Irish team for European Athletics Championships announced

Derval O'Rourke, Alistair Cragg and David Gillick are top of the pile in the 29-strong team chosen to represent Ireland at next month's European Athletics Championships in Gothenburg.

Team coach Patsy McGonagle confirmed his travelling party for the event at a press conference in Dublin's Carlton Hotel this afternoon.

World Indoor 60 metres hurdles champion O'Rourke retained her national 100m hurdles title yesterday and will have high hopes of at least making the final in Gothenburg.

The Cork woman, who is ranked 15th in the world, is on her way to Stockholm to compete in an IAAF Super Grand Prix event tomorrow night. She is also due to race in Helsinki this week.

Meanwhile, the 34-year-old Ryan, who won his first national title back in 1994, is relishing his captaincy role.

The two-time Olympian said: "It's a great honour to captain this team, especially at such a prestigious event.

"I'm the last man standing really. Hopefully I can use my experience to help the young athletes we're taking with us.

"All they can do is prepare well, go out and do the best they can, and I think that's what the whole team has got to focus on."

Big performances are expected from both Cragg in the 5000m and 400m star David Gillick - the duo struck gold at the European Indoors last year.

Cragg, realistically Ireland's main medal hope, was disappointingly beaten by Liam Reale in the 1500m final at the Woodie's DIY National Track and Field Championships yesterday, but is still ranked as the fastest European over 5000m (13:08.97) this season.

The 23-year-old Gillick, who won his first outdoor national title yesterday, is evidently in good form - the Dubliner lowered his personal best by 0.13 seconds to 45.67 when winning the 400m final in Santry.

One of the 40-plus athletes to meet the qualifying standard and the 'double' darling at the Nationals, Joanne Cuddihy could be a dark horse in the women's 400m.

The 22-year-old Kilkenny woman clocked a new PB of 51.28 seconds, ranking her the 14th fastest European this year, when winning the one-lap title yesterday. The UCD student also won the 200m gold on Saturday.

The participation of three of Ireland's sprinting contingent - Ryan, Athenry flyer Paul Hession and Dubliner Ciara Sheehy - is subject to fitness testing.

The Irish squad will depart for Gothenburg in two groups on August 4 and 6, with the Championships running from August 7-13.

Ireland team (19th European Outdoor Athletics Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden):

Men -

200 metres: Paul Hession, Paul Brizzel, Gary Ryan

400 metres: David Gillick, Paul McKee, David McCarthy

800 metres: David Campbell, Thomas Chamney

1500 metres: James Nolan, Liam Reale

5000 metres: Alistair Cragg, Martin Fagan

10,000 metres: Martin Fagan

4x400 metres relay: David Gillick, Paul McKee, David McCarthy, Antoin Burke, Brian Doyle, Brian Murphy

Women -

100 metres: Anna Boyle, Emily Maher

200 metres: Ciara Sheehy, Joanne Cuddihy, Emily Maher, Anna Boyle 400 metres: Joanne Cuddihy, Michelle Carey 1500 metres: Aoife Byrne 5000 metres: Marie Davenport, Mary Cullen 10000 metres: Marie Davenport 3000 metres steeplechase: Roisin McGettigan, Fionnuala Britton 100 metres hurdles: Derval O'Rourke 400 metres hurdles: Michelle Carey High Jump: Deirdre Ryan

Hammer: Eileen O'Keeffe

4x100 metres relay: Anna Boyle, Ciara Sheehy, Joanne Cuddihy, Derval O'Rourke, Emily Maher, Ailis McSweeney