Hoop dreams a reality for Hazel

From a family steeped in high-level sport, it is no great surprise that the youngest member of the Finn family from Kiltimagh is making huge strides in her chosen field.

Hazel Finn is one of the stars of the Irish senior women’s basketball team and has cut a dash through the sport since first representing her country as a 15-year-old in 2018.

She has captained Ireland at Under 16, Under 18 and Under 20 levels and has amassed over 60 caps at all grades.

The 22-year-old was honoured this month with the Western People Mayo Sports Stars award for basketball and is ambitious to keep the curve pointing upwards with club, country and the possibility of professional basketball down the road.

How did she rise to such a high level in the sport?

The sporting DNA is definitely a help. Her dad is John Finn, the renowned Mayo half-back from the 1980s and 1990s, an Under 21 All-Ireland winner in 1983. Her mum, Bernie (née McGrath) represented Mayo in Ladies football and, crucially, also played basketball.

Bernie was among those involved in Kiltimagh Giants basketball club, which was formed in 2002, building on a strong tradition of schools basketball in St Louis’ Community School. Others involved included John Finn’s former Mayo teammate ‘Big’ Tom Byrne and Pete Gallagher.

Cillian, Dayna and Hazel Finn all played and for the sisters, it was the starting point for a journey that would lead to them both representing their country. Hazel started with the Giants aged just seven and loved the sport from the get-go under the stewardship of coaches like Gráinne Mulhern and Gráinne Foley.

“We were brought up in a sporting lifestyle with mam and dad and they encouraged us to play sport but at the same time if I was to give up sport, they wouldn’t stand in the way. Doing what makes you happy is their attitude,” she said.

Cillian was a quality footballer with Kiltimagh; Dayna represented Ireland at all levels in basketball, Mayo Ladies at senior level and is now playing professional Aussie Rules in Melbourne and so Hazel Finn grew up in a house where sporting talent and a fastidious commitment went hand in hand.

Galway bound 

When Hazel was just 13, she and Dayna transferred to Maree Basketball Club in Galway under acclaimed coaches Joe Shiels and Carol McCarthy to further their prospects of international selection and reach a higher standard generally. John and Bernie Finn were willing drivers for training and games.

Hazel was scouted for Ireland Under 16s aged 14 and called to trials. She had just turned 15 when she first represented her country against Montenegro.

“I will never forget that day that the team was announced on social media. It was incredible, going off to represent your country in Montenegro. A lot of people would die for that opportunity,” she reflects.

Hazel represented Ireland for two years at Under 16 level, two years at Under 18, two years at Under 20 and is in her second year at senior, following in Dayna’s footsteps.

She has clocked up the air miles with trips all over Europe – and her parents played a key role there too.

“Getting to travel with basketball is a big part of it, to see the world. I wouldn’t have seen so many countries if it wasn’t for basketball. When I was younger, Basketball Ireland did not have much funding so families had to pay for a lot of the trips. I’m grateful my parents could afford to send me. Thankfully there is a lot more funding in place now which is great,” she said.

Next on the journey was NUI Galway (now University of Galway) for a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Sociology and Politics. Hazel got a scholarship for basketball and was coached by current Irish Under 16 coach Paul O’Brien. It was a successful stint with a National League title among the high points.

Two years ago, Hazel transferred to Liffey Celtics club in Leixlip while still in college in Galway. She was not driving herself by then so her parents would ferry her up and down twice a week.

“I’d be lost without them,” she admitted.

It was all worth it when the club won the Paudie O’Connor National Cup in January of 2025.

They had a 12-point win over Killester at the National Basketball Arena and Finn’s excellent individual display with 13 points and eight rebounds saw her named as the final’s Most Valuable Player and led to her being chosen as the Irish Times Sportswoman of the Month for January.

She followed in Dayna’s footsteps once more by moving to Trinity College for her Masters and joined the Trinity Meteors basketball club last September.

