Ireland name team for Bangkok games

World University Games:Ireland will be represented in seven sports at the World University Games in Bangkok, Thailand, which take place in two weeks, from August 8th-18th. This equates to 68 competitors, who come from 39 Third Level institutions, including 20 overseas colleges.

Included are the 20-strong men's and women's football teams, and three female golfers, one taekwondo representative, two fencers, eight swimmers, four tennis players and 10 track and field athletes.

The 24th edition of the games, which are held every two years, will feature over 200 countries in 15 sports.

Two years ago, in Izmir, the track and field team won a record haul of five medals. Cork duo Ailis McSweeney and Derval O'Rourke were the shining stars, taking individual medals as well as a relay medal with Anna Boyle and Emily Maher.

Boyle and McSweeney are part of the team again for Bangkok, and are joined by the in-form Eileen O'Keeffe, who smashed her Irish hammer record over the weekend at the National Championships, and who will use the event as part of her preparations for the World Championships in Osaka.

The women's soccer squad, coached by Irish international manager Noel King, boasts 11 players with full Irish caps, and one Northern Ireland international as well as five more of the team who have been capped at underage level for Ireland.

The Irish women lost out at the quarter-final stage in Izmir to eventual winners China, and, with many of that team travelling again, they will be focused on bettering that result.

The men's team is led by Noel O'Reilly and comprises players from eight educational institutions across the country.

UCD account for eight players, and two of those, James O'Sullivan and Darren Forsyth, won under-19 caps for the Republic of Ireland last season.

Golfers Danielle McVeigh, Niamh Kitching, and Gillian O'Leary will be hopeful of strong showing in the team event. The format is three to play and two scores to count.

Dubliner Barry Murphy leads the challenge of the eight-strong swimming team.

In fencing, Olympic hopeful Siobhan Byrne placed seventh at the last games, and will be hoping to advance that position in Bangkok.

She is joined by UCD's Owen McNamee.

Mark Casserly of DCU competes in taekwondo, while reigning Irish Close champion James McGee heads the tennis team.

Irish Team

Athletics:Anna Boyle (100/200m), Deirdre Byrne (800m), Thomas Chamney (800m), Orla Drumm (800m), Eoin Everard (800m), Sharon Heveran (High Jump), Joe McAllister (Half Marathon), David McCarthy (400/800m), Eileen O'Keeffe (Hammer), Ailis McSweeney (100m). Fencing:Siobhan Byrne, Owen McNamee. Football- Men:Billy Brennan, Carl Caulfield, Robbie Coombes, Darren Forsyth, Killian Gallagher, Kieran Harte, Ray Lally, David Last, Séamus Long, Stephen Lowry, Conor McDonald, Evan McMillian, Fran Moran, Ken Murphy, Declan O'Donnell, James O'Sullivan, Stephen Roche, Richie Ryan, Sean Ward, Paul Whelan. Women:Nikita Burke, Carol Breen, Marie Curtin, Maebh de Burca, Lynn Dowling, Marie Gallagher, Lindsey Wilson, Emma Griffin, Niamh Fahy, Sonya Hughes, Edel Malone, Victoria Mallett, Sarah McGrath, Yvonne McMonagle, Tara McMahon, Emma Mullin, Elaine O'Connor, Michelle O'Brien, Denise Thomas, Sarah Peters, Shannon Smyth. Golf:Niamh Kitching, Danielle McVeigh, Gillian O'Leary. Swimming:Sharon Coady, Clare Dawson, Ciara Farrell, Barry Murphy, Jonathan Nixon, Melanie Nocher, Florry O'Connell, Kevin Stacey. Taekwondo: Mark Casserly. Tennis:Colin O'Brien, Anne Marie Hogan, James McGee, Leigh Walsh.