With the Euro’s back tonight in soccer there is a danger that other sports get lost in the maelstrom of activity that’s going on but Ireland’s senior basketball teams are fighting hard to secure their place in the public mind.
Both the men’s and women’s teams qualified for the semi-finals of the FIBA Small Nations tournament yesterday with wins over Malta and Moldova respectively.
The sport has only just returned to international action and the senior teams are self funded in the manner of club sides. It is a great example of being positive and making something happen despite the easier path being to stay with what is comfortable.
The move has opened up the prospect of national recognition for a new generation of players and at a time when Steph Curry and Lebron James lead the way in global sports recognition it is only right that Basketball Ireland should be resurgent on the international stage.
Basketball will be one of our member sports to feature in our new Challenger Series over the coming weeks looking at the opportunities and challenges faced by sports beyond the biggest players.
