Down's Ciaran Bradley, Armagh's Paul Hannon and Tyrone's Damhan Hughes have all officially been announced on the International Wheelchair Hurling squad, by GAA Uachtarán Larry McCarthy.
The trio will also be joined by Donegal's Paul Callaghan and Tyrone's Shane McCann, meaning there willl be five Ulster representatives in total.
The 12-person panel, made up of wheelchair all-star hurlers from each of the four provinces, will travel to take part in the 2023 Prague Wheel Open Floorball International, that takes place between August 10th and 12th.
Floorball is a game being considered for addition to the list of sports in the Paralympics. It differs from wheelchair hurling in that players play on a field and use a stick, like those used in ice hockey.
The GAA team will represent the Association in the competition against Floorball teams from the Czech Republic, The Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland.
The team is sponsored MyClubShop.ie, owned by long-standing wheelchair hurling sponsor Martin Donnelly and is captained by Limerick Paralympian, James McCarthy.
Announced on the GAA's website, Uachatrán Larry McCarthy said: “Thanks to the work of the GAA For All committee there is a programme in place to make our games as inclusive as possible.”
“Wheelchair hurling is a skillful game that lives up to the motto of the GAA being a place ‘Where We All Belong’ and is really going from strength to strength.”
“Through this invitation to play in Prague, we have a chance to acknowledge some of our very best players and to offer them the opportunity, to not only compete at a very high level, but to represent their families, their clubs, their counties and our Association, on the international stage.”
“Congratulations and best wishes to all who have been selected and our thanks to Martin Donnelly for his continued support.”
The full squad: James McCarthy (Limerick), Melanie Griffith (Carlow), Sean Bennett (Laois), Ciaran Bradley (Down), Shane Curran (Galway), Paul Hannon (Armagh), Alex Hennebry (Waterford), Cian Horgan (Kerry), Damhan Hughes (Tyrone), Aidan Hynes (Sligo), Maurice Noonan (Limerick), Ellie Sheehy (Limerick).
Team management: Paul Callaghan (Donegal), Tom Carey (Kildare), John Carey (Clare), Shane McCann (Tyrone).
For further details on the tournament visit: https://www.praguewheelopen.cz/ucastnici. Live updates will be provided on Twitter via @GAACommunity.
