Kildare's Tiernan sees Norway game as important step for Ireland women’s squad

Liffey Celtics’ Sorcha Tiernan insists next Saturday’s senior international game against Norway will play an important part in Ireland’s preparation for the upcoming FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2027 qualifiers, starting later this year.

With the draw for the qualifiers set to take place on Wednesday, all attention will soon be turning to the first competition window around November.

And with the clash with Norway likely to provide Ireland’s only game of the summer programme, coach James Weldon will be looking to make the most of that opportunity to blood new talent, the likes of Lucy Coogan, Erin Maguire and Maria Kealy who are among those to be given a first call-up.

Indeed, between both the national women and men’s squad, who will also face their Norwegian counterparts next Saturday as part of the Jysk Summer Series, eight uncapped players have been drafted in for these latest internationals.

“I feel this game is really important,” insisted Tiernan.

“We had a really good game against Latvia back in February and we showed that we can compete at this level.

“But it's really important that we try to get a few wins under our belt and I think one of our biggest opportunities to do that is probably in these international friendies.

“I think what we’ll be looking for is probably to try and build a little bit on the game in February, trying to get a couple of new caps in and make it a different group to what we had back then.

“We’ve got a good few players who are playing overseas in college at the moment, so it’s about trying to get them blooded into the squad as well so that we can try and stamp our authority on this game, especially with it being at home.

“It’s not so much about learning how to win, but more about getting used to winning as a group, because we've had a tough couple of qualifiers. And going into the next one, it's a slightly different format, so we should be playing against teams seeded in a more similar area to us,” she pointed out.

Certainly, Ireland boss James Weldon is relishing the challenge that Norway will provide and the opportunity it affords him to see a handful of new players stake a claim for place in the national set-up ahead for the next EuroBasket qualification window.

“The Jysk Summer Series gives me a good chance to look at Lucy, Maria, Erin and Lorraine [Scanlon], as well as others, against strong opponents in Norway,” said Weldon.

“It’s always great to introduce some new faces to the group, with the energy that brings. And with the draw for the next qualification campaign coming up later this month, these are really important games to set the tone for the coming months,” he stressed.

For Tiernan, international duties are keeping her busy ahead of a return to pre-season training with Liffey Celtics, who will be led into their 2025/26 Women’s Super League campaign by new head coach, Hillary Netsiyanwa.

The former Trinity Meteors boss took charge of the Leixlip side after the club opted to part ways with Karl Kilbride, who had been at the helm for the past three seasons, the last of which saw him guide Celtics to the Paudie O’Connor National Cup.

Tiernan, while acknowledging the huge contribution Kilbride made to Celtics’ resurgence as a serious force in the top ranks of Irish women’s club basketball, is also looking forward to a new era under Netsiyanwa.

“We’ve all met Hillary. He’s a lovely guy and he’s had a good bit of success coaching Trinity Meteors and as an underage coach over in Éanna,” she said.

“It is a big change. Karl was a great servant for us over the last few years and we had a great year last season winning the National Cup.

“But it's exciting to have someone new come in and have a new voice in the changing room as well,” she added.

While Netsiyanwa will be taking charge of a Liffey Celtics side not short on international talent, with the likes of Tiernan and captain, Áine O’Connor, he will have to contend with the departure of key players such Rachel Huijsdens and Hazel Finn.

The return of Katie Williamson to Celtics will, however, help compensate for some of that loss, and Netsiyanwa will, no doubt, be making further additions to his line-up ahead of the new campaign.