Sports Digest: HockeyJust days after their 1-1 draw in the Setanta Trophy at Belfield Ireland and South Africa meet again, at the same venue, in two matches, writes Mary Hannigan.
Irish coach Gene Muller has named two squads for the games, with Jenny McDonough and Áine Connery included for today's meeting, being replaced by Jill Orbinson, Cathy McKean and Eimear Cregan for tomorrow.
Friendly internationals (at Belfield) - Today: Ireland v South Africa, 6pm. Tomorrow: Ireland v South Africa, 6pm.
Ireland squad (for today): L Healy, M Goode, F McIllwaine, C O'Brien, B McKeever, C Sargent, E Harte, L Caulfield, N Symmons, E Clarke, R Mulligan, J O'Halloran, J McDonough, R Flinn, A Connery, A Speers.
Ireland squad (for tomorrow): M Goode, L Healy, F McIllwaine, C O'Brien, J Orbinson, B McKeever, E Harte, C Sargent, L Caulfield, N Symmons, E Clarke, R Flinn, J O'Halloran, R Mulligan, C McKean, E Cregan, A Speers.
McMonagle a cut above his opponent
Boxing:Cathal McMonagle advanced to the quarter-finals of the fifth European Union Boxing Championships when his opponent, Kurban Gunebakan from Turkey, was retired by the referee after sustaining a cut over his right eye in the fourth round at the National Stadium, Dublin, last night.
Gunebakan was ahead by 10 points in the final round but was hit by a solid right from McMonagle, and the referee stopped the contest.
McMonagle, from the Holy Trinity Club, Belfast, will meet Mohammed Samoudi of France in the last eight tomorrow.
John Sweeney (Dungloe) bowed out despite putting in a storming finish against the reigning EU 91-kilo champion, John-Michael M'Bumba of France. The Donegal man was edged out by four points.
Sweeney had M'Bumba on the ropes, racking up 10 points, in the final round but ran out of time in a marvellous contest.
Meanwhile, six other Irishmen are within one fight of at least a bronze medal at the championships.
Paddy Barnes, Conor Ahern, Ryan Lindberg, Karl Frampton, and the St Michael's Athy duo of Eric Donovan and John Joe Joyce will all see quarter-final action this afternoon and tonight.
Donovan faces a tough four-rounder against Domenico Valentino, who is going for his fourth EU gold medal on the trot.
Valentino is no stranger to the venue; he was here four years ago with the Italian junior team and was beaten 9-8 by Donovan.
Niland in fine fettle
Tennis:The Irish challenge, largely mounted by Davis Cup men, was very much in the groove during the ITF's Futures series at the Brookfield Club, Dublin, yesterday, writes Pat Roche.
Limerick's Conor Niland, seeded two, dismissed Britain's Matthew Smith in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, and faces his compatriot Eoin Heavey today.
Peter Clarke found good form and resilience when accounting for Britain's Robert Searle. Clarke took a little time to find his rhythm and dropped the first set 3-6 but subsequently coasted.
James Cluskey made a heroic effort in taking the top-seeded Australian Adam Feeney to a first-set tie-break before losing out. Clarke faces Feeney today.
