Limerick’s Eve Nealon is involved with the squad.

Report courtesy of Basketball Ireland.

It was a tough day on court for the Ireland Under 18 women’s team today as they lost out 77-37 to a tall and very physical Russian side in their second group game at the FIBA Under 18 Women’s European Championship Division A.

A huge basket from Eve Nealon rounds off the scoring for Ireland as it finishes Russia 77 Ireland 37. Hard luck girls 🏀 #FIBAU18Europe #GreenShoots @LimerickCeltics pic.twitter.com/FQDbtKbv4x

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) August 5, 2018

The girls in green started strong in the opening quarter, with good scoring from Dayna Finn, Niamh Masterson and Enya Maguire seeing them edge into an 8-10 lead with seven minutes gone. A refocused Russia came storming back into proceedings though, and put up 12 points in the closing stages of the quarter to lead 20-10 at the end of the first.

A tough second quarter followed, as scores were at a premium for the Irish as Russia began to use their size and physicality to their advantage, punishing Ireland under the boards and forcing turnovers to lead 34-16 going in at half time.

Ireland regrouped at the break, and came out fighting in the third. Good link up play between Maguire and Bronagh Power-Cassidy caused trouble for the Russian defence, while scores from Katie Williamson, Ella McCloskey and Finn closed the gap somewhat to see Russia lead 48-27 going into the last.

Good work in the fourth quarter from the Irish saw a further ten points added to the board, but it just wasn’t enough down the stretch though, as Russia continued to add scores at the other end, to win out 77-37.

IRELAND: Annaliese Murphy (3), Bronagh Power Cassidy (11), Dayna Finn (9), Enya Maguire, Ella McCloskey (4), Eve Nealon, Katie Williamson (8), Lynn Tunnah, Maeve Ó Séaghdha (5), Maeve Phelan, Niamh Masterson, Nicole Clancy (4).