Early action for World squad

The Irish team leaves today for a training camp in New York state ahead of the World Championships in St Catharines, Canada at the end of the month.

Six of the 12-strong team (Brendan Dolan has been named as reserve and is scheduled to join the team before competition begins) are set to go straight into heats on the first day of the championships on Sunday fortnight - if the lightweight pair of Tony O'Connor and Neville Maxwell also decide to compete in the heavyweight pairs.

Single sculler Albert Maher, lightweight single Sam Lynch, and the women's double of Mary Hussey and Debbie Stack are certain starters on the first day.

O'Connor and Maxwell have also been officially entered as heavyweights, but a decision on whether they compete as such will be made depending on the strength of the field.

The first heat of the lightweight pairs is on the Monday, and if the Irish qualify for the semi-finals - as they should - they could be left without a race for four days. This increases the likelihood that O'Connor and Maxwell will enter the heavyweight competition.

The two remaining crews, the lightweight quadruple scull and the lightweight double of Niall O'Toole and Derek Holland, will begin on the Monday.

The departure of the Irish squad was in doubt because of the possibility of a court injunction by the former coach Mick Desmond, but the amicable outcome means that the Irish will leave for William Smith College in Geneva, New York State as scheduled.