Branagan serves up strong showing for Ireland in Under 14 Four Nations

EVAN Branagan of Portlaoise Panthers Basketball club certainly garnered some valuable experience on the international stage, as he helped Ireland to a third-place finish at the Under 14 Boys Four Nations Tournament in East Kilbride, Scotland last weekend.

Following a heavy 75-34 defeat at the hands of eventual champions, England in their opening group game on Friday evening, Keith Daly’s side bounced back strongly with emphatic wins over Wales and Scotland to finish up second in the pool the following day.

It meant that they faced off against Scotland again in the tournament semi-finals on Sunday, but a disappointing 63-45 defeat denied them further passage through to face England in the decider.

Instead, they took on Wales in the third/fourth place play-off, signing off on the competition with a resounding 82-43 victory, in which Branagan was one four players to hit double figures for Ireland with 13 points, while also carding three rebounds.

It was a tough start to this tournament for Ireland, as they took on an English side that was spurred on to victory by a combined 29 points from Jack Bishop and Josiah Hendricks.

Jamie Charles was the only Irish player to hit double digits in that curtain raiser with 11 points, while Tony Glaholm mopped up seven rebounds.

Ireland did, however, really cut loose on Saturday morning as they stormed to a 106-28 triumph over Wales, Olly O’Shea emerging the game’s top scorer on 24 points, while Charles weighed in with 18 and Branagan, Glaholm and Lucas Lumanlan combined for a further 33.

The runner-up spot in the group was assured hours later when Ireland recorded a 76-46 success against Scotland, Branagan chalking up his highest game total of the tournament with 17 points, just two shy of the game-high 19 put up by Lumanlan.

It was a great defensive display by Ireland in the second half that really propelled them to victory, Daly’s side restricting their opponents to just 15 points, while they put up 37 in that same period.

Yet the Scots certainly turned the tables on Ireland when they clashed again in semi-finals on Sunday morning, holding them to 15 points in the opening half on their way to an 18-point victory.

Carter McSweeney and Mazin Ahmed inflicted heavy damage, with a combined haul of 38 points that went a long way to propelling Scotland through to the final where they were eventually undone by the English 75-37.

Lumanlan and Branagan did total 31 points and 13 rebounds between them in that penultimate round fixture, but even that impressive return was not enough to inspire Ireland to victory.

It was a disappointing setback for Daly’s side, but they were determined to end their campaign on a high note against Wales, Branagan, O’Shea and Lumanlan each carding 13 points, with Charles chalking up a game-high 15.

Branagan has every reason to feel bolstered by his performance in Scotland which capped a season that saw him play a huge part in a haul of eight titles for Portlaoise Panthers’ Under 14 boys.

Indeed, he captained the side to everything that was available to them in Midlands, Kilkenny and North Munster competition.

The team also turned in a hugely impressive display in the AIG All-Ireland Club Championship back in April, battling their way to the Under-14 Division A final, where they were eventually undone 49-42 by Éanna.

Portlaoise will have more Four Nations tournament action to look forward to later this month as their own Jayden Umeh and Desmond Ogedegbe compete for Ireland in the Under-17 Men’s competition in Cardiff on 28 and 29 June.