Matthew vying for success at European games

HOPING to continue with a fantastic summer of sport led by the Irish soccer team at Euro 2016, some 28 inspirational athletes, ranging in age from 18 to 78, are representing Ireland at the ninth European Transplant and Dialysis Sports Championships in Vantaa, Finland, this week.

The youngest member and newcomer to the team is 18-year-old Matthew McNeive, a kidney transplant recipient from Claremorris.

The young Mayo man and his fellow Transplant Team Ireland members flew out from Dublin airport to the games on Sunday. He'll be in action in table tennis, in the singles and doubles competition, today (Tuesday).

At the previous biennial European championships held in Krakow in 2014, Transplant Team Ireland, with a slightly larger team (34 athletes), was placed in third position on the medals table, taking home 18 gold, 18 silver and 31 bronze medals.

This year the team is hoping for further success and while their main objective is to embrace life and promote organ donation, some returning team members will also be defending European titles.