Sports Digest/BASKETBALL: The draw for the Men's Superleague Cup semi-finals took place yesterday with perfect cross-conference symmetry, writes Gavin Cummiskey.
Killester will meet the Limerick Lions, while title champions UCC Demons play Ballina.
Both games will take place in the national basketball arena in Dublin on January 15th, with the first tie at 1pm followed by the Cork versus Mayo club match-up at 3pm.
In the Women's Superleague Cup, Killester play Mercy, while St Paul's will meet UL Aughinish.
Dates, times and the venue are due to be confirmed later this week.
Magee could face Froch in Belfast decider
BOXING: Belfast boxer Brian Magee may have home advantage for his tilt at Carl Frochs British and Commonwealth super middleweight titles.
Froch retained his Commonwealth belt after a third-round stoppage of South African Ruben Groenewald earlier this month and is now eyeing up a European title.
But first the Nottingham puncher has been pencilled in to put his Commonwealth crown on the line against Magee in February. According to Magee's coach, Harry Hawkins, the only question to be decided now is whether the fight goes ahead in Belfast or Nottingham.
"Obviously we would like home advantage but so would Froch and that is something that has to be negotiated", said Magee. "We are hoping to have the matter sorted out this week but if we can't decide on a venue then the contest will be open to the highest purse bid", he added.
Froch insisted that he wants the respect of the top guys and has consistently tried to arrange a fight with Joe Calzaghe.
However, this now seems unlikely as Calzaghe is lined up to clash with IBF title holder Jeff Lacy next spring.
Froch said: "I want to be world champion and fight Jeff Lacey and Joe Calzaghe".
I won't be taking Magee lightly. Every fight for me is a world title fight".
Irish boats fare well
ROWING: Ireland's two boats in the Atlantic Rowing Race faced into their 13th day on the water yesterday having lost less mileage than many competitors because of Hurricane Epsilon, writes Liam Gorman.
Some crews gave back as much as 24 miles in the 36 hours to yesterday morning, but Digicel Atlantic Challenge, with Gearoid Towey and Ciarán Lewis aboard, lost only five miles and Christina (Paul Gleeson and Tori Holmes) only one.
Lewis and Towey said they were ready to begin rowing again as soon as the winds dropped below force two. They had spent a fretful night on Saturday being tossed about in their cabin listening to howling winds.
Our Lady's advance
HOCKEY: Our Lady's Terenure won through to Friday's Leinster Schools' Premier League final with a 2-0 victory over Mount Sackville at Grange Road yesterday, but the day's second semi-final, between Muckross Park and High School, was abandoned 10 minutes from time due to frost on the pitch, writes Mary Hannigan.
That match has been rescheduled for today at the same venue (12.0).
Mount Sackville defended stoutly in the opening semi-final but Terenure finally broke their resistance in the second half when Nicola McAllister scored. Katie Grehan sealed the win with a penalty stroke.
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