They jetted off for the European Games in Baku on Thursday morning and Ireland’s 3×3 basketball squad are certainly looking forward to the challenge lying ahead at the European Games.
The team, which includes Cork’s Orla O’Reilly, Suzanne Maguire of Dublin and Tipperary sisters Gráinne and Niamh Dwyer, are firmly focused on the task in hand.
“It’s about being professional now,” said Basketball Ireland International Liaisons Officer Matthew Hall at the final training session in Ireland this week.
“Most of our players have to fit their preparations around their jobs, so it’s about going the extra mile in terms of rest, nutrition and hydration along with the training.
“Mental preparation is key as well. I’ve asked the players to find 25 minutes of quiet time in the day every day where they can just focus on the plays and being ready for the action. 3×3 basketball is lightning quick, so we’ll need our sets to be second nature when it comes down to it.”
The squad will have four days of acclimatisation in the Azeri capital before competition begins on Tuesday, June 23rd.
Ireland will face Slovenia first on Tuesday before going head to head with Slovakia and later meeting Spain on Wednesday.
