Irish CP football team manager, Barry Ferguson, has today announced a strong squad to represent Ireland at the 2016 International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football (IFCPF) pre-Paralympic tournament which will take place in Salou, Spain from April 30th to May 7th.
The team for the tournament comprises of 14 talented footballers who will line out against Brazil, the USA and Great Britain in the group stages of the tournament.
The team qualified for the Paralympic Games in Rio at the Cerebral Palsy Football World Championships in England last year after securing a 1-0 victory over Argentina, and now, the tournament in Spain will give Ferguson the chance to see how his side compares to some of their opponents.
Speaking about the squad announcement and the upcoming tournament, he stated: “We are very confident in the team we have selected to travel to the tournament in Spain next week. We are really looking forward to it and we’re delighted with the draw too.
“There’s no doubt that it will be tough, but the experience will be great for the team and it will be good for us to take a look and see how we’re progressing.”
Ireland will take on Brazil in the first game of the tournament on Sunday, May 1st, before facing Great Britain on Monday, May 2nd and the USA on Tuesday, May 3rd.
The draw for the Paralympic Games in Rio this year will also take place at this tournament.
The Irish team in full is: Brian McGillivary (Dublin), Joe Markey (Monaghan), Darragh Snell (Wicklow), Luke Evans (Dublin), Peter Cotter (Cork), Paraic Leacy (Wexford), Gary Messett (Wicklow), Carl McKee (Dublin), Aaron Tier (Limerick), Dillion Sheridan (Dublin), Tom Badun (Louth), Ryan Nolan (Wicklow), Simon L’Estrange (Westmeath), Conor Tuite (Louth).
