CHEMISTRY CUP SQUAD NAMED

Brendan Irvine in action

A 13-strong male and female Irish squad has been named for the Chemistry Cup in Cologne, Germany.

Rio Olympians Joe Ward and Brendan Irvine and current EU champion Kurt Walker return from hand injuries for the 45th edition of the tournament.

Irvine has been out since injuring his hand captaining Ireland versus India last May but made a welcome return to action last weekend in New York where he beat Geraldo Vasquez.

Walker and Carly McNaul and James McGivern, who are included on the Irish panel, also won in New York on St Patrick’s weekend.

Three-time European Elite champion Ward will be aiming for a third Chemistry Cup gold in Cologne as he beat Russia’s Olympic light heavy champion Egor Mekhonstev in the 2012 final  and Kazakhstan’s Adilbek Niyazimbetov in the 2014 decider.

The team will take part in a training camp at the German Olympic and Paralympic Centre in Kienbaum from March 27 to April 8 before the start of the Chemistry Cup on April 9 in Cologne.

Two-time Commonwealth finalist Michaela Walsh and McNaul line out at feather and fly and Christina Desmond and Grainne Walsh double up at welter.

The host nation Cuba, Russia, Team GB, Ireland and a number of other nations are booked in for the training camp and tournament.

The Irish squad leave for Germany next Wednesday.

Chemistry Cup Cologne, Germany  April 9/14

Irish squad

51kg Carly McNaul (Holy Family)
57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown)
69kg Christina Desmond (Fr Horgan’s)
69kg Grainne Walsh (Spartacus)

52kg Brendan Irvine (St Paul’s)
57kg Kurt Walker (Canal)
63kg James McGivern (St Georges)
63kg Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise)
69kg Kieran Molloy (Oughterard)
75kg Emmet Brennan (Glasnevin)
81kg Joe Ward (Spartacus)
91kg Tony Browne (St Michael’s)
91kg+ Dean Gardiner (Clonmel)

Team Manager: Bernard Dunne

Coaches: Zuar Antia, John Conlan, Damian Kennedy
Physiotherapist: Muireann Harte
Physiologist: Damian Martin