Sports Digest/ BOXING: Katie Taylor advanced to the semi-finals of the European Union Women's Championships after Danus Dilhofava of the Czech Republic was disqualified in round three of their quarter-final in Hungary yesterday.
Dilhofava received a public warning for her unsporting antics in the third round and then received boxing’s equivalent of a red card against Taylor, who was 4-1 up at the time.
The Bray woman, who is targeting her third EU gold in a row, will now face Julianna Rocha of Poland in the semis.
Meanwhile, Alanna Murphy and Drimnagh’s Sinéad Kavanagh both bowed out despite strong performances at the quarter-final stages in their respective weight divisions.
Dockrell completes 10-wicket haul
CRICKET: George Dockrell completed a 10-wicket haul as Ireland A wrapped up a comprehensive 226-run victory over the MCC on the third and final day of their match at College Park yesterday, writes Emmet Riordan.
It was the perfect warm-up for the 18-year-old left-arm spinner, who will play his first four-day game for Ireland against the Netherlands in next week’s Intercontinental Cup clash at Rathmines. Albert van der Merwe will also make his first-class debut and the South African-born off spinner forged a fine combination with Dockrell, taking four for 49 as the MCC were bowled out for 99 to give him six wickets.
Bryan finishes 27th in Hungary
SWIMMING: Ireland's Chris Bryan (22) finished in 27th place in one hour four minutes and 40 seconds in the men's 5k swim at the European Championships in Budapest yesterday. Team-mate Andrew Meegan finished 32nd overall in a time 1: 6.58.
“This has been a good start – it’s the first time that Ireland’s ever had an open water swimmer at a LEN European Championships,” said Swim Ireland’s Peter Banks.
Meanwhile, Ireland’s Sycerika McMahon took gold for Ireland yesterday in the 400m freestyle at the British Youth Swimming Championships in a new Irish Junior record time of 4:15.86, lowering her previous record by four hundredths.
McConnell returns for Ireland
HOCKEY:Gene Muller will stick with an experimental squad for a three-game series against Belgium this weekend at Belfield as his Ireland team look to end a 10-game losing run.
He has made two changes to the side white-washed by Scotland, with Kate McConnell returning to the senior panel for the first time since July 2008 when she featured in the Celtic Cup. Stephanie Quinn makes way, while Louisa Healy comes back in for Pamela Smithwick between the posts after the Alex goalkeeper made her debut against the Scots.
Emma Clarke is in line to make her 100th appearance for Ireland if she plays in at least two of the weekend’s games which get underway tonight at 7pm.
She captains a side once again which features nine players with less than ten caps to their name, with livewire forwards Jean McDonnell and Anna O’Flanagan retained.
Sehwag puts India in pole position
CRICKET: Virender Sehwag claimed top-order wickets in Sri Lanka's second innings just before the close of play on day three of the third Test in Colombo to help India claim pole position after being bowled out for 436.
The dashing India opener backed up his brilliant century this morning with the important scalps of Tillakaratne Dilshan and Tharanga Paranavitana, reducing Sri Lanka to 45 for two at stumps, after India had established a slender 11-run first-innings lead.
Meanwhile, Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf is expected to play against England in the second Test on Friday after his side’s 354-run defeat in the first Test.
