RICHARD McDaid was last night called into the Ireland squad for the European Championships. The Limavady all-rounder will join the party when they meet up in Belfast on Thursday as cover for Ballymena pace-man Adrian McCoubrey who remains doubtful not only for Friday's opener against Scotland but also Saturday's game against Denmark.

McCoubrey aggravated the thigh injury which kept him out of club cricket all of last month, in the inter-regional challenge game in Dublin at the weekend. The game was always going to be a fitness test for McCoubrey and although he suffered no reaction in his first spell of four overs, early in his second spell a twinge returned. He completed 11 overs of the 66 bowled by NCU in the South's only innings but by the time he came out to bat - just 39 overs later - he needed a runner.

National Coach Adrian Birrell says the physios will be "working very hard" on McCoubrey throughout the week and he is giving Ireland's No 1 strike bowler every chance to take some part in the tournament.

"He is very doubtful for the first game, and probably the second as well but, if it only takes a week's rest then we may be able to include him next Monday against Italy," said the coach. If it was only McCoubrey to worry about then the Ireland management would not be too worried but Paul Mooney, another potential new ball bowler, played only as a batsman for South. " He is still a doubt but not nearly as bad as McCoubrey," added Birrell.

There was more encouraging news for Dom Joyce who reported to Clontarf yesterday to receive more treatment on his strained groin and he is expected to be OK for Friday's game at Wallace Park. Peter Gillespie, the Stabane captain, also made his comeback on Saturday from the hamstring injury which kept him out for almost four weeks and he also showed he was in form with the bat against Eglinton yesterday.

With just four days to go it is not all bad news for Ireland but it can still get better.