Dooley insists dogged display against Latvia proves Ireland women’s basketball is on the rise

IRELAND 90 

LATVIA 96 

Portlaoise Panthers centre, Amy Dooley believes the hugely impressive performance that Ireland served up in their 96-90 defeat at the hands of Latvia in the closing match to their FIBA EuroBasket 2025 qualification campaign in the National Basketball Arena on Sunday only serves to prove that Irish women’s basketball is heading in the right direction.

James Weldon’s side may have finished bottom of Group E without a win, but their display in Tallaght against a Latvia side, who are ranked 57 places above them at 28th in the world standings, offers cause for great optimism.

Indeed, Ireland, who had lost out to Latvia by 32 points (85-53) in the reverse fixture back in November, mounted a far greater challenge on their home court this time around and, in fact, led their opponents by a point with just over a minute remaining.

Yet a seven-point surge by the visitors on the home straight denied Ireland the fairytale ending that many in the packed National Basketball Arena, including Dooley, felt they deserved.

“It was such a great performance and it’s disappointing not to get the win, because I thought we deserved it” insisted Dooley, who was drafted on to the Ireland senior international programme last year.

“But just to produce that performance and show such pride in the Irish jersey, it was really important for us.

“Some of those Latvian girls are amazing players. Most of them play professionally. A lot of us aren’t, but it just shows that we’re closing the gap.

“It just shows that we’re moving forward and that we can be up there with certain teams in the world.

“It inspires the younger generation too, and, also for us, we can see that we’re not far off these teams. We probably should have won that game today, but there’ll be other games in the next window that we’ll be definitely aiming for” she insisted.

An early bucket by Claire Melia saw Ireland draw first blood in a tight opening couple of minutes on Sunday that preceded an eight-point run for the visitors, as captain Anete Steinberga, who emerged the game’s top scorer on 33 points, quickly began to make her presence felt.

Ireland skipper, Edel Thornton got her side motoring again with a sublime three and they managed to keep their opponents well in sight as Melia muscled her way in again before Kate Hickey landed a three-point jump shot.

Latvia did serve up another six unanswered points compliments of Kitija Laksa, Digna Strautmane and Steinberga, but Ireland had the final say in the opening quarter as Thornton somehow drained a three under immense pressure to leave six between the sides (24-18).

The hosts made a strong start to the second quarter as Sarah Hickey scored layups either side of a deuce from Melia to level the game at 24 points apiece, the Monasterevin women proving a real headache for Latvia in the paint as she amassed 20 points by the half-time recess.

The two sides continued to go toe to toe, with Áine O’Connor taking two from the free-throw line to nudge Ireland a point in front with just under a minute to go before the interval.

Yet Latvia closed out that half on the front foot as Katrina Ozola and Laksa drained big threes, the latter’s landing right on the buzzer to see the visitors take a narrow 51-46 advantage into the break.

While Sarah Hickey did start the third with a point from the free-throw line, Latvia accounted for the next five through Laksa, Steinberga and Luize Sila, as they moved 10 clear almost midway through the penultimate quarter.

But Ireland dug in, Sorcha Tiernan landing a three-point jump shot that was followed by a deuce from her Liffey Celtics’ team mate, Hazel Finn, along with a breathtaking shot clock-beating three by Kate Hickey.

Finn then drained two from the free-throw line to propel Ireland three ahead, only to see their opponents hit back with a Strautmane three and more free-throws from Steinberga that left them 70-68 in front heading into the fourth.

Ireland remained on the heels of their opponents throughout the final period, as Tiernan drove in for a couple of layups before Melia and Bridget Herlihy drained big threes.

Two Thornton free throws had the home side in front by the narrowest of margins with 1:19 left on the clock, but, once again, Latvia delivered when required, serving up the final seven points of the game, courtesy of Laksa and Steinberga to secure a hard-fought victory.

IRELAND: Michelle Clarke, Kate Hickey, Sarah Hickey, Hazel Finn, Lauryn Homan, Edel Thornton, Abigail Rafferty, Claire Melia, Bridget Herlihy, Sorcha Tiernan, Amy Dooley, Áine O’Connor.

Top Scorers: Claire Melia (26), Sarah Hickey (19), Edel Thornton (14), Kate Hickey (9), Bridget Herlihy (9).

LATVIA: Elizabete Bulane, Paula Strautmane, Ketija Vihmane, Anete Steinberga, Ilze Jakobsone, Laura Meldere, Lina Loceniece, Luize Sila, Kitija Laksa, Kate Vilka, Katrina Ozola, Digna Strautmane.

Top Scorers: Anete Steinberga (33), Kitija Laksa (17), Digna Strautmane (14), Luize Sila (11).