland did not lose intensity. Brendan Clark performed well on the boards, including a big block against the physical German team. Andrew O’Connor contributed with a couple of points in an aim to fight back against the German side, however, it was too little, too late as Germany reached the point threshold and claim the victory.

IRELAND: Andrew O’Connor (2), Aaron O’Donovan, Brendan Clark (1), Sam Alajiki (7)

GAME 2
Ireland: 8
Poland: 19
In their second game, the Irish Under 18 Men’s 3x3 faced a very physical Poland. Both sides traded scores in the early stages of the game but Poland began to pull away shortly after. Brendan Clark added scores as Ireland tried to stay in the hunt. Ireland were forced to play the remainder of the game with three players as Aaron O’Donovan suffered an injury and Poland took advantage of having a fresh player, as they pulled away for victory, 8-19.
IRELAND: Andrew O’Connor (2), Aaron O’Donovan, Brendan Clark (2), Sam Alajiki (4)

GAME 3
Croatia: 15
Ireland: 10
In their third pool game at the FIBA U18 3x3 Europe Cup Qualifiers, the Irish Under 18 Men’s team lost out 15-10 to group leaders Croatia. Croatia had won all of their prior pool games. Ireland were up against it from the beginning as Aaron O’Donovan was ruled out through injury, meaning they only had three players for the game. Sam Alajiki scored four straight points early to assert the Irish team’s hunger for victory. Slowly but surely, the Croatians built a small lead and the teams began to exchange points. Brendan Clark and Andrew O’Connor picked up scores, along with a few more from Alajiki but the Croatian side stayed tough on defence and came away with the victory.
IRELAND: Andrew O’Connor (1), Brendan Clark (4), Sam Alajiki (5)

GAME 4
Ireland: 12
Italy: 20
In their final pool game at the FIBA U18 3x3 Europe Cup Qualifiers, the Irish Under 18 Men’s team came up short against hosts Italy, 20-12. Ireland started the game brightly, with Brendan Clark and Sam Alajiki picking up nice scores. The teams were level for the majority of the middle period of the game but Ireland, only playing with three players, could not compete with the extra man of the Italians. Clark had a huge poster dunk, in what was one of the plays of the tournament, but the Italian side pulled away at the end of the game and achieved victory.
IRELAND: Andrew O’Connor (4), Brendan Clark (1), Sam Alajiki (7)

Reflecting on his side’s performance at the tournament, head coach Pat O’Neill said, “I’m very proud of how the guys played as the games progressed. We learned to deal with adversity, as losing Aaron early in our second game meant we had no substitutions for the rest of the tournament. All four guys worked very hard and to hold the group winners Croatia and the number one seed Italy from finishing before the time limit is testimony to their effort.”

The Ireland U18 Women’s 3x3 team 2019

Mia Furlong, Glanmire Community College, Glanmire BC
Erin Maguire, Ulidia Integrated College, Ulster University Elks
Kate Hickey, Our Lady of Mercy, Waterford Wildcats
Ciara Mulleady, Colaiste Chiarain, Courtyard Liffey Celtics

The Ireland U18 men’s 3x3 team 2019:
Andrew O’Connor, Presentation Brothers College, Ballincollig BC
Aaron O’Donovan, St Francis College, Fr Mathews BC
Brendan Clark, European School of Varese, Pallacanestro Varese (Italy)
Sam Alajiki, Canterbury High School, Kent Crusaders