Power pulls out of Irish team

SEAMUS POWER has conceded defeat in his battle to be fit for Sunday’s European cross-country championships near Milan and will be replaced by national inter-clubs champion Vinnie Mulvey on the Irish senior squad.

The Clare man failed in his challenge for a sensational 10th national inter-clubs title at Dungarvan recently when a hamstring problem flared up and he finished seventh. However, that was good enough to earn him a place on the senior team for the Europeans when Mark Christie opted for the U23 race and runner-up Gareth Turnbull was not available for selection.

“After the race I knew I would hardly make it but up to Wednesday I was living in hope,” he said. “I was having treatment on the hamstring but if I jumped into the team at this point I know I would not do myself justice.