Sisters represent Ireland at European Championships

TWO Coolock sisters are looking forward to representing Ireland in basketball at Under 16 and Under 18 level at the European Championships in Romania and Bosnia respectively. 

Bronagh (Under 16) and Saoirse (Under 18) Power Cassidy will take to the courts following great success at club and school level this year.

Both girls started playing basketball before the age of seven at the DCU Mercy Academy and Saoirse says they were brought up with the sport since she and Bronagh were small.

“Basketball has always been in our family,” Saoirse says. “Our dad used to play it when he was younger so it was introduced to us growing up and has always been there.”

The Power Cassidys have had a year to remember as they both won Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards in their respective All-Ireland Schools League Finals in Tallaght in February with Holy Faith Secondary School, Clontarf.

Bronagh will have the privilege of captaining the Ireland Under 16 team following her fantastic year as she led DCU Mercy to Club Championship glory in April at the same age level and is looking forward to leading out the Irish team.

“I find it such an honour and I am playing with a fantastic group of girls and we all get on really well and I am so delighted to have gotten this opportunity,” she says. 

Saoirse, who is the youngest girl to be selected for the DCU Mercy Superleague team, will be taking part on an Irish team for the second time and feels the experience will help her perform even better this time.

“We may go away and play friendly games with other countries but this (competition play) is completely different,” she says. 

“Last year’s experience will definitely help. With how the games work and the training, it is quite professional and it is good to know how that works beforehand.” 

Bronagh and Saoirse recently sat their respective Junior Cert and Leaving Cert exams and although their schedules have been hectic at times, they believe the balance between books and basketball was something they thrived on.

Saoirse says: “It has been very busy. Both myself and Bronagh have been doing exams so it has been a lot of study and basketball at the same time.”

Bronagh adds: “Obviously study is important but myself and Saoirse found basketball as a good break from study. 

“We enjoy doing something else that takes your mind off the books because 

it helps you to focus more when you are studying because they balance each other.” The girls are quietly optimistic as they both feel they have been dealt difficult groups but also believe their teams have what it takes to do well in the European Championships.

REPORT: Brein McGinn