A number of Leitrim, Sligo and Donegal youngsters have been named in the Republic of Ireland men’s and women’s squads for the forthcoming World University Games, which will be hosted in Taipei on the island of Taiwan.
Sligo’s Ross Taheny (above) and Donegal’s Joe Coll have both been named on the men’s squad, while Leitrim pair Ailbhe Clancy and Dearbhaile Beirne join Donegal’s Amber Barrett and Niamh McLaughlin on the women’s squad.
The World University Games are held biannually and both the men’s and women’s teams will travel to the small island off the coast of China on August 11 before playing their first games on August 18 – with the men’s squad taking on France in their opener, while the women’s squad will meet Mexico.
From the 40 players selected in both squads, 32 of them play in either the SSE Airtricity League or Continental Tyres Women’s National League.
Ireland Men’s Squad
Goalkeepers: Ian Molloy (IT Blanchardstown / Firhouse Clover), Joe Coll (GMIT / Glenea United)
Defenders: Ben McAuliffe (UCC / UCC AFC), David Brookes (Athlone IT / Athlone Town), Sean O’Mahony (UCC / Cork City), Gary Kinneen (NUI Galway / Galway United), Ross Taheny (Dublin City University / Ballinamallard United), Sean McLoughlin (UCC / Cork City), Maurice Nugent (NUI Galway / Galway United), Eoghan Dempsey (IT Carlow / Drogheda United)
Midfielders: Conor Barry (NUI Galway / Athlone Town), Daire O’Connor (UCD / UCD AFC), Jamie Hollywood (IT Blanchardstown / Drogheda United), John McKeown (Maynooth University), Shane Daly-Butz (UCC / UCC AFC), Jason McClelland (UCD / UCD AFC), Shane Dunne (IT Carlow / Wexford)
Forwards: Garbhan Coughlan (University of Limerick / Limerick), Jason Lyons (Athlone IT / Athlone Town), Joe Doyle (Dublin IT / Cabinteely)
Fixtures
Friday, August 18: Ireland v France, New Taipei City, Xinzhuang Stadium (KO 12:30 Irish Time)
Monday, August 21: Ireland v Mexico, New Taipei City, Xinzhuang Stadium (KO 12:30 Irish Time)
Wednesday, August 23: Taipei v Ireland, Fu Jen Catholic University Stadium (KO 12:30 Irish Time)
Friday, August 25: Quarter-Final / Classification Match, TBC
Sunday, August 27: Semi-Final / Classification Match, TBC
Tuesday, August 29: Final / Classification Match, TBC
Ireland Women’s Squad
Goalkeepers: Amanda Budden (Cork IT / Cork City WFC), Eve Badana (UCC / Cork City WFC)
Defenders: Ciara McNamara (UCC / Cork City WFC), Claire Walsh (UCD / UCD Waves), Chloe Mustaki (UCD / UCD Waves), Jetta Berrill (UCD / UCD Waves), Rebekah Carroll (Maynooth University / UCD Waves), Shauna Fox (NUI Galway, Galway WFC)
Midfielders: Ailbhe Clancy (Dublin City University), Aisling Frawley (Dublin City University / Wexford Youths WFC), Clare Kinsella (IT Carlow / Peamount United), Dearbhaile Beirne (UCD / UCD Waves), Katie McCarthy (UCC / Cork City WFC), Lisa Casserly (NUI Galway / Galway WFC), Niamh McLaughlin (Northumbria University), Orlagh Nolan (UCD / UCD Waves)
Forwards: Amber Barrett (Maynooth University / Peamount United), Claire O’Riordan (IT Carlow / Wexford Youths WFC), Eleanor Ryan-Doyle (IT Blanchardstown / Peamount United), Aoibhin Webb (Dublin City University / Wexford Youths WFC)
Fixtures
Friday, August 18: Mexico v Ireland, Hsinchu County Second Stadium (KO 9:00 Irish Time)
Sunday, August 20: Canada v Ireland, Fu Jen Catholic University Stadium (KO 9:00 Irish Time)
Thursday, August 24: Quarter-Final, TBC
Saturday, August 26: Semi-Final / Classification Match, TBC
Monday, August 28: Final / Classification Match, TBC
