Tullamore sisters preparing for European championships
Two Tullamore sisters are part of the Ireland U20 women’s basketball squad preparing for the FIBA European Championships, which will start in Romania next month.
Emma Glavin and her twin sister Ellie Glavin were selected on the final 12-person Ireland squad for the championships, which take place in Craiova, Romania between July 28 and August 6.
Emma and Ellie began their basketball careers with Tullamore Basketball Club, where they demonstrated their talents from a young age, and they both now play for the University of Galway Mystics.
Both formed part of the Mystics' U20 Women’s National Cup winning side, and they also featured prominently during their Women’s Super League season.
Emma averaged 28-minutes per game and 7.4 points per game, while Ellie had 3.7 points per game on just under 19-minutes per game at the top table of Irish women’s basketball.
Ireland will compete in the FIBA U20 Women’s European Championship ‘B’ Division in 2023 and have been drawn in Group B alongside Romania, Greece and Georgia.
Speaking after announcing his squad, Ireland head coach Karl Kilbride said: "Selecting 12 players from the group that we started with is one of the toughest processes we've ever had to go through as a coaching staff. There's so much ability and experience in the extended group, resulting in some serious talent missing out. We couldn't possibly be more excited to be working with and going away with the 12 girls we have.
"We're really fortunate to have the depth of experience we've got in the team, playing at the highest levels in our National League, The United States and also previous FIBA Youth European Championships."
Ireland U20 women's basketball squad
Ella O’Donnell, Quinnipiac University.
Ellie Glavin, University of Galway Mystics.
Emily Smyth, Dublin Lions & Maynooth University.
Emma Glavin, University of Galway Mystics.
Hazel Finn, University of Galway Mystics.
Kara McCleane, University of Galway Mystics.
Katie Flanagan, Dublin Lions & Coláiste Bride.
Lucy Coogan, Caldwell University.
Maria Kealy, Ulster University Tigers & Loreto, Letterkenny.
Micaiah Fubara, DCU Mercy & UCD.
Sarah Hickey, Waterford Wildcats & University of Limerick.
Sinéad Keane, Trinity Meteors & Maynooth University.