ULSTER'S Laura Brown was forced to withdraw from the Irish squad for August's World Cup Qualifying Tournament yesterday after suffering a recurrence of an old back injury. Coach Terry Gregg has named Loreto's Caitriona O'Kelly as Brown's replacement for both next week's Sharwood's Senior Tournament in Belfield and the trip to Zimbabwe.

The injury to the Pegasus and Loughborough midfielder deprives Gregg of an experienced player - the 24-year-old student has over 60 caps to her name. A replacement has yet to be named for O'Kelly in the under-21 squad that travels to Stirling next week for matches against Scotland, Canada and Wales.

The English under-21 squad is unable to take part in the Belfield tournament and their place in the four-team line-up, which also includes Ireland, Spain and Scotland, has been taken by the Shamrocks - a squad composed of those who missed out on selection for Zimbabwe.

Loreto's Noel Keogh will coach the team for their matches against Spain and Scotland (they will not face the full Irish team) and they will be captained by Muckross midfielder Teresa Hurley.

The one remaining vacancy in the Irish squad between Harlequins' Sharon Hutchinson and Hermes' Tara Browne will be decided over the weekend.