Irish face uphill challenge after Bowdler withdrawal

JUST when things were right on target for tonight’s European championships semi-final round game against Macedonia Irish hopes of bouncing back where dealt a crushing blow by the enforced withdrawal of top scorer Cal Bowdler for family reasons.

Bowdler, top scorer against Germany and Croatia, had to make a dash back to Florence on Monday night after his nine-month-old daughter was admitted to intensive care.

Last night the coach Gerry Fitzpatrick was holding a faint hope that he would be able to rejoin the team for tonight’s game against Macedonia.