Golf: International Alison Coffey came from three down to beat Deirdre Smith on the 18th to reach the semi-final of the Leinster Ladies' Championship at Powerscourt yesterday, writes Shay Keenan.
Three down after 10 Coffey reduced the margin to one after the 14th and squared the match on the 17th before a steady par on the last was good enough after Smith caught the trees with her approach. In this morning's semi-final Coffey will play Jenny Gannon, a 2 and 1 winner over Mary Dowling.
While Gannon and Coffey were easing their way through the top half the favourites to progress in the bottom half, Elaine Dowdall (Wexford) and Hazel Kavanagh (Grange), fell at the first hurdle. Dowdall went out at the 19th to former girls' international Deirdre Judge from Roscommon after finding a bunker off her second shot.
Bunker trouble was also to prove the downfall for Kavanagh. All square playing the last, the Grange international hit a fairway trap off the tee at the 18th and after a good recovery failed to get down in a pitch and putt after Black had played an excellent approach to 10 feet off a difficult hanging lie. Maura Morrin (Naas), a semi-finalist two year's ago, ended Judge's march on the 16th in the afternoon while Sinead Keane was a comfortable 6 and 5 winner over Black.
First round: J Gannon (Co Louth) bt P Doran (Co Louth) 5 and 3; M Dowling (New Ross) bt J McAuley (Dunmurray) 5 and 4; D Smith (Co Louth) bt A Duggan (Killarney) 1 hole; A Coffey (Warrenpoint) bt M Holmes (Enniscrone) 2 nd 1; D Judge (Roscommon) bt E Dowdall (Wexford) at 19th; M Morrin (Naas) bt S Phillips (Woodbrook) 2 and 1; S Keane (Curragh) bt O Purfield (Co Louth) 3 and 2; J Black (Knock) bt H Kavanagh (Grange) 1 hole. Second round: Gannon bt Dowling 2 and 1; Coffey bt Smith 1 hole; Morrin bt Judge 3 and 2; Keane bt Black 6 and 5. Today: Semi-finals: 8.30 - Gannon v Coffey; 8.45 - Morrin v Keane.
Hockey: Wesley College survived a spirited late fightback from Loreto Abbey Dalkey to win the Leinster Schools' Minor Cup 2-1 at Grange Road yesterday, writes Mary Hannigan.
Goals either side of half-time, from Susan Hegarty and Eimear Richardson, proved enough to give Wesley a deserved victory after they had dominated much of the game. Loreto replied two minutes from time when Sarah O'Donohoe hit a superb short corner strike.
WESLEY COLLEGE: S Byrne, E Richardson, L Martin, J Boate, A Touzel, L Doherty, C Hearden, H Ganly, S Hegarty, M Lambert, W Adams. Subs: L Doyle, N Doyle, J Tutty, M Burke-Girgis, H Roberston.
LORETO DALKEY: L Bennett, S O'Donohoe, E McKeown, A Durkin, M O'Rourke, L Quinn, S Ryan, C O'Connor, C McNestry, S McCarthy, L Glynn. Subs: S Barron, G Kearney, A Duffy, A Fitzsimmons, M C Nolan.
Umpires: L Crighton and T Wynne.
Meanwhile, two goals apiece from Linda Byrne and Linda O'Neill helped Leinster Senior Cup holders Loreto Bray to a comfortable 4-1 victory over Loreto Beaufort in yesterday's semi-final, setting up a meeting with Muckross Park in tomorrow's senior decider at Grange Road.
Golf: Irish Open and East of Ireland champion, Noel Fox, will lead the six-man Irish teams in the Brabazon Trophy and the St Andrews Links Trophy next month.
BRABZON TROPHY TEAM: Gary Cullen (Beaverstown), Noel Fox (Portmarnock), Michael Hoey (Shandon Park), Andy McCormack (Scrabo), Mark Murphy (Waterville), Tim Rice (Limerick).
ST ANDREWS LINKS TROPHY: S Browne (Hermitage), Gary Cullen (Beaverstown), Noel Fox (Portmarnock), Michael Hoey (Shandon Park), A McCormack (Scrabo), Tim Riace (Limerick).
Cricket: Australia compiled their highest one-day score against India (338-4 from 50 overs) to level the five-match series 2-2 with an emphatic 93run victory in Visakhapatnam yesterday. India managed only 245 in reply.
Boxing: Belfast's Ger McAuley and Dubliner Ken Egan will lead a multi-champion Ireland team against Italy in the junior (under-18) international match at the National Stadium on Friday night.
The bill is: Bantam - P Hyland (Golden Cobra) v F Pizzo; B Gillen (Draperstown) v V Maria. Feather - P Hendricks (Baldoyle) v G Valentino. Light - M Ryan (St Ibars) v M de Rocco; J Clancy (Athy) v C Cirillo. Light welter - A Foley (Athy) v C Quero; D Berrigan (Loughglynn) v C Spinelli. Welter - G McAuley (Star) v R Di Lillo. Middle - K Egan (Neilstown) v A De Luisa. Light heavy - A Hanley (Loughglynn) v C Russo; D O'Toole (Gorey) v L Emiliano.
