Offaly twins part of great Irish basketball win

OFFALY twins Ellie and Emma Glavin were part of Ireland's victory over basketball powerhouse nation Greece at U20 level this weekend.

Ireland's Under 20 Womens National Basketball Squad took the scalp of basketball juggernaut Greece last Friday night at the European Championships in Craiova Romania by 80 points to 74. This would rank as one of Irish Basketball's most noteworthy results at International level ever.  Ellie and Emma Glavin from Mucklagh are important members of the squad.  The result while unexpected, showed the huge progress this group of girls have made under the stewardship of Coach Karl Kilbride from Killester Dublin. 

When you factor in that the Greek team had seven players on University Scholarships in the United States at top level basketball Universities such as Kansas,  Stanford California, Santa Clara, Western Michigan and Canisius you get a picture of the magnitude of achievement in this victory. The team play both Romania and Georgia in their next group games and would be hopeful now of progressing to the Quarter final stages. Emma and Ellie are daughters of Jer Glavin, originally from Cork, and Irene Glavin from Rhode. Irene's bother Cathal Malone represented Ireland at underage in basketball also, so the talent is in the genes.

While Ellie was a non-playing substitute in this game, she would be hopeful of getting game time in the 5 games to come in the tournament. Emma impressed in the game against Greece playing over 21 minutes and contributing hugely on defence while also recording the second highest assist statistics of 3 direct assists for scores. Emma played the final 8 minutes of the game when the result was in the melting pot.

Both girls are looking forward to next season's senior domestic league startin gin October where they are part of National University of Galway's Mystics Superleague  team along with another local girl Meadhbh O Brien form Ballinamere.  All three girls are students at present in NUI Galway.