Work commitments have prevented Dermot Donnelly from accepting a late call-up from the Irish selectors for Sunday's European Cross Country Championships in Croatia.

Cathal Lombard has had to withdraw because of injury and Donnelly was contacted on Wednesday morning by Irish national coach Paddy McGrattan and asked to travel.

However, civil servant Donnelly has an important work presentation to make on Friday morning which will involve 10 other people and was unable to accept the offer.

"If I had been contacted on Monday or maybe even Tuesday I might have been able to get the time off but it's simply too late now for me," Donnelly told BBC Sport Online.

Fifth in trials

"I was named as reserve for the event but that was non-travelling and I had no indication prior to being called this morning at 1030 GMT that I might be needed.

"I've a full-time job and I just can't just drop everything at such short notice," added the Annadale Striders runner.

Donnelly missed out in the original selection for the event in Croatia after finishing fifth in the recent Irish trials in Cork.

The Irish selectors picked the first four finishers at the Irish Intercounties Championship and also included Gareth Turnbull and South African native Alistair Cragg in the team.

Turnbull missed the trials while Cragg finished second in the recent National Collegiate Cross Country Championships in the US.