Nolan in 800m final

JAMES NOLAN broke David Matthews's old national junior record in recording a personal best to reach the World Junior Championships 800 metres final, as the fourth fastest qualifier at Sydney yesterday.

The 19 year old student from Tullamore, Co Offaly was forced to expend more energy than he would have liked in finishing fourth in his heat in a time of 1:47.55. In fact, second placed Tom Lerwill (GB) and third placed Zach Whitmarsh (Canada) had both finished behind Nolan in the first round heat. Obviously, they were content not to show their hand until circumstances demanded. And this they did in the semi final, with both lowering their personal bests.

Heat winner and fastest qualifier, Kenya's Japhet Kimutai is another off the conveyor belt of African middle distance runners and he looked a precocious talent in winning this semi final in an authoritative 1:45.63.

Nolan must fancy his chances of taking a medal in today's final. After all, the other semi final produced a 1:48.72 winner.

Meanwhile, Jamie Costin, from west Waterford, smashed his own 10,000m walk national junior record by almost 52 seconds. However, he could only manage 12th in a final dominated by two Spaniards - Francisco Fernandez and David Marquez. Fernandez eventually took gold, while both set personal bests. Back in 20th was Joe Ryan of Mullingar in 46:38 25.

This morning, Andrew Walker (1,500m) and Grainne Redmond (100m Hurdles) go to the line in their respective heats.

IT would be a boost to Ireland's re emerging side if dominance and fluency can be shown against France and Scotland in practice matches in Edinburgh over the weekend.

There are five vacancies to be filled in the squad which finished fifth in the European Championship in Dublin last year for the World Cup pre qualifying tournament in Cagliari, Sardinia, in just over a month.

With the retirement of Jimmy Kirkwood, Martin Sloan, Ger Burns and Liam Canning, plus the unavailability through injury of Paul Hollway, the team is going through a restructuring process. In nine summer weekends at Blaris (Lisburn), plus a visit to Spain, figures such as Galahad Goulet, Robbie Ryan, Devin Donnelly, Chris Jackson, David Smyth and Lee Tumilty have been striving to earn places in the final 16 for Cagliari.

There are 18 players in the party for the Scottish trip. Probably the same number will go to Holland for the annual master classes from the Dutch in a fortnight. Then Cees Koppelaar will no doubt make his final selection.

There will be ultimate honing in games against Scotland (again) and Wales at Blaris on September 13th-15th, before the squad leaves for the 14 nation tournament in Sardinia. There, Ireland will be in the same group as Scotland and, indeed, the two countries meet on the opening day, September 29th.

The Scots this weekend retain only six of the squad which took 10th place in the European ratings in Dublin, where France finished 12th with a young side.

The domestic season may not again much momentum until the international players return to home shores. Avoca, with Peter Darling staying at the helm and retaining their triumphant Irish Senior Cup winning side for a sortie into Europe, will be determined to take the Leinster League title from Three Rock Rovers. Yet, the unflinching Robert Johnson will lead a Rovers team in which Liam Canning, Robin Madeley and Rick Johnson still have much to offer.

Pembroke Wanderers, though, in losing three leading players, may not be so forceful this year. It is ironic that they will be without their dual strikers, Ross McMullen and Jamie McBride, who would have revelled in no offside at Serpentine Avenue. McMullen is off to Germany for a year while McBride will be playing in England for Strawberry Hill College and probably Teddington.

The new Pembroke skipper, Devin Donnelly, will also miss defender Simon Watchorn, who has moved to Cork C of I.