Ireland's defeat to France in the Women’s EuroBasket 2025 qualifiers was comprehensive and not unexpected, but for Jessica Scannell, returning to the international scene after a 14-year absence was a special moment.
Ranked 80th in the world, Ireland were always going to be up against it against Israel (49th in the standings), Latvia (26th) and world number seven side France in their group, and fell to a 100-48 defeat to the French at the weekend.
The hosts began strong and trailed by just a point at the end of the first quarter at the National Basketball Arena, but France simply moved through the gears with a statement victory in the opening group game.
Scannell, who finished with 14 points to her name, was a leading performer for Ireland in what was her first Irish appearance since 2009.
Now plying her trade with Geelong United in the second tier of professional Australian Women’s basketball, her inclusion in head coach James Weldon’s squad raised some eyebrows.
Having joined Glanmire aged eight, she quickly became known in basketball circles as a serious talent.
In 2007 she became the first player to win U18, U20 and Super League National Cups in the same season, before she departed for the United States, enjoying a successful college basketball career at Iowa College.
Scannell played year professionally in Nottingham and while she appeared for club and country prior to her UK switch, the move to Australia seemed to close the international chapter in her story.
However with the season running March to August and having kept in touch with coach Weldon, her Under-18 Irish coach, she has returned to the fold.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport’s Greg Allen after the heavy defeat to France, Scannell outlined why it was such a memorable night for her personally.
"I’m so proud to be part of it," she said. "It’s probably one of the most special moments in my basketball career.
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"I have been away for a long time. I’m 34 now, so to have received the call-up from James, who was my Under-18 coach, to be back, playing for him and in this arena where I won a lot with Glanmire, it’s really special.
"I dreamed of playing for Ireland as a kid, and got to do that when I was really young, but then my travels with going to college and playing professionally took me to the other side of the world.
"I didn’t think I’d get to put on the jersey again."
The Australian citizen admitted that it was a challenge taking on a team of the calibre of France, though the hosts gave as good as they got in the first quarter.
France then began to build a score and were 49-23 up by half time, capped by a buzzer beating three from the corner by Mamignan Toure, who finished with a game-high 20 points.
"It was tough. Their pressure, you can’t really feel it unless you are out there. They are super athletic.
"I was a bit disappointed personally in my own turnovers, but aside from that, we really battled. In that first quarter, I was thinking maybe we could win this thing. That’s the effort Irish teams always put out.
"That’s the level we want to be playing at. France are number seven in the world. If we want to get better as a basketball country, these are the teams we need to play."
Asked what the future was like for the future of the game, Scannell name checked some of the younger player including Kate Hickey, Lauryn Homan and Kara McCleane as reasons to be cheerful regarding the potential of the current crop.
"I was so encouraged by our young players when they got on the court," she said.
"For them to come out and match the French physicality, professional players and for patches we really competed and looked like we belonged on that court.
"Especially the young players, they came on and did not take a backward step. I’m really encouraged for the future of Irish basketball."
