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| Irish block at net |
VOLLEYBALL: While the Irish junior women’s volleyball team didn’t win any matches at the European Small Nations qualifier, they came one step closer to making the top two next time.
In their opening match, the Irish played host nation Faroe Islands hoping for an early victory against a team of much their own standard. They started well but, roared on by their fanatical supporters, the Faroese were never going to lie down. It was still a close match with only a few points in each set giving the home team the advantage they needed.
Next up were tournament favourites Luxembourg who, in a shock result, had lost their opener to Liechtenstein. Again the Irish girls played out of their skins, matching their rivals on points until the closing stages of each set.
Finally came Liechtenstein who had yet to drop a set in the tournament. Hitting hard and defending brilliantly, the Irish raced to a 8-3 lead in the opening set and went on to take the set 25-19.
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| Irish celebrate |
A rattled Liechtenstein took revenge in the second set, winning 25-13. The third set proved another epic, with the advantage swinging from one side of the net to the other, until three vital points at 20-all gave Liechtenstein a vital edge. They then closed out the match in the fourth set against an Irish team that had raised its game to a new level.
“We left this tournament two years with our hearts around our ankles because of the beatings we got by these teams. To know that we are now competitive with these teams is extremely satisfying,” said coach Marie Sheridan.
Squad: Katie Nolan (Captain), Heather Clancy, Aisling Clancy, Aebhin
Nugent, Ciara O’Rourke, Orla Lynch, Amy McDonnell, Ailis Loughnane,
Elaine McGeary, Karen Benn, Sarah Benn, Lisa Needham.
BADMINTON: Draws with Yorkshire and Buckingham means that Leinster’s badminton team has moved up to fifth place in the English Intercounty league premier B division after two rounds of matches. It could have been three draws – Leinster lost to Lancashire only on countback in two matches. With only one weekend to go and the hard matches already played, Leinster looks likely to holds its place in the premiership.
Meanwhile at the Estonian Open in Tallin, Scott Evans, seeded at No 2, retired with an injured wrist in the third set of his semi-final match against local player Raul Must.
SNOOKER: After winning snooker’s fourth ranking tournament of the season, Maynooth’s Vincent Muldoon is closing the gap on Rodney Goggins of 147 Wexford at the top of the points table.
In the semi-finals, Muldoon fought back from 3-1 behind to beat Nenagh’s Brendan O’Donoghue 4-3, while TJ Dowling of Celbridge knocked out Goggins 4-2. That set the stage for a thrilling final, and with the score at four frames apiece, Dowling had the first chance to wrap up the match. When he missed a relatively easy cannon, Muldoon grabbed the opportunity, rattling in a break of 68 to win the match.
DUATHLON: Elite and novice athletes alike are welcome at the annual Naas Duathlon Series, with the first of three races starting tomorrow (Sun) at Punchestown Racecourse (12.30pm). Distances are manageable – a 3.5km run, 20km cycle and another 3.5km run – and the entry fee a very reasonable €20 per race or €54 for the three races series. Other dates are February 19 and March 25, with this year’s series sponsored by Trax Brasserie. Info www.naastriathlonclub.com/
HOCKEY: Whatever fate has in store for the Irish men and women’s teams, Ireland is sure to be represented at the London 2012 in the hockey tournament with Carol Metchette and Colin Hutchinson appointed as umpires for the Games and Ray O’Connor managing the men’s umpiring team.
The Irish men, currently in Spain, play their London 2012 qualifying tournament in Dublin starting March 10. The women travel to Belgium for their qualifying tournament starting a week later.
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