Gary Cullen is unable to defend his title at next weekend's Waterford Crystal Scratch Trophy due to his involvement with the Irish team contesting the European Amateur Championships in Italy.

The tournament in Waterford gives those who missed out on selection a ready opportunity to prove the selectors wrong. Noel Fox and Eamonn Brady will start as favourites, and Danny Coyle, who set the course record last year with a seven-under-par 64, is also in the field. The local challenge comes from Lee Dalton, Gavin McNeill, Alan Thomas and Alan Harty.