Paul McCarthy, the talented New Ross butterfly swimmer, has been forced out of the European short-course championships in Sheffield due to exams. The third-level student at the Waterford Institute regrets having to miss the high profile event which has attracted most of Europe's leading prospects for the Sydney Olympics.

McCarthy's withdrawal reduces the Ireland team to six and there are no plans for a replacement. This excludes the possibility of either Lee Kelleher or Adrian O'Connor being invited into the team. National coach Ger Doyle explains: "The team has been picked on qualifying times, something that we had agreed with the Olympic Council who are funding the trip and it would not be fair to change the goalposts at this stage."

Four of the remaining six will be travelling with top world rankings. Hugh O'Connor figures in the world's top 25 in four events on the backstroke and freestyle disciplines. "The only Irish swimmer I have ever seen ranked in four events, or anything like it, is Michelle Smith," remarks Doyle. The other three top 20 (short course) in the squad are freestylers Colin Lowth, Nick Hare and Chantal Gibney.