VOLLEYBALL: Ireland may have lost all four of their matches at the CEV European Volleyball Cup preliminary round in Luxembourg, but they were very unlucky not to take a set or two and left with their heads held high.
The team opened their campaign against the Faroe Islands and, in a 78 minute marathon, fought hard for every point before going down 25-21, 25-20,25-23. Next up was Scotland where the highlight was a storming 25-23 opening set.
Against tournament winners, Luxembourg, the Irish improved as the match went on and only lost the third set 18-25. Finally, came a match against Northern Ireland, who had earlier lost to the Faroes. This proved as tough as expected, with all sets closely fought before Northern Ireland won through after 74 minutes. Laurent Cauet, the inspirational team coach, can be proud of his achievement in preparing the Irish senior and junior teams for three tournaments at this level. Cauet now returns to his native France, with the structure of Irish men’s volleyball well set up for the future.
TENNIS: Fancy having a go at tennis? Or squash? Newcomers of all ages and standards are welcome at tomorrow’s Sutton Lawn Tennis Club Open Day, where Rob Turpin and his team of coaches will be on hand to offer friendly advice. Sutton , active for 130 years on Dublin’s northside, offers both sports year round, with eleven tennis and three squash courts, as well as a gym, two snooker tables, and a junior room. Families are particularly welcome and if you sign up, there’s no joining fee. Noirin McKenna 086 7335884 or Paula Lynskey 086 2643569
SNOOKER: Irish number 1 Rodney Goggins leading the Irish team at the European Snooker Championships in Latvia,looks on target to make the knock-out stages along with team mates Greg Casey and Brendan O’Donoghue. The three are still playing in the group stages, with the finals next Saturday. Also showing good form in the masters’ competition are Kevin McMahon, Frank Sarsfield, and Mark Tuite.
NETBALL: Netball Ireland’s senior squad is in Gibraltar at the moment, competing in the Netball Europe Festival in Gibraltar. Two years ago, in Malta, the Irish women lost to Great Britain in the final of this competition. Updates on Facebook and Twitter. A squad of 19 has travelled, with eight matches to play, plus two friendlies. Final is tomorrow. In a busy period for the squad, some members will get only a brief rest before travelling to South Africa for the World University Championships in Cape Town.
TRIATHLON: Formula One driver Jenson Button was just one of 1,682 finishers over four events at the annual TriAthy held in – where else? – Athy over two days at the weekend. Button finished a creditable seventh in the Olympic distance event; his time of 2 hours 4 mins 54 secs put him less than ten minutes behind the winner, junior triathlete Russell White, who completed the 1500m swim, 40km cycle and 10km run in 1:55.43. Brian McCrystal and Bjorn Ludick were second and third, with Vanessa Fenton first woman. Fenton also won the sprint event a day later, with 16-year-old Constantine Doherty first home in just under an hour. A brave 150 or so took part in a double Olympic distance event with Kevin Thornton and Katie Cooke the winners.
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| Fiach O’Rourke |
ORIENTEERING: US-based Neil Dobbs proved the outstanding competitor at the Irish 3-Day orienteering festival in Oughterard, Co Galway. Dobbs won two of the three events, and only narrowing lost to German visitoru Michael Roethisberger in the thrid. Ruth Lynam of the Curragh Naas club proved best of the women, also winning on two days and finishing second on the third day to Mari Troeng of Lagan Valley.
* Fingal’s Fiach O’Rourke had the honour of carrying the Olympic torch when it passed through Wales before its visit to Ireland. O’Rourke represented Ireland as a junior in orienteering and was the man behind the huge success of the Bangor University badminton club.
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