Second best not enough for Irish Paralympians

After the multiple disappointments for Irish representative teams in Poland and New Zealand in recent weeks, the nation’s attention is about to turn towards London and the hope ofbetter things to come.

Once again, Ireland will look to the ring for most of its Olympic medal prospects but hope has given way to expectation for the 49-strong Paralympics team unveiled yesterday, which will follow their colleagues to the English capital just over two weeks later.

The team, drawn from 10 sports and 20 counties, is Ireland’s biggest for the Paralympics since the 1996 Games in Atlanta and contains reigning world champions in athletics and cycling and two defending Paralympic champions in Jason Smyth and Michael McKillop.