Moran the key to Irish hopes

Success at European level is something that the Irish women's basketball team have been able to smell but not quite taste in recent years. With home territory and possibly the strongest squad ever, hopes are high that on this occasion they can emerge from their European Championship qualifying group.

The Irish will face England, Italy, Portugal and Belgium at the University Arena in Limerick over the coming days. Their opening game against England this evening (7.30) provides Ireland with their best chance of victory, while their most difficult encounter follows 24 hours later when they take on Italy.

The strongest element in the Irish squad will be newly appointed captain Susan Moran. Having just completed her third year at St Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Moran continues to make a major impression on NCAA collegiate basketball.

For the third straight year the Tullamore student led her college in both scoring and rebounding, becoming just the second player in the college history to accomplish the feat. She now ranks fifth highest for scoring average in the entire American NCAA with 22.6.

Moran is joined in the squad by another NCAA standout, Siobhan Kilkenny. She has made a considerable impression in her two years at Manhattan College and now makes her Irish senior debut.

Changes in the FIBA rules on nationality last year opened the door for a number of Irish American players, and two new recruits are Amy Mallon, who has played professionally with the Philadelphia Rage, and Kelly Fitzpatrick, who now plays with Taunton Tigers in England. The domestic players will also offer plenty of experience.

Two years ago in Greece, the Irish missed out on qualifying by a single point. With two teams to emerge to the lucrative challenge round, the chances on this occasion are strong. Qualification may well come down to Ireland's last game against Belgium on Sunday.