Nihill walks tall after call-up

Date Published: {J}

Darragh McDonagh

A Galway basketball player has been selected to represent Ireland at senior international level for the first time in more than 20 years.

Cian Nihill is set to line out for Ireland when they take on the prestigious University of Pittsburgh basketball team as they begin their Irish tour at the Neptune Stadium in Cork next week.

The Moycullen man has also been selected to play for a Southern Conference Selection the following day in another clash against the Pittsburgh Panthers, who rank among the top five teams in the USA.

Nihill has previously played for Ireland at every level from Under-15 upwards and has represented the country at European Championships at both Under-18 and Under-20 levels in the past.

The 22-year-old was named Collegiate Player of the Year earlier this year after a glittering season saw him help NUI Galway to a historic victory in their first intervarsity title in 23 years.

The Panthers’ tour is the pinnacle of the international season so far for the Irish side, whose representation at European level has been cancelled due to difficulties with funding.

The tour will see the Americans play the Nihill’s senior Irish team at the Neptune Stadium in Cork on July 31 before taking on the Southern Conference All Stars, for whom the Galway man has also been selected, on August 1.

The Panthers will then play Ireland again, as well as Killester BC, at Dublin City University on August 3 and 4 respectively; before tackling the Melbourne Tigers and the English national team in Belfast on August 6 and 7.

Nihill’s participation will mark the first time a Galway man has represented Ireland at senior level in basketball for more than 20 years since James Burke lined out in the Irish colours.

“I got the call from Assistant Coach Mark Keenan around two weeks ago and it came as a bolt out of the blue,” said Nihill. “I had set targets for myself at both club and international level and wanted to play for Ireland by the time I was 25, but to get the call now was a total surprise.

“It’s an incredible opportunity to play on the same court as a team of the standard of the University of Pittsburgh, and alongside players that I still look up to. It’s a huge honour,” he added.

Galway is also represented on the senior Irish women’s squad by Michelle Fahy and Claire Rockall.