Irish students will again receive the opportunity to compete against some of the best athletes in the world when a team of approximately 40 strong travel to the World Student Games in Sicily later this month.
The Council of University Sports Administrators (CUSAI) announced the bulk of the Irish team yesterday, which comprises three sports, swimming, athletics and soccer. The basketball team, which has traditionally been one of the most consistent performers at the games, are unable to raise sufficient financial support and will not travel.
Among Ireland's medal prospects is University of Limerick sprinter Gary Ryan, who is currently competing in the World Championships in Athens. The door is also still open for UCD's David Matthews in the 800 metres if he wishes to take part.
In swimming DCU's Nick O'Hare goes in the 50m freestyle in what will be his third student games. He is the only Irish competitor in the swimming, an event in which only Gary O'Toole has ever won a medal. That came in Sheffield in 1991 when Ireland finished 14th out of 111 participating countries, their best ever year.
That year Sonia O'Sullivan won gold and silver on the track along with Niall Bruton and O'Toole picked up another medal in the pool. Discus thrower Nick Sweeney, who was forced out of this year's World Championships through injury, won bronze in the 1993 games in Buffalo.
The Irish management have high hopes of being successful and with Galway United's Conor Killeen and Bohemians' Graham O'Hanlon included in the squad, they point to the soccer team as being one of the strongest for a number of years. CUSAI also stipulate that they are highly selective and have only picked athletes and players who have a reasonable chance of doing well.
Irish Team (for World Student Games in Sicily, August 18th-31st) - Athletics: Women - L Barry (UL) 100m, N Beirne (Boise State, USA) 1,500m, O Kelleher (UL) Hammer, G O'Sullivan (UCC) walk, M Prenderville (UCC) 800m. Men - T Comyns (UL) 200m, G Crossa (RTC, Letterkenny) half marathon, B Forbes (QUB) 400m, P McGrath (Leeman College) hammer, G Ryan (UL) 100m, B Tracey (QUB) 400m; manager R Shanahan (UCC). Swimming - N O'Hare 50m freestyle. Soccer - G Beattie (UCG), P Byrd (UCC), F Coleman (UCD), G Costelloe (UCG), S Cronin (UL), R Crowe (UUJ), J Flanagan (UCD), S Gallagher (UUC), G Gorman (UUJ), G Hughes (Browne University), C Killeen (UCG), J McCluskey (UUJ), B Murphy (Boston University), G O'Hanlon (RTC Tallaght), D O'Hare (UUC), S O'Neil UCG, D Parker (UUJ), T Silke (RTC Athlone). Manager: T Stark (UU); coach J Sullivan (UCC); referee G Perry (FAI).
