CANOEING: Brendan and Conor Maloney have won through to today's semi-finals of the 500m kayak pairs at the European Flatwater Racing Championships in Hungary.

ATHLETICS:David McCarthy and Joanne Cuddihy both reached their respective finals of the 400 metres at the World Junior Championships in Kingston yesterday.

Having progressed to one of the three semi-finals, McCarthy took fourth in 46.77 seconds, which was also a new Irish junior record, improving the 46.82 seconds set by Gordon Kennedy in Santry two years back.

The Celbridge athlete thus secured the last of the eight final places, no easy feat considering only the first two and two fastest losers progressed from the three semi-finals. Zimbabwe's Talkmore Nyongani Young, the winner of McCarthy's race, was the fastest overall.

Cuddihy took third in her semi-final, producing a personal best of 53.77 seconds. The winner there was American Monique Henderson, who looks a certainty for the gold medal.

Meanwhile, Santry Stadium will provide a taste of world-class athletics this evening with the Dublin International meeting, a two-hour programme of events that includes entries from 20 countries.

Starting at 6.30, the main attractions will be in the sprint events, and especially the 400 metres. Among those set to compete are the last two European champions over the distance, Britain's Iwan Thomas (1998 champion) and Du'aine Ladejo (1994 champion).

The Irish finished fourth in their heat, two seconds down on heat winners Germany in one minute 31.918 seconds.

Brendan Maloney also won through in the 1000m kayak singles when he finished sixth in his heat in 3-52.33.

RUGBY: Leinster have confirmed the signing of 21-year-old former England Under-21 international Mathew Leek. An outhalf cum utility back, Leek formerly played with Saracens and then Wasps but has agreed to join the Celtic League champions. Nathan Spooner could be out until just before Christmas following shoulder surgery.

Leek qualifies for Ireland under the grandparent rule.

TENNIS: Kelly Liggan lost out for a place in the quarter finals at the $25,000 Valladolid Open in Spain when she was beaten 6-0 6-3 by Severine Beltrame from France.

Peter Clarke who won through to the quarter-finals of the ATP $50,000 Challenger in Manchester with victory over the top seed Cyril Saulnier, lost out 3-6 6-1 5-7 to unseeded Kristian Kaplik of the USA.