Garbhan Coughlan of Limerick FC and Claire O’Riordan from Newcastlewest picked in Team Ireland to compete in the World University Games in August.

Team Ireland’s head coaches Glenn Yelverton and Colin Bell have announced a squad of forty for the upcoming games which includes Limerick natives Garbhan Coughlan and Claire O’Riordan.

Garbhan Coughlan has had a standout season with Limerick FC, most recently scoring in his last two league games. Claire O’Riordan isn’t playing soccer in Limerick currently but the Newcastlewest native plays for Carlow IT and Wexford Youths.

The World University Games are held biannually and in terms of global multi sports events are only second to the Olympics. Team Ireland have always had a strong history in the games due to the Colleges and Universities football leagues.

Team Ireland will travel to the games on the 11th of August, a week before their first fixtures against France and Mexico on the 18th.

There is a total of forty players travelling from both the men’s and women’s squads and of that 40 an impressive 32 ply their trade in the SSE Airtricity league in Ireland.

Men’s head coach Yelverton had this to say on his group of players

“My staff and I firmly believe that the players we have are good enough to do us a job out there. We’re delighted with the quality we have. There is a large representation from the SSE Airtricity league with the players in the squad. I’d like to thank the clubs and coaches for working with us to make the players available”

Student Sport Ireland’s head of delegation Neasa Fahy O’Donnell is looking forward to the games:

“We are very excited about the men’s and women’s squads going to Taipei for the 2017 World University Games. I am delighted to lead Team Ireland and these young men and women who will represent their country with great honour and pride”