GAA commitments 

All the while her talent as a Gaelic footballer was very apparent but with greater basketball commitments, something had to give. She represented Mayo up to minor level but had to step back then. She did play club football with Salthill/Knocknacarra last summer during down time in basketball and while she isn’t closing the door on the sport, it has to take a back seat to basketball.

“If you want to play a sport at a high level, you have to give it your all and there is a lot of travel involved with basketball. Injury concerns are a big part of it, your body can only take so much,” she said.

She is quick to credit the benefits of Gaelic football for basketball.

“I love the intensity of basketball. People say it is not physical but it is. Everyone says to me that they can see the Gaelic footballer coming out in me on court,” she said, chuckling.

Last year was a particularly busy one for the Kiltimagh native.

In the off-season in the summer, Hazel was part of the Irish Under 23 3v3 team which won a Nations League tournament for the first time ever, beating Serbia in the final in the half-court game.

In November, the Ireland senior women’s team, ranked 83rd in the world rankings, enjoyed a big international win over 29th ranked Bosnia and Herzegovina in November, winning 94-67. Hazel Finn was the top scorer with 16 points and also top scored in their loss to Luxembourg the previous week.

“Beating Bosnia was a big win for us. We don’t get to train together often whereas a lot of countries we would be playing would have professional players. None of us are getting paid. Imagine what we could be like if we were pro?” she ponders.

But she is quick to acknowledge that is unlikely in a country where basketball is not one of the main sports.

“We still get treated well and Basketball Ireland do as much as they can for us,” she said.

Going abroad to play professional basketball in Europe is something Hazel Finn would love to experience and given her recent international form, it would be no surprise if an offer came.

“I would definitely be interested. I want to get my masters finished but I would love to go and play in Europe. If I got the offer, I would never say no to the opportunity,” she said.

And she does not have to look too far for advice on professional sport.

Her sister Dayna is living that lifestyle in Australia, in her third year playing in the Women’s Aussie Rules (WAFL) with Carlton.

“Dayna tells me every day how much she loves it and knows how lucky she is. It is a great setup, proper professional. Definitely down the road I’d hope to go abroad myself,” she said.

The Finn siblings are tight. Cillian is also in Dublin, where he plays Gaelic football with Templeogue Synge Street.

“We’re very close. I’m very lucky to have Dayna and Cillian. I hated to see Dayna going so far away to Australia though much as I loved to see her get the chance,” she said.

Hazel Finn’s schedule is quite full on but she is used to going the extra mile. For Trinity alone, Hazel is training on the court two days a week, in the gym two days a week, fits in a shooting session another day as well as a game at the weekend.

“I love it and when you love something you don’t mind putting in all the effort,” she said.

Hazel is in the first year of a two year Professional Masters in Education (PME) in Trinity College and is currently on placement in Dublin. Geography and CSPE are her chosen subjects. She has a grá for working with children but knows the profession will also enable her to keep up her basketball commitments.

“Teaching is a really good fit for sportspeople. I have looked ahead in that regard. I have chosen this course because I love working with kids and in years to come I know it will suit my lifestyle when it comes to basketball,” she said.

The road ahead 

A busy 2026 awaits for Hazel Finn. Trinity are currently striving for the top eight of the National Women’s Super League and the quarter-finals will commence on March 21. They are currently in the top four with four games left. The quarters are after the international window which sees Ireland playing three games from March 8-18 against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Luxembourg and Israel.

Ireland had considered withdrawing from the Israel games because of Israel’s actions in Gaza but, after being threatened with hefty sanctions by FIBA Europe, have decided to fulfil the fixtures. They lost to Israel 93-86 in November.

“This is just to finish out the group stages from our point of view with them. The sooner it’s over, the better,” said Basketball Ireland CEO John Feehan.

“I don’t think anybody is particularly happy that we’re playing this game, but it’s one of those things we have to do and that’s all there is to it,” he added.

“It’s out of our hands,” said Hazel Finn.

As it happens, if Ireland want to qualify for the European finals, they have to win all three games in March, a tough ask.

Regardless, the future is bright for the latest star from the Finn house in Kiltimagh.