Ireland Women kicked-off their FIBA European Championship For Small Countries campaign in Nicosia, Cyprus with a 71-point victory over Andorra.

The game marks their first match since 2019 after they were forced into a Covid-induced break, and also their first win.

Ireland started as they meant to go on with the offensive power of the side proving to be too much for the Andorran defence early on.

Dayna Finn, who was on her debut, led the side in scoring on the night with 14 points and was an important figure at the start of the game.

Finn helped her side gain a commanding 17-0 lead and James Weldon’s side marched on from there, never letting go of the advantage they had.

Edel Thornton was the thorn in the Andorrans’ sides as she racked up three steals in the first quarter alone.

Ireland upped their game in the second quarter, posting 32 points – their largest haul in any quarter.

The side’s defensive rebounds were instrumental in their attacking display as their counter-attacks proved lethal against the Andorran defence.

The Andorrans suffered an error-filled display courtesy of the hard work and tenacity of the likes of Thornton and Rachel Huijsdens.

Hower, Noah Mico Lorenzo and Cristina Andres Rabasa showed up for their country and put up double-digit points.

Through this solid defence, the Irish continued to have unanswered high-scoring runs.

The side finished the game with 36 defensive rebounds and 27 offensive rebounds, including the one that led to the lay-up Grainne O’Dwyer pounced on to break the 100-point barrier.

Weldon and co. will be impressed with their showing in the opener in Nicosia and will now look towards a game against Malta on Thursday afternoon.

Ireland: Michelle Clarke (9), Aine McKenna (10), Dayna Finn (14), Claire Rockall (7), Rachel Huijsdens (9), Grainne Dwyer (11), Edel Thornton (4), Fiona O’Dwyer (10), Claire Melia (9), Hannah Thornton (5), Sorcha Tiernan (12), Aine O’Connor (4).

Andorra: Cristina Andres Rabasa (10), Noah Mico Lorenzo (13), Laura Laurent Marrugat, Mariona Palou Vidal, Carla Solana Perez (2), Claudia Brunet Solano (6), Julia Marquez Tomas (2), Anna Mana Buscall, Patricia Meira Gallego, Mireia Magrinya Alonso, Cloe Torcuato Rodriguez (DNP).

To see the recently announced Men’s squad, click here.

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Stephen Kenny has confirmed that his Ireland side will take on both Hungary and Andorra this summer in friendly matches. The fixtures will be played in between a nine-day training camp in Spain at a yet unannounced date.

“We wanted to go to Spain for nine days in June, which we are, to work on the whole collective way we want to play and the split and integrate all the new players we have brought in,” said Stephen Kenny while answering questions at a press conference earlier today.

”We wanted to ramp that up with friendlies against Andorra and Hungary in June and take us into September but the big let down has been losing to Luxembourg.”

The friendlies will be played in preparation for Ireland’s crucial World Cup qualification games in September against Portugal, Azerbaijan and Serbia.

Ireland are set to play World Cup 2022 hosts Qatar in a friendly match tomorrow as part of a number of friendlies organised by the Asian side to prepare for their role in the tournament.

Although normally the friendly wouldn’t have much significance, a win could prove vital in lifting spirits after a disastrous international break to date.

Wing backs Enda Stevens and Matt Doherty are both unavailable for the friendly tomorrow, meaning a change in formation may be necessary to facilitate for other players.

Doherty & Stevens ruled out of Qatar friendly

Ireland squad travelled to Debrecen, Hungary last night ahead of the match on Tuesday, March 30

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— FAIreland (@FAIreland) March 29, 2021

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