Tennis: Ireland's Davis Cup captain Peter Wright is confident that Scott Barron and John Doran have the ability to lay the foundations for victory over Monaco at the start of the relegation tie on slow red clay at the Monte Carlo club today.
"We have come down here a few days earlier than usual to prepare on clay. Practice has really gone well and I have total faith in Scott and John to get us off to a winning start," said Wright.
A notable omission from the team announced yesterday was Peter Clarke, and Owen Casey will partner Barron in the doubles tomorrow.
Two years ago Ireland were given a 5-0 whitewashing by Monaco at Dublin's Riverview club, and three key players, Doran, Casey and Monaco's number one Christophe Bosio will be involved this weekend.
As Ireland's number two Doran faces Bosio, Monaco's number one, in today's opening singles. Barron probably has a better opportunity for victory against the comparatively unknown Emmanuel Heussner.
Yvonne Doyle won through to the semi-finals at the LTA Ladies $10,000 Tournament in Frinton yesterday, beating third seed Marese Joubert from South Africa 6-4 6-4.
Gaelic Games: Pat Murnane, the chairman of the South Limerick Board who handed a 12-month suspension to Michael Fitzgerald, a senior hurling team selector, has defended his action.
Murnane added he had tremendous respect for Fitzgerald and John O'Donnell, who was also suspended, but his hands were tied and no other avenue was open to him.
The suspensions arose following an objection from the Croom club that Kilmallock had fielded an illegal player in an under-12 football final.
As chairman of the Kilmallock club, Fitzgerald together with his secretary, O'Donnell, had to accept responsibility. Fitzgerald's appeal will be held on Monday.
Golf: Damien McGrane, back on Challenge Tour duty after mixed fortunes in the two Irish events on the main tour, made a promising start to the Gunther Hamburg Classics before a thunderstorm followed by prolonged rain forced the first round to be halted.
McGrane carded a two-under-par 70.
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