Tensions high as gutsy Ireland are outclassed
Opponents shunned after jibe
Hickey stood
out with tally of 22 points
EVERYONE can now move on. The Irish players beat a hasty retreat towards the sanctuary of the changingroom as soon as this rearranged EuroBasket 2025 qualifier was over. You had the feeling that the swift exit had nothing to do with the 30-point defeat or letting the victors savour their moment.
There were no handshakes when this match ended, just as there had been none before tipoff. The Ireland players also stood at the side of the court rather than in the centre, as is usual, for the pre-match anthems. This was a protest at Israel player Dor Sa’ar labelling the Irish as ‘quite anti-semitic’ in an interview earlier this week.
Basketball Ireland had branded these allegations as ‘inflammatory’ and ‘wholly inaccurate’ while also lodging a complaint with FIBA. Sa’ar’s interview added fuel to a fire that had already been raging around this controversial fixture, which was originally supposed to be played in Tel Aviv last November.
Prominent sporting figures such as Michael Darragh Macauley, Tony Ward and Kieran Donaghy had asked the Ireland team to boycott, as a stand against Israel’s bombardment of Gaza. However, Basketball Ireland CEO John Feehan said the fine, of upwards of €80,000, likely to come from FIBA for failing to fulfil this qualifier would risk the long-term financial well-being of the sport.
Sa’ar, who was making her debut for Israel, rubbed salt into the wound, by draining four three-pointers during her 13 minutes on the court. But Sa’ar, a prominent player for Maine in US college basketball, is just one of many talented performers that the fully-professional Israeli outfit could call upon, including WNBA star Jennie Simms.
Despite all that, Ireland had probably the best player on the court. SETU Waterford Wildcats star Sarah Hickey was the game’s top-scorer, with 22 points while also claiming the most rebounds for her team with 14 and also most assists with four. She was the most impressive performer for a brave Ireland team in a game played in an eerie atmosphere behind-closed doors.
It was always going to be a tall order for James Weldon’s side, especially as five first-choice players declined to travel to Latvia, because of the situation in Gaza, while they were also without the influence of injured captain Edel Thornton. Weldon gave debuts to teenager Grace Prenter, Alex Mulligan and Amy Dooley and the Ireland head coach praised his players’ maturity in how they handled all the noise of the past few days.
‘I think for such a young group of players they showed incredible maturity in how they handled a very pressured week,’ Weldon said, ‘It’s been difficult for all of us, but we kept it tight and kept it together and all I can say is that we did not back down out there today. They’re a good side, a player who played in the WNBA, all professional players. The second half was really good and we’ve got plenty to build on.’
Ireland started brightly, coming back from 7-0 down but Israel started to pull away and led 5132. They increased that lead in the third quarter, stretching it out to 68-40, but Ireland, driven forward by the impressive Hickey, rallied in the final 10 minutes.
Weldon didn’t want to dwell on his players not partaking in the pre-match formalities. ‘I would prefer to be talking about basketball and not this, we didn’t engage in the pre-match activities as a direct result of those unwarranted and unacceptable comments from the Israeli camp about our players. It was hugely disappointing, we came here for a game of basketball, we wanted to win, but didn’t come out on the right side of the result on this occasion. We had three international debutants, we’re building a squad, so there’s positives to take from this game.’
And there were certainly positive elements to this game. With the spotlight turned on this team, Hickey, in particular, stood out, and at times, Ireland battled gamely enough to bridge the gap of 31 ranking places between the team – Israel are currently 49th in the world.
So, the fixture was fulfilled. The €80,000 fine was avoided and Irish players even had their own form of protest, even if it won’t placate those who had demanded a boycott.
None of that should take away from the fact that this young Irish team were placed in an extremely difficult position.
The return fixture is due to take place in the National Basketball Arena this November. What will happen then?