The basketball community of Northern Ireland are proud to be supporting our players featuring for Ireland on the international stage. These players have worked tirelessly in the pursuit of excellence and are now important members of their respective teams.
Enya Maguire
Enya, a graduate transfer to NJIT , after a 4-year stint at Houston Christian has been a member of national teams since being picked by current performance coordinator , Andy Gill , for the Irish U16 women team as a callow 13-year-old back in 2013. She has represented her country at U16, U18, U20 and as a full international. She is currently a member of the Ireland 3 X 3 women squad featuring in the women 3 X 3 World series tournaments putting up a number of strong performances. Follow along with Enya and the Ireland senior 3 X 3 team at the World Series tournaments at, https://womensseries.fiba3x3.com/2024/fribourg/games
Erin Maguire
Erin, now in her third year at Houston Christian, began her international career mimicking her sister with selection in 2015 for Ireland also as a 13-year-old and also by Andy Gill. She too was capped at U16, U18 and U20. Erin is now a member of both Team NI senior women and Ireland Under 23 3 X 3 teams. Ireland U23’s are currently featuring in the European Nations league where Erin has been in outstanding form. Follow Erin and Abigail in the European Nations U23 3 X 3 tournament in Bucharest at https://nationsleague.fiba3x3.com/2024/bucharest-europe-3-stop4/teams/women
Abigal Rafferty
Abbey, a starter for the UUJ women super league team also began her Irish career in 2016, a team that in 2018 once again featured Andy, this time as an assistant to Karl Kilbride. Abbey went on to be capped at U18 , U20 and has recently won her first senior cap under coach James Wheldon. Abbey is also a member of the Team NI senior women and Ireland U23 Nations League 3 X 3 team and continues her fine form for both in the U23 European Nations League games. Follow Erin and Abigail in the European Nations U23 3 X 3 tournament in Bucharest at https://nationsleague.fiba3x3.com/2024/bucharest-europe-3-stop4/teams/women
Aoibheann Donnelly
Aoibheann, of Belfast Star, is now in her second year as a member of the Ireland U16 women’s team and has the honour of being announced as captain by Paul O’Brien for the forthcoming European preparation games and European B championships in Turkey. Aoibheann top scored for Ireland in the recent 4 Nations series in Dublin and has proved herself to be a go to scorer both in BNI club games and at the national level. Keep up to date with Aoibheann and the Ireland U16 Girls results at https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-u16-womens-eurobasket-2024-division-b/games
Mark Burns
Mark, of Belfast Star, has been selected by coach Paul Kelleher to represent the U16 men’s team at the European B championships in Macedonia in August. Mark has been a dominant scorer in club basketball for his club and now has the chance to replicate this at the international stage. He put up double figures in the game v Scotland at the 4 Nations and continues to show his versatility as a member of the squad. Keep up to date with Mark and the Ireland U16 Boys results at https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-u16-eurobasket-2024-division-b/games
Pathway performance coordinator Andy Gill stated, ‘These 5 players continue to demonstrate a drive and determination to improve personal performance that should be an example to all the of us in the Basketball Northern Ireland basketball community. We wish to give them all our full support for their summer endeavours and shall be following their progress in the games and tournaments over the summer.’
