McIlroy named in European Championship team

Seventeen-year-old Rory McIlroy has been named in the team of six to represent Ireland in the European Youths Team Championship.

The two-time Irish Amateur Close champion will be joined by Simon Ward, who he beat in the final at the European Club.

The European Youths Team Championship will be held at the La Canada Golf Club on the Costa del Sol, Spain on July 11-15.

The full team is:

Shane Lowry (Esker Hills)

Rory McIlroy (Holywood)

Aaron O’Callaghan (Douglas)

Seamus Power (West Waterford)

Gareth Shaw (Lurgan)

Simon Ward (Co. Louth).

Non travelling reserve: Cian McNamara (Limerick)

Captain: Padraig Hogan.

The European Youths Team Championship was introduced in 1961 and Ireland has won three times – in 1997 (in Oslo), 1984 (at Hermitage Golf Club) and 1994 (at Esbjerg Golf Club in Denmark).

The same team will also represent Ireland in the annual Youths international match against Wales which will be played on Wednesday, June 28 at Royal Tara Golf Club, which will be followed by the Irish Youths Amateur Open Championship, in which Seamus Power will defend his title, on Thursday and Friday, June 29 and 30 at the same venue.