A round-up of today's sports news
Bermuda star is sent home
UNDER-19 CRICKET:If any doubt remained that Ireland will gain revenge over Bermuda today in the Under-19 World Cup it was surely removed last night when the man-of-the-match from last week's encounter was sent home from Malaysia for disciplinary reasons.
Bermuda felt they had no option but to eject Chris Douglas from their squad over his abusive behaviour during team meetings and Ireland were not disappointed to see the back of the quick-scoring opening bat who took five of their wickets in that shock defeat in Kuala Lumpur.
Coach Brian O'Rourke has made two changes from the team that lost to the West Indies on Monday, recalling wicketkeeper Stuart Poynter and allrounder Graham McDonnell.
IRELAND (v Bermuda): G Thompson (cpt), P Stirling, C Dougherty, B Ackland, J Hall, J Shannon, G McDonnell, S Getkate, S Poynter (wk), R Keaveney, A Britton.
Nolan and McSweeney selected
SPORT:Athletics Ireland have confirmed 1,500 metre runner James Nolan and Ailis McSweeney in the 60 metres as the only two members of the Irish team to compete at the World Indoor championships in Valencia, from March 7th-9th, writes Ian O'Riordan.
As reported last week, Derval O'Rourke won't be defending her 60 metre hurdles title due to lack of form, with her season's best of 8.09 seconds well short of the 7.84 she clocked when winning gold in Moscow two years ago.
In a last-ditch effort to turn that form around, O'Rourke ran in Tampere, Finland, on Wednesday night, but once again only managed a 8.10 clocking: "I must be realistic now. I lost too much time due to a foot injury earlier in this winter and I was ill for 10 days too in January," she said.
McSweeney is selected in the 60 metres flat, and even though her season's best 7.38 seconds is just short of the 7.37 qualifying standard, a country can enter one athlete on "wild card" basis. The 24-year-old is still one of Ireland's most promising young sprinters, and won silver and bronze at the 2006 World University Games.
Wesley take cup after extra-time
SCHOOLGIRLS HOCKEY:Wesley College won the Leinster Minor A Cup final at Grange Road yesterday, beating Our Lady's Terenure 2-1 after extra-time.
Wesley, whose goals were scored by Sarah Robinson and Sophie Pratt, took the lead in the first half and held on to it until five minutes from time when Caoileann O'Connor equalised for Terenure.
They regained the advantage, however, in the first period of extra-time and despite Terenure's best efforts there was no way back a second time with Wesley holding out to win.
Dunne gets back in the ring
BOXING:Former European Champion Bernard Dunne will bid to resurrect his career following his shock defeat to Kiko Martinez in Dublin last year with a bout against ex-World champion Felix Machado at the International Events Arena in Castlebar, Mayo, on April 12th.
Dunne relinquished his European super bantamweight title in spectacular style to Martinez at the Point last August after he was dropped three times by the Spaniard in the first round.
But the 28-year old Dubliner is now determined to put that sole blemish on his impressive career behind him against Venezuala-born Machado in April - and then he would like the chance to put the record straight against Martinez.
He said: "I just can't wait and it's great to have a date to work towards now. I've had a good break and I got to spend a lot of time with the latest addition to the family. To be honest I don't care who's in the other corner. I just want to get back in there and get back on track starting with this fight on April 12th. I'd like to get Mr Martinez in the ring again as soon as possible for obvious reasons."
Irish trio close to Olympic place
BOXING:Irish team captain Ken Egan, John Joe Nevin and John Joe Joyce are just one fight away from booking their tickets to Beijing at the second last Olympic qualifier for European boxers in Pescara, Italy, today.
The trio will all be involved in semi-final bouts on the Adriatic coast this afternoon and are guaranteed their places at next summer's Olympics if they win.
Dublin light heavyweight Egan will face Ramazan Magamedau from Belarus, while St Michael's Athy light welterweight Joyce meets experienced Romanian Ionut Gheorghe and Nevin goes head-to-head with Ukranian Maksym Treyak.
However, Cavan bantamweight Nevin can afford to lose today's semi-final as there are three 54Kg Olympic berths up for grabs in Pescara.
