Adam Mullally of Drogheda Wolves. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
© Drogheda Independent
IT’S been a proud few days for the Drogheda Wolves club after recognition on the national stage for four of their players.
At senior level their first-team player Adam Mullally played for Ireland’s 3×3 team over the weekend at an invitational tournament hosted by Scotland in East Kilbride and featuring teams from England and Northern Ireland as well as the host nation.
The increasingly popular 3×3 format of the game is played with three players per team, with one backboard and a half-court.
Meanwhile, three members of Drogheda Wolves have been selected for Basketball Ireland’s U15 Boys Irish Academy summer programme. Sean Phelan, Cormac Smyth and Shane Kelly will join 75 other top players from around the country who have been chosen to participate in the programme, which will act as a bridge from the provincial academy system to the U16 national team squad.
All three players have been very successful in Wolves U14 and U16 teams for the last three seasons, winning silverware in North East Basketball Board and Basketball Northern Ireland competitions and this year losing the U16 All-Ireland semi-final to the eventual winners.
The trio’s club coach Conor Farrington said: “We are delighted for these hard-working players who are coming off a very successful season. This next stage in their journey means a great deal, as their efforts have been further validated, their confidence has been boosted, and they have a chance to grow even more from playing at a high standard for the summer.
“This is an honour for players that we are lucky to work with. We are sure this selection will motivate them even further and help them over the course of this season.”
The academy players will receive approximately 36 hours of coaching, including a strength and co-ordinating element and more tactical work, to cement the foundations of the technical development of participants over the last number of months.
Basketball Ireland Academy lead Martin McGettrick said: I am very excited by the level of talent that is developing across the country and coming through the Basketball Ireland Academy.
“It’s testament to the great work being done, not only within the academy structure, but also by the many club and school coaches who have invested time, energy and commitment to support the development of the players.”
