SPORTS DIGEST: News from Rowing, Equestrian and Hockey

ROWING: Tim Harnedy came through his repêchage to win a place in the lightweight sculls final at the World Cup in Munich.

From a slow start which saw him lie fifth after 500 metres, Harnedy came through to lie third with 500 metres to go and then finish second.

Hungary's Peter Loerinczy won in 7 minutes 10.98 seconds with the Corkman clocked half a second up on Switzerland's Stephan Steiner in 7 minutes 11.00 seconds.

But there was no come back for Heather Boyle and Sinéad Jennings in the women's lightweight double sculls semi-finals. Lying fifth and well down at 500 metres they closed on third place Finland in the third quarter. But the Finns pulled away again towards the line to take the final qualifying place behind Germany and the Netherlands.

EQUESTRIAN: Cian O'Connor was the one highlight in a bleak day for the Irish at the Italian Nations Cup show in Rome yesterday, winning the morning's speed class and then producing a double clear in the Samsung Super League round, reports Grania Willis.

But that was the only optimistic note on a black Friday as the Irish quartet floundered into seventh place of the eight competing nations. O'Connor lifted the speed class with his mare ABC Landliebe and continued with two faultless rounds from Waterford Crystal in the Cup itself. But none of his compatriots could follow suit, although Jessica Kurten came closest, making just one mistake in each round with Quibell.

But the damage had already been done in the first round when Ireland's 12-fault tally left the team struggling.

HOCKEY: Hosts Atasport were surprise 2-0 winners over Irish champions Hermes at the European Trophy in Baku, Azerbaijan, yesterday, a margin of victory that would have been greater but for the display of goalkeeper Tara Browne, reports Mary Hannigan.

Atasport got both their goals in the second half (after 38 minutes and 56 minutes), leaving the Dublin side needing to take something from their game against Austrians Arminen today to keep their promotion hopes alive.

Church of Ireland, however, are now battling against relegation after losing their second successive European Trophy game in Prague, this time going down 3-1 to hosts Slavia.

They need to avoid defeat today against Italian side Amsicora to keep Ireland in the division next season.