O'Rourke withdrawal adds to injury crisis at Team Ireland

Derval O'Rourke has withdrawn from this weekend's European team championships, dealing a further blow to Team Ireland.

O'Rourke's was unable to compete last weekend due to illness as Irish team management were hopeful that she could recover in time for the weekend's action.

It is a further blow to the Irish team who will fight against relegation, as Fionnuala Britton and Mark English with drew on Monday evening.

Sarah Lavin, who has broken O'Rourke's junior Irish record, and is a member of the 4x400 relay team has been called up to the 100 meters hurdles.

The withdrawals of senior members such as O'Rourke and Britton along with Ciaran O'Lionard and Deirdre Ryan, may explain the decision to include David Gillick and Joanne Cuddihy as non-playing captains.

Team manager Patsy McGonagle has said that the decision to include Olympians Gillick and Cuddihy would benefit the junior members of the team.

The news of O'Rourkes withdrawal now sees 400m runner Brian Gregan as the most experienced track athlete in the Irish team.