Uncapped duo Sarah Hickey and Ciara Bracken included in Ireland squad for Netherlands qualifier

Uncapped duo Sarah Hickey and Ciara Bracken have been included in James Weldon's 12-person Ireland squad for the upcoming FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2023 Qualifier with the Netherlands.

Hickey, who plays with Waterford Wildcats, featured for both the U18 and U20 Ireland women's teams in this summer’s FIBA European Championships, while Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics' Ciara Bracken has also played underage basketball for her country.

American-born Bridget Herlihy, who plays with Mark Basket Marbo Kinna in Sweden, is set for a FIBA Women’s EuroBasket debut against the Dutch, following an impressive bow at international level in friendlies against Estonia and Portugal in August. DCU Mercy’s Hannah Thornton and Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics’ Sorcha Tiernan return to the squad after missing the previous international window due to injury and travel commitments respectively.

Also returning to the fold after a 13-year absence is Orla O'Reilly. Head coach Weldon, who has been in constant dialogue with the 32-year-old since he took charge of the Irish team in 2018, has rewarded O’Reilly’s fine form in Australia with a call-up for the tie. She was a key part of the Ireland squad who reached the last eight of the FIBA 3x3 European Games in Azerbaijan in 2015.

Her inclusion adds significant experience to a squad, already boasting Trinity Meteors pair Claire Melia and Dayna Finn, Ireland senior women’s captain Edel Thornton, as well as Rachel Huijsdens and Killester’s Michelle Clarke, who all have been in scintillating form to start the MissQuote.ie Super League season.

"We believe that the experience of Orla O’Reilly, as a seasoned Irish professional, will be of immense value to the team we’ve selected, as we transition the younger