Rowing: Top Irish oarsman Gearoid Towey did the equivalent of getting back on the horse that threw you to spectacular effect yesterday. Part of the Ireland lightweight four which disappointed at the Sydney Olympics, Towey won on the double in the Australian Rowing Championships near Brisbane, writes Liam Gorman.
The Fermoy man, rowing in the UTS colours, chased down Tim Wise of Ballarat to win the men's senior A lightweight single scull final by over three seconds. After winning his heat, Towey had been placed second to Wise in the semi-final but reversed the placings when it mattered.
He added a second title when he teamed up with Karl Parker (who was third in the single sculls), David Taylor and Robert Mitchell to win the lightweight quadruple sculls in a composite crew.
BOXING: Gorey light-heavy Darren O'Toole took only one minute and eight seconds to clinch a 6-5 victory for Ireland
in the International Junior Boxing match against Italy at the National Stadium last night.
In the final contest of the night, O'Toole forced Rorif Emiliano to take two standing counts in an explosive finish before the referee stopped it.
Others that shone for the home team were Pat Hyland, the reigning Irish junior champion and Tommy Lee of Galway, who both won at bantam.
Paul Hendrix was denied a possible win when pulled up for a late punch which floored Gaetano Valentino, who then recovered and went on to win.
BOXING: The funeral of a boxing hero of the 1940s will take place in his native town today. Maxie (Michael) McCullagh won national amateur titles before gaining his place on Irish teams. He competed in the London Olympics in 1948 and won the European lightweight championships at Oslo in 1949. In the same year , as captain of the Irish team, he won the Golden Gloves Award and was voted "Ireland's Boxer of the Year".
McCullagh's remains have been removed from his London home to Mullingar, where his funeral takes place today.
MOTOR SPORT: Formula One motor racing supremo Bernie Ecclestone tried to head off a breakaway threat by car makers with a pledge yesterday to keep the popular sport on free-to-air television.
Europe's car makers have threatened to launch a rival racing series in an escalation of a power struggle over control of TV rights. "I have been assured that my policy of securing worldwide extensive, live, free-over-the-air TV coverage remains unchanged," Ecclestone said.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Today sees the highlight of the first Special Olympics European Football Week when Limerick plays KARE of Kildare at Flancare Park, home of Longford FC, in the final of the Special Olympics Ireland / eircom National Cup Final. Kick off is at 3.00 p.m.
KARE (Kildare - Green and White): Michael Breen, Paul Owens (Captain), Joe Kenny, George Power, Joe Doran, Eddie Dowling, Philip Doyle, Adrian Maher, Willie Baldwin, Michael O'Brien, Daniel Rooney, Phelim Macken (Coach), Sarah Meegan (Coach), Paul Sheeham (Coach).
LIMERICK (Orange and Navy): Darren Morrison (Captain), Frankie Griffin, Noel Hanley, Michael Daly, Gerry Quigley, Padraig O'Lone, Pat Williams, Padraig Kenny, Georoid Greaney, Noel Tracey, David O'Sullivan. Eamon Quirke (Coach), Ken Kavanagh (Coach).
MOTOR SPORT: The Motorsport Commission has decided to lift the temporary suspension on certain categories of motor sport with effect from April 14th. These events include racing, kart races, loose surface autocross, rallycross, Autotest and rallysprint events which primarily take place at permanent venues and comply with the Department of Agriculture's Expert Group's requirements for category 2 type events. It is expected that the Mondello motor racing season will begin on Easter Monday.
Competitors from restricted areas or from the agricultural sector are being asked not to take part in such events.
TENNIS: Qualifier Jon Doran lost out in the quarter finals of the Brisbane Unity International in Queensland yesterday but took the sixth seed Sebastian de Chaunac to three sets with a 7-2 tie break success in the second. His French opponent won 6-2 6-7 6-2.
