Breanne Flynn doesn’t faff about when predicting what she expects to unfold for the Ireland women’s team at the European Championships in the Netherlands.
“Hannah (Craig) and I are definitely playing well in the PSA these days. The other teams are going to be afraid of us, to be honest,” she said.
“I am definitely going in with a lot of confidence in our team. Our goal is to win, and it is a very achievable goal.
“We are going in as the two seed, but we have a great chance of winning and that’s our goal the whole week. We’re very focused and can definitely do it. I’m really excited.”
Sweden, Slovenia and Italy are Ireland’s pool opposition in a five-match campaign that Flynn wants to end with promotion secured to next year’s Division One.
“Last time we were in Division One was a long time ago. I have never played Division One, so definitely over 10 years ago, I would say. You’d have to go back to the archives,” she said when asked what would top-flight elevation mean to her.
“To get promoted would be really huge for this team and we deserve it, to be honest. We have two players in the top 100 now, so we are definitely at the standard, and it would mean a lot to us to compete with the top teams next year.”
Mention of these archives, the top-flight used to be Ireland’s regular testing ground. A run of eight successive semi-final appearances, which included Division One silver medals in 2012 and 2013, was enjoyed in an era when Madeline Perry, Aisling Burke and Laura Mylotte were in their pomp.
However, Ireland were relegated in 2016, and the latest battle to get promoted will begin in Amsterdam on Wednesday. Flynn is a fan of the team concept. “It’s so different, really, really nice,” she enthused.
“Really nice to have everyone cheering for each other, coaching each other between games, practising together, going for team dinners, team lunches, supporting the men, them supporting us. It’s a whole different environment, and it’s really nice to represent your country.”
It’s an experience denied to Flynn last year. It was Denmark in March 2025 when she fractured her foot, bringing her season to an abrupt end before Ireland headed to the Europeans in Wroclaw.
However, she is now Amsterdam-bound with Craig, Aimee McConnell and Lydia McQuillan following a tremendous season which this month culminated in her rise to a career-best PSA ranking of No.98.
The achievement was a thrilling moment for the 30-year-old, but the Sutton player is aiming to go even higher. “I was really happy, to be honest.
“I’ve been looking to break the top 100 for a while now and the fact that I got it over the line, making it double digits, was really, really exciting. I just want to keep pushing on from here and climbing the rankings, for sure.
“I found out I was at home, and yeah, just a nice dinner with my husband. Celebrated nice and easy because we want it to keep on going up.”
It was October when Flynn outlined his ambitions for the season in a Squash Ireland interview. Six months on, there is great satisfaction that she delivered. “Definitely after Christmas, I had a couple of good results,” she said.
“I had a good performance at the Nationals even though I didn’t win, but with that, I had a win in Edinburgh, I won a $3K, runner-up in a $6K, and yeah, just a couple of good results which then broke me, so it’s nice to see the hard work paying off.
“It’s worked out well. I have a few more tournaments, the PSA Irish Open in May and hopefully one more in June. I’m just looking to continue the good run and get a few good results still before the end of the season. Onwards and upwards.’
Final word goes to her burgeoning rivalry with Craig, who last week registered her own career-best ranking of No.60.
Flynn fought her tooth and nail before losing out 3-2 in the Nationals final in February, and the score was the same when they recently faced off in the World Championships European qualifiers at Pontefract.
“We’re developing a really nice rivalry. It’s always an absolute battle on court. I’m looking forward to the next time I play here again. It’s always a good fight, a couple of points here and there, so it’s really exciting every time we play.”
