Basketball: Ireland's dreams of playing top-flight basketball next season were ended at the National Arena on Saturday as Romania outclassed Greg Gurr's men in a EuroBasket qualifier, running out convincing 81-62 winners.

Needing to win to stand any chance of topping Group B, Ireland had some justification for believing they might do it, after pushing Switzerland all the way in their opening game seven days earlier. But, despite the best efforts of a vocal home support, Ireland were well below the required standard on Saturday.

Ireland's stats spoke for themselves. Most alarming was the fact Gurr's team enjoyed only a 40-per-cent rate on their inside shots. And, but for some good three-point shooting from Jay Larranaga, the defeat might have been greater.

Larranaga chipped in back-to-back baskets to reduce the deficit to six points midway through the second quarter, but within minutes Ireland had handed the initiative back to the Romanians, who led 40-25 at half-time.

And, inspired by point guard George Paul Helcioiu, the Romanians were never threatened after that and are now in a strong position to return to the top flight after a four-year gap.

With four games remaining, including a showdown with Cyprus at the Tallaght venue this Saturday, Ireland are now consigned to another season in Group B.

Meanwhile, Maeve Coleman's senior women's team lost 72-62 to Norway in Bergen on Saturday night. Ireland had led 48-44 early in the final quarter before Norway embarked on a run of scores to see them to victory.

Ireland scorers: J Larranaga 24 pts, C Bracey 14 pts, M Conlon 9 pts.

IRELAND: M Bree, C Bracey, M Williams, P Burke, M Conlon, J Larranaga, B Dunleavy, C Grace, D McGrath, E Donnelly, D Callahan, J Naughton.