A duo from the Kingdom involved in Ireland’s fight against Kosovo

Rap Buivydas of Garveys Tralee Warriors and Jordan Blount of Flexachem KCYMS played for Ireland during their victory over Kosovo in the 2027 World Cup qualifiers.

Buivydas scored 8 points and Blount had 5 in the 91-85 victory.

FIBA Men’s World Cup 2027 European Preliminary Qualifiers, Group A, National Basketball Arena, Dublin 24/11/2024
Ireland vs Kosovo
Irishman Jordan Blount and Lis Shoshi from Kosovo
Compulsory pass ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

FIBA Men’s World Cup 2027 European Preliminary Qualifiers, Group A, National Basketball Arena, Dublin 24/11/2024
Ireland vs Kosovo
Irishman Rapolas Buivydas
Compulsory pass ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

FIBA Men’s World Cup 2027 European Preliminary Qualifiers, Group A, National Basketball Arena, Dublin 24/11/2024
Ireland vs Kosovo
Irishman Jordan Blount and Malcolm Armstead from Kosovo
Compulsory pass ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

FIBA Men’s World Cup 2027 European Preliminary Qualifiers, Group A, National Basketball Arena, Dublin 24/11/2024
Ireland vs Kosovo
Irishman Jordan Blount
Compulsory pass ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

FIBA Men’s World Cup 2027 European Preliminary Qualifiers, Group A, National Basketball Arena, Dublin 24/11/2024
Ireland vs Kosovo
Irishman Jordan Blount
Compulsory pass ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

FIBA Men’s World Cup 2027 European Preliminary Qualifiers, Group A, National Basketball Arena, Dublin 24/11/2024
Ireland vs Kosovo
Ireland team
Compulsory pass ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

FIBA Men’s World Cup 2027 European Preliminary Qualifiers, Group A, National Basketball Arena, Dublin 24/11/2024
Ireland vs Kosovo
Ireland team
Compulsory pass ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

FIBA Men’s World Cup 2027 European Preliminary Qualifiers, Group A, National Basketball Arena, Dublin 24/11/2024
Ireland vs Kosovo
Irishmen Conor Quinn and Rapolas Buivydas
Compulsory pass ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

FIBA Men’s World Cup 2027 European Preliminary Qualifiers, Group A, National Basketball Arena, Dublin 24/11/2024
Ireland vs Kosovo
Irishman Jordan Blount
Compulsory pass ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

Ireland basketball report:

Ireland defeated Kosovo 91-85 in the 2027 FIBA ​​Basketball World Cup qualifiers
24/11/24
Ireland made it two wins from two in the November window

Ireland made it two wins from two in November, defeating Kosovo 91-85 on Sunday in a European pre-qualifying match for the FIBA ​​Basketball World Cup 2027 at the National Basketball Arena. This leaves Ireland second in Group A with a 2-2 record and still has a chance of qualifying for the next round before two away games against group leaders Switzerland and Azerbaijan in February.

Kosovo were the first to get on the scoresheet, but Ireland then led throughout the match. John Carroll’s next three-pointers knocked Ireland off balance and they were leading 6-2 already in the third minute. Neal Quinn, who had a game-high 23 and 13 points, had a hot streak early in the game. Paul Dick’s attempted pass was emphatically blocked by the rebound, which excited the sold-out crowd at the Arena. The center added a set-up and used three free throws to give Ireland a 15-2 lead after six minutes of the match.

baskets by Jordan Blount and Roy Downey and a three-pointer by Rapolas Buivydas gave Ireland a 22-2 lead two minutes before the end of the first. Kosovo made amends with three points late in the quarter thanks to Gezim Morina and Mikaile Tmusic to help cut the deficit to 24-12 at the end of the first quarter.

Three minutes from a corner kick by captain Dardan Berisha and a jump shot by Morina brought Kosovo closer to six points three minutes into the second quarter and were leading 27-21. Ireland called a timeout and came back with a three-pointer from Sean Flood. Soon after, Quinn’s hook shot and Carroll’s layup put Ireland ahead 34-23.

