'Good buzz' around Irish team

Athletics/ European Indoor Championships: There are obvious grounds for optimism surrounding the Ireland team headed to the European Indoor Championships, which start on Friday at Birmingham's National Indoor Arena.

Athletics Ireland finalised a 13-strong team yesterday, headed by defending champions David Gillick in the 400 metres and Alistair Cragg in the 3,000 metres.

It's now 18 years since Ireland went to a major championship with two defending title holders, the World Indoor Championships of 1989. On that occasion Marcus O'Sullivan defended his 1,500 metre crown, and Frank O'Mara took fifth in the 3,000 metres - but there's reason to believe both Gillick and Cragg can come away with medals again this time, and why not gold?

Gillick remains the fastest man in Europe this season with his 45.91-second clocking in Germany earlier this month, and Cragg is second fastest over 3,000 metres with his 7:43.30, behind Frenchman Bouab Tahri who set a time of 7:38.41 in France last month. Cragg, however, is happy he's only coming into his peak now having geared everything over the past few months to this weekend.

Gillick is Ireland's sole entrant in the 400 metres, while Cragg will be joined by Mark Carroll, now 35, and former European champion at the distance, and also 22-year-old DCU student Mark Christie. There will also be the full quota of athletes in the men's 1,500 metres with James Nolan, Liam Reale and Gareth Turnbull.

Elsewhere, the team followed expected lines with the possible exception of David McCarthy, who was named in the men's 800 metres along with US-based Thomas Chamney. Previously a 400-metre specialist, McCarthy has moved a distance this season, running a best of 1:49.53.

Completing the travelling party will be Paul Hession and Anna Boyle in the 60 metres, Mary Cullen in the women's 3,000 metres, and a sole field event specialist, Deirdre Ryan, in the high jump. The only notable absentee is world indoor hurdles champion Derval O'Rourke, who is concentrating solely on the outdoor season for 2007.

Team manager Patsy McGonagle feels confident of a repeat of some of the performances seen in Madrid two years ago. "There's a lot of good buzz around this team," he said, "a lot of anticipation. I think this team proves we're still producing international athletes of the highest standard, and we'll continue to be a champion sport.

"That's the mentality of the athletes and management going into this weekend, that we can win medals. And it's clear we can win two medals, with four, possibly five more finalists. And that would be another step up."

McGonagle also singled out the presence of Turnbull, who has fought his way back to competitive athletics after the nightmare scenario of being wrongly accused of a doping violation.

"We're delighted Gareth is on the team," he added, "after all the tribulations he's been through. He was very hurt by what happened, and understandably so, but we're working through it with him, and certainly his response to the whole situation has been outstanding. And David McCarthy has earned his shot, having put in a good effort this season. He deserves to be encouraged after that and to keep him in competition is one obvious way to do that."

The Ireland team are due to depart tomorrow, provided their scheduled Aer Lingus flight is not interrupted by the threat of industrial action.

IRELAND TEAM, European Indoor Championships, Birmingham, March 2nd-4th: Anna Boyle(Ballymena and Antrim) 60 metres; Mark Carroll(Leevale) 3,000 metres; Thomas Chamney(Crusaders AC) 800 metres; Mark Christie(Mullingar Harriers) 3,000 metres; Alistair Cragg(Clonliffe AC) 3,000 metres; Mary Cullen(North Sligo) 3,000 metres; David Gillick(Dundrum South Dublin) 400 metres; Paul Hession(Athenry AC) 60 metres; David McCarthy(Le Cheile AC) 800 metres; James Nolan(UCD) 1,500 metres; Liam Reale(Limerick AC) 1,500 metres; Deirdre Ryan(Dundrum South Dublin) High jump; Gareth Turnbull(St Malachy's) 1,500 metres.