BASKETBALL: New Ireland men's coach Gerry Fitzpatrick yesterday named his panel of 17 players for next month's European Championship semi-final round. The Irish team is at home to Germany on November 20th, and away to Croatia and Macedonia on the 23rd and 27th respectively.
The panel will also play in a friendly with England in early November, with the panel then being reduced to 10 for championship purposes. New to the panel this season are Michael Bree, formerly of Killarney Lakers and now with Beauvais, France, along with Stephen McCarthy (Neptune) and Shane Coughlan (UCC Demons).
There is also a major new addition in Cal Bowdler, the 6ft 10in former NBA player who is now with Kinder Bologna in Italy. The Irish, however, will need to win all their remaining games to have a chance to qualifying for the European finals.
IRELAND PANEL: Tim Kennedy (Deportiva Ovarense), Jay Larranaga (Canarias Telecom, Spain), Dan Callahan (Cordivari Roseto, Italy), Michael Bree (Beauvais, France), Adrian Fulton (Sx3 Star), Mike Mitchell (Avitos Giessen), Damien Sealy (Dart Killester), Marty Conlon (SS Basket Napoli, Italy), John O'Connell (Haribo London Towers), Jimmy Moran (Canarias Telecom, Spain), Cal Bowdler (Kinder Bologna, Italy), Glenn Sekunda (Unattached), John Leahy (Sx3 Star), Shane Coughlan (Mardyke UCC Demons), Stephen McCarthy (Neptune), Gareth Maguire (Sx3 Star), Mick Richardson (Birmingham Bullets).
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