Northerners dominate Irish student squad

Just three National League players have been included in the squad of 18 footballers for next month's World Student Games in Mallorca with Finn Harps midfielder Fergal Harkin the best-known name from this side of the border.

Derry City's Shaun Gallagher and Longford's Seamus Zeller are the only other National League players to make the panel which will be officially named along with the rest of the travelling party at Trinity College Dublin this afternoon though Ger Cassidy, a midfielder with the National University of Ireland, Galway, has also nailed down a place in the squad. "The squad does have a bit of northern ring about it," admits manager Tom Stark of the University of Ulster before adding: "I suppose we had better do well or I'll be getting a bit of stick over it".

That won't be easy given that the Irish have been drawn in the same group as Japan (winners in 1995) and Italy (champions two years ago) as well as first-time entrants Mexico. However, he may just have a point given that just three of the panel study in the south while one other, Gavin Treanor, is based in England.

"There were other players that we wanted but who were, for one reason or another, not available for the trip," he points out.

Tom Silke of Longford Town, Bohemians' Graham O'Hanlon and Waterford's John Frost are among those who are injured or, in the case of Frost and another couple, hoping for a call-up from Brian Kerr for the European Youth Championships in Sweden.

Kerr hasn't finalised his squad for that trip as yet, but he yesterday named the under-16 panel he will be entrusting to Pete Mahon for the European Youth Olympics. Patrick Kohlmann, the Borussia Dortmund midfielder who travelled to the Netherlands with the under-18s a few weeks ago, is called up again while Galway United full-back Mark Rossiter is also among the 16-strong panel named for the trip to Denmark. The Irish have been drawn in a group with the hosts and Switzerland.

Sticking with the student theme, UCD have confirmed that they have agreed new two-year contracts with Aidan Lynch, Mick O'Byrne and Tony McDonnell. All three have been important members of the club's Premier Division team in recent seasons.

And Shelbourne's first team will take on the club's under-19s this evening at Castle Avenue as part of their preparations for Sunday's Inter-Toto game against Swiss side Neuchatel Xamex. Dermot Keely will also use the game to decide whether to offer a contract to Colombian player Daniel Gomez who is currently on a trial with the Tolka Park club.