IRISH show jumping manager Robert Splaine today (Wednesday) announced his squad for the first Nations' Cup of 2015, which takes place in Ocala, Florida on Friday night.

Ireland's squad of five, from which Splaine will select a team of four on Thursday, is as follows:

Darragh Kerins (D Elia Van Het Molenhof), Darragh Kenny (Picolo), Conor Swail (Grafton), Kevin Babington (Shorapur), Lorcan Gallagher (Diktator Van De Boslandhoeve).

Splaine said today: "This is not a Furusiyya qualifier for us, as it’s outside our region, however it is for the other teams and the USA and Canada have named their top guns.

“All five horses on our squad have never competed in a Nations' Cup so in the bigger scheme and looking to build for the future there should be a lot to learn from Friday’s competition.”

It is also the first time Lorcan Gallagher’s name has appeared on a senior squad. He is US-based with Cork's Shane Sweetnam, he is 23, and from County Down.

Gallagher has had some good results in Kentucky and Wellington with the stallion Diktator Van De Boslandhoeve.

The starting order, which was determined by a draw held in Ocala yesterday, will be as follows:

1. Ireland

2. Mexico

3. USA

4. Venezuela

5. Colombia

6. Canada

Canada, Mexico and USA will be eligible for Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping points in The North and Central America & Caribbean League.

Ocala presents the first competition in the three-leg North America, Central America and Caribbean League. Organised by the New York-based events management company HITS, Inc., the Florida fixture will feature teams from Canada, Colombia, Ireland, Mexico, USA and Venezuela, but only the Canadians, Mexicans and Americans will be eligible for qualifying points in their region.

And the home runners promise to be a tough act to beat, headed up by super-star Beezie Madden whose packed trophy cabinet includes multiple Olympic and World Championship medals.

The 51-year-old rider, currently number 12 in the Longines Rankings, brings the horse with which she won the 2013 FEI World Cup Jumping title, Simon, and will be joined by Laura Kraut, Lauren Hough, Georgina Bloomberg and Todd Minikus.

It is always a big battle between the Americans and Canadians in this league, and with 2008 Olympic gold medallist Eric Lamaze, and the extraordinary 11-time Olympian Ian Millar in action, the Canadians are unlikely to be a push-over.

The competition gets underway at 13.00 local time, and promises to get the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping 2015 series off to great start.