SPORTS DIGEST:HOCKEY: A slick, fast-paced performance saw Ireland's men maintain their hoodoo over Scotland, bringing their run to 13 games unbeaten yesterday afternoon in Le Touquet, France, with a comfortable 3-1 win in the Celtic Cup.
Chris Cargo and Conor Harte gave Ireland a 2-0 half-time lead. Scotland pulled one back through Kenny Bain but Timmy Cockram made the game safe for Ireland.
Ireland play Wales today (2pm) and a win would virtually assure the title.
On the women’s side, Ireland were unable to get a revenge victory over Australia as they fell 4-0 to the world number five side in Essen, Germany, to begin their Four-Nations campaign on a low note.
Smith piles on the misery for Ireland
CRICKET:Ireland will head off to the Netherlands for the World Cricket League next week short of both their top players and winning form after yesterday's eight-wicket defeat to the West Indies A at Stormont, writes Emmet Riordan.
Having won the toss and batted, Ireland were in trouble early on when the top three departed with just 29 runs on the board.
Skipper Kevin O’Brien made 37 before an 88-run fifth-wicket stand between Andrew Poynter and Andrew White put Ireland in a position to set a decent target for the the visiting time.
Alas, Poynter’s dismissal for 64 heralded a collapse that saw them lose their last six wickets for just 56 runs, with White making 56, before they were bowled