NOrtHerN Ireland's 11-strong boxing team headed to Donegal for a week's training as the Commonwealth Games
Council confirmed the north's largest-ever team yesterday. In all, 117 local athletes will compete across 14 sports for the 11 days of competition in Glasgow, starting on July 24. the boxers won three gold medals and two silvers last time out and beating the haul of 10 medals from the 2010 Games is a tall order for the Northern Ireland team.
But there are a number of the medallists from the last Games in this year's squad including: Paddy Barnes, Michael Conlan, steven Ward, Wendy Houvenaghel, Martyn Irvine, sean Downey, Philip lavery and David Calvert who will all be seeking to repeat their medal winning exploits of four years ago.
In the search for medals they'll be joined by, amongst others, steven Donnelly, Aileen reid, lisa Kearney and Madeline Perry while both the male and female bowling squads will also fancy their chances on the Kelvingrove greens.
three paralympians make the team with James Brown being piloted by Dave readle in the track cycling while Jason smyth and Bethany Firth both compete in the mainstream competition as their preferred events are not available within the limited para-sport program that, uniquely at the Commonwealth Games, is integrated into the general schedule.
A Northern Ireland netball squad makes its debut at the Games, while both judo and triathlon make a return, having not been included within the program for Delhi 2010. With coaches, medical personnel, support staff and team management included, the total team size travelling to Glasgow will be approximately 160. the NICGC has expressed its appreciation to all the governing bodies who have engaged so enthusiastically in preparation over the last two years, sports Institute NI for the ongoing support of athletes and to the sponsors, local authorities and sportNI who are contributing financially to the presentation of the team.
NORTHERN IRELAND SQUAD FOR GLASGOW 2014
Boxing: Paddy Barnes 49kg, Michaela Walsh 51kg, Ruairi Dalton 52kg, Michael Conlan, 56kg, Joe Fitzpatrick 60kg, Alanna Audley-Murphy 60kg, Sean Duffy 64kg, Steven Donnelly 69kg, Connor Coyle 75kg, Sean McGlinchy 81kg, Steven Ward 91kg Aquatics: Rachel Bethel, Curtis Coulter, Michael Dawson, Bethany Firth, Danielle Hill, Gemma Kane, Sycerika McMahon, Conor Munn, Jordan Sloan, David Thompson Athletics: Zoe Brown: Pole vault, Amy Foster: 100m, 200m; Gladys Ganiel: Marathon; Kerry O'Flaherty: 3000m steeplechase; Katie Kirk: 800m; Christine McMahon: 400m hurdles; Peter Glass: Decathlon 4x100m; Jason Harvey: 400m hurdles 4x100m; Dempsey McGuigan: Hammer; Daniel Mooney: 1500m & 800m; Paul Pollock: 10000m; Leon Reid: 100m, 200m, 4x100m; Ben Reynolds: 110m hurdles, 4x100m; Jason Smyth: 100m, 200m, 4x100m Badminton: Caroline Black, Sinead Chambers, Alannah Stephenson, Ciaran Chambers, Tony Murphy, Tony Stephenson Cycling: Claire Oakley, Roger Aiken, Connor McConvey, Lydia Boylan, Wendy Houvenaghel, James Brown, Marcus Christie, Sean Downey, Fraser Duncan, Peter Hawkins, Michael Hutchinson, Martyn Irvine, Philip Lavery,
Dave Readle Gymnastics: Sarah Beck, Nicole Mawhinney, India McPeak, Ciara Roberts, Luke Carson, Matthew Cosgrave Judo: Lisa Kearney, Kirsty Kee, Caoimhin Thompson, Eoin Fleming, Mark Montgomery, Gavin McNeill Lawn Bowls (Men): Neil Booth, Paul Daly, Ian McClure, Martin McHugh, Neil Mulholland Lawn Bowls (Women): Barbara Cameron, Mandy Cunningham, Jennifer Dowds, Donna McCloy, Catherine McMillen Netball: Niamh Cooper, Michelle Drayne, Gemma Gibney, Noleen Lennon, Nordia Masters, Lisa McCaffrey, Oonagh McCullough, Caroline O'Hanlon, Lisa Somerville, Fionnuala Toner, Marie Toner, Hannah Willis
Shooting: David Calvert, Jack Alexander, Gary Duff, Sam Kelly, Louise Aiken, Claudia McClung, Kirsty Barr, David Beattie, David Henning, David Christie, Clement Buchanan Squash: Michael Craig, Madeline Perry Table Tennis: Ashley Givan, Emma Ludlow, Hannah Lynch-Dawson, Amanda Mogey, Peter Graham, Paul McCreery, Ashley Robinson Triathlon: Eimear Mullan, Aileen Reid, Emma Sharkey, Conor Murphy, Harry Speers, Russell White
Wrestling: Norik Koczarian, Hugh McCloskey