Mayo basketballer wins Nations League event with Ireland U-23 team

Mayo basketballer Hazel Finn from Kiltimagh has helped create Irish sporting history.

Finn was part of the U-23 Irish 3x3 basketball team that won a Nations League tournament for the first time ever.

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At the most recent event in Latvia last weekend, Ire land beat Serbia in the final. 

"We are delighted," Finn said, speaking to The Mayo News after returning home: "We're on a really good run now of it, and hopefully we can keep that up at the next tournament."

The 3x3 Nations League runs several events and each tournament consists of several days. Every day a mini tournament is run with group action and a final.

"Every day you have two games and if you win two games you get to the final of your group.The first day we got to the final and lost against The Netherlands, the second day we won against Serbia and the last day we lost in extra-time to The Netherlands again. We got to three finals, which was a first for the Irish team."

The teams get points for a table depending on their finish on each day. Currently, the Hazel Finn and the U-23 Ireland team are ranked second behind The Netherlands, ten points behind them.

And the final Nations League tournament will take place in two weeks in Latvia again.

If the Ireland U-23 team manages to leapfrog The Netherlands, they qualify for the World Cup in China in September.

"Hopefully we can keep it up. No Irish teams have made to the World Cup before."

The recent success show what can be achieved with funding being available, as was the case for the 3x3 Nations League trips for the players.

And they got to mingle with the other players a lot: 

"We were all in the same hotel together and we were at breakfast together and would be chatting and just get to know each other, which is nice. 

"And the last night out, we're actually all chatting with the Netherlands team, the Greece team, they're all lovely people. Of course, they're all totally different than on the court, like as you would be."

The next Nations League will take place from July 13-17 in Latvia again.

Hazel Finn is adding basketball accolades to her CV with almost every step she takes

Just earlier this year, the Kiltimagh native won the National Cup with her current club Liffey Celtics.

In the final, Finn came off the bench, scored 13 points and marshalled her troops from the point guard position to a glorious 65-53 Cup win against Killester.

Finn claimed the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for her inspiring performance.

Afterwards she was called to represent Ireland in international challenges.

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