Four junior national champions spearhead the Irish assault at this weekend's Coupe de la Jeunesse regatta in Nottingham, having been set the arduous task of following up on last year's record medal haul. Offaly's junior sculler Padraig Hussey, Killorglin's Fiola Foley and the Fermoy double partnership of Louise Bermingham and Claire Cliffe lead a 23-strong team to the scene of the Home Internationals where the Irish junior men narrowly missed out on an overall title less than seven days ago.
The winning quad then - Neil Casey, Gareth Corry, Paul O'Sullivan and Brian Young - are among a number of returning entries that should find the European junior championship to be a springboard into the international squad. Six of the Coupe team that scooped up seven golds in Amsterdam last year have been selected for next weekend's World junior championships.
Irish Coupe de la Jeunesse team - Junior men's single scull: Padraig Hussey (Offaly). Quadruple scull: Neil Casey (Neptune), Gareth Corry (RBAI), Paul O'Sullivan (Skibbereen), Brian Young (Cork). Coxed four: Stephen Hurley (Neptune), Rory Lunny (Portora), Paul Griffen, Donal Madden (Fossa); cox - Andrew Jackson (Cork). Coxless four: Chris Noble (Portora), Stephen Carroll, Paul Waldron (Cork), Mark Grolimund (St Michael's). Coxless pair: Nigel Concannon, John Naughton (St Joseph's).
Junior women's single scull: Fiola Foley (Killorglin). Double scull: Louise Bermingham, Claire Cliffe (Fermoy); Quadruple scull: Stephanie Kolle (Shandon), Fiona Harrington, Claire O'Shaugnessy (Col. Iognaid), Alison Bourke (Shandon).
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