Kosovo 83-76 Ireland
Ireland were beaten 83-76 by Kosovo in their FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European pre-qualifiers game in Prishtina on Thursday.
In their debut at this level, Ireland led the contest with a little over six minutes to go, before their hosts finished strongest to pick up the win in Group A.
There were a host of strong Irish performances, Jordan Blount and Taiwo Badmus chief among them.
Blount finished top scorer on 27 points, along with 13 rebounds, while Badmus had 15 points, five rebounds and four assists. There were promising international debuts too for James Beckom and Rapolas Buivydas.
Blount, who was named as vice-captain on Wednesday, got Ireland's opening points with a three-point jump shot to bring Ireland level at 3-3 in the early stages. Kosovo then went on a nine-point run, which was finally ended with a pair of Badmus free throws.
Blout would pick off eight points in the opening quarter, which the hosts led 22-17.
Ireland made a strong start to the second quarter with Badmus was to the fore, kickstarted by one handed dunk, followed by step-back three from the top of the arc and Ireland were in front for the first time, 28-27.
Badmus added another dunk and took his tally to 11 points by the interval, by which time Kosovo had built up a 45-38 lead.
Midway through the third quarter and Kosovo pushed their advantage out to nine points before Ireland rattled off six unanswered points thanks to a pair of Blount layups, either side of one by Badmus, to trail 57-54 with three and a half minutes to go.
Dardan Berisha was causing the Irish defence all kinds of problems and would finish with 19 points on the night, though the final points of the quarter came courtesy of Blount, a pair of free throws and as Ireland trailed 65-57.
The men in green had an eight-point run to kickstart the fourth quarter, which brought Mark Keenan’s side bring level at 65-65.
A brilliant block by Neil Randolph and swift counter finished off by Flood had Ireland 69-67 ahead with 6’ 21" to go, but three pointers from Drilon Hajrizi and Muhamedali Janjeva brought the home crowd to their feet as they negotiated the last few minutes well to run out 83-76 victors.
Ireland’s next pre-qualifier is against Switzerland on Sunday at the National Basketball Arena.
Ireland: Adrian O’Sullivan (2), Lorcan Murphy (4), James Beckom (0), Neil Randolph (0), Sean Flood (12), Conor Quinn (DNP), Jordan Blount (27), Rapolas Buivydas (3), James Gormley (2), David Lehane (DNP), Taiwo Badmus (15), Matt Treacy (11)
Kosovo: Dardan Kapiti (4), Musab Mala (7), Gezim Morina (3), Mikaile Tmusic (11), Arian Callakaj (5), Dardan Berisha (19), Drilon Hajrizi (20), Norik Binque (DNP), Meriton Ismaili (2), Muhamedali Janjeva (9), Jon Ismajli (DNP), Ardit Pepaj (3).
