Ireland were beaten 89-49 by the world number 25 ranked side Croatia in their FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers Round 3 opener in Opatija.
Neal Quinn impressed on his international debut with 12 points, and there were plenty of positives including the return from injury of John Carroll and a strong second half, where they outscored their opponents in the third quarter.
Ireland started well with a layup from 7ft centre Quinn, to take an early 2-0 lead. They were very much in the shake-up four minutes in, when Taiwo Badmus converted one of his two free throws to trail 7-3.
Croatia then went on a run of 15 points to put them in control, 22-3. Lorcan Murphy's layup stemmed the tide with two minutes to go in the quarter, however the hosts would lead 24-5 by the end of the first.
Ireland needed a fast start in the second quarter, but it was Croatia’s offence who had the upper hand, another 15 point run put them 39-5 up. Tony Perkovic’s three point jump shot completed that sequence, he’d finish with a game-high of 17 points. A long range three from CJ Fulton four minutes into the quarter finally got Ireland up and running in the second.
But Croatia had a firm grip of this game, Roko Badzim, who had 12 points by half-time, landed another three to put them 46-8 with 3’21" to go.
Quinn was Ireland’s leading light in the opening half with eight points, however Ireland’s offence in general struggled with a 22.5% conversion rate in the first half.
A Matt Treacy three, in the dying seconds of the second quarter helped close the gap to 53-17, but it was Croatia who had the last score of the half, thanks to Goran Filipovic’s lovely three point pull-up jump shot.
Head coach Mark Keenan would have been eager for a response after the break and his team provided it by outscoring the Croatians 16-14 in the third, all kicked off by a trademark Taiwo Badmus dunk.
Jordan Blount, who’d been kept scoreless in the first half, finally got off the mark with a layup in the fouth minute of the third quarter to trail 61-21. A dunk from Quinn followed not long afterwards. Captain John Carroll, playing in his first game since recovering from an ACL injury, finished the third quarter strongly with a layup, along with a free throw in the final minute to see Ireland trail 70-33.
Ireland’s improved aggression and tempo continued to the finish, CJ Fulton landed his second three point jump shot of the day in the final seconds, as it finished 89-49.
Ireland's attentions will now turn to Luxembourg, who they travel to face next Wednesday, before a pair of home games against Croatia (29 July) and Luxembourg (5 August), all of which will be broadcast live on TG4.
