Mark O'Flynn and John Murphy are two of the players heading off to Budapest to represent Ireland at the European Youth Championship from July 16 to July 25. It s a case of first and last here with Mark playing in his first and John taking part in his last Europeans. Mark is one half of the Cadet team with Keith Knox being the other. John is a member of the Junior Team with Peter Graham and David Hayes. There is also a cadet girls team consisting of Amy Tobin and Fiona Dennett traveling to the event.
There is a good bit of history making in Mark's selection. He is the first purely Eastpoint player ever to be selected for European Youths. That's in the club's nine year history. Of course other players such as Alan Monks went to the European youths but they all started in St. Tiernans. Mark is the first Clontarf resident to play for Ireland at European Youths.
All the teams have a tough draw but none more so than the Cadet Boys who face Belarus, Spain, Slovenia and Kosovo. The Junior Boys have the mouthwatering prospect of an encounter with England in their group which should see some fireworks from both sides.
John has been a great help to Mark in the run up to the event giving him advice and encouragement based on his years of experience .We wish both of them and the whole team well.