Kosovo continued to enjoy long-range play. Three and a half minutes before the end, Malcolm Armstead and Rron Ukaj secured eight points, 37-29. After Dick’s layup, Ireland led 42-33, but four points from Lis Shoshi put Ireland ahead 42-37 at halftime.

Ireland started the third quarter brilliantly, and Flood scored three points to lead 47-37. Kosovo responded with a Shoshi dunk.

Flood, who scored 10 points in the first half, hit another one from long range, his third from the three-point line at that point. Meanwhile, Neal Quinn continued to dominate around the basket, absorbing three Blount rebound attempts, and the Irish led 53-41 after three minutes. Kosovo stayed in the fight thanks to three-pointers from Armstead and Berisha on both ends of the court. After Downey’s layup just after mid-half, the score was 55-49.

Buivydas’ five points took Ireland to 60 points, 60-49. A nice three-pointer by Conor Quinn led 67-56 with just over a minute left. In the final minute of the quarter it all went in Ireland’s favor – Carroll kicked a penalty and Kosovo lost Armstead after he picked up his fifth foul, ending with the siren beating Flood’s three-pointer, with his arms outstretched in celebration as he brought his personal achievement was 21 points, and Ireland led 73-58.

Kosovo’s seven-point lead was ended by a dunk by Ireland’s Neal Quinn, who led 77-67 two minutes into the fourth quarter. Quinn continued to dominate in the group stage, scoring four more crucial points as Ireland led 81-68. Berisha continued to attack his team, making three long-range free throws and three free throws on either side of Downey’s jump shot, and the deficit was cut to nine, 83-74.

Kosovo had a hard time containing Neal Quinn, he landed the next shot, Dick was next from the three-point line, and with three minutes left, Ireland increased their lead to 90-76. However, Kosovo wasn’t done with the game, finishing with a nine-point run capped by a dunk by Rron Ukaj, but it was Ireland’s day as they won 91-85.

Ireland head coach Mark Keenan said: “I’m delighted we’ve made it two from two victories starting in February and now it’s all that counts. Have we ever managed to win two games back to back here?! I think it’s worth remembering the FIBA ​​Small Countries European Championship, so it’s a great week for us, for the team, at the level we played at. I think tonight we reached the highest level we have played at, but maybe not as long as we did on Thursday (against Azerbaijan), and Kosovo also gave it to us, they are difficult.

Ireland’s next matches are away to Group A leaders Switzerland on February 20, before the team travels to Azerbaijan on February 23.

“They will be very tough (Switzerland and Azerbaijan). The guys will be ready for it, great. The next thing we’ll think about is Switzerland and that’s our next goal – how can we win there,” Keenan added.

The group winners and the best runner-up from the three groups will advance to the second round of preliminary qualifying for the FIBA ​​European Basketball World Cup 2027.

Quarterly results:
Q1: 24-12, Q2: 19-25 Q3: 30-21, Q4: 18-27
Game results:
Q1: 24-12, Q2: 43-37, Q3: 73-58, Q4: 91-85
Ireland:
Adrian O’Sullivan (DNP), Roy Downey (8), Rapolas Buivydas (8), Sean Flood (21), Conor Quinn (5), Jordan Blount (5), John Carroll (12), James Gormley (DNP), Paul Dick (9), Matt Treacy (0), Neal Quinn (23), Aidan Harris-Igiehon (0).
Kosovo:
Malcolm Armstead (10), Dardan Kapiti (0), Gezim Morina (9), Mikaile Tmusic (7), Arti Hajdari (0), Arian Callakaj (9), Dardan Berisha (15), Rron Ukaj (10), Meriton Ismaili (2), Muhamedali Janjeva (9), Lis Shoshi (14), Erjon Kastrati (DNP).

FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Preliminary Qualifying Results:
Sunday, November 24, 2024
Ireland 91-85 Kosovo
Thursday November 21, 2024
Ireland 91-67 Azerbaijan
Sunday, February 25, 2024
Ireland 63-86 Switzerland
Thursday February 22, 2024
Kosovo 83-76 Ireland

FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European qualifying schedule:
Thursday February 20, 2025
Switzerland v Ireland, information TBA (live on TG4)
Sunday, February 23, 2025
Azerbaijan v Ireland, information TBA (live on TG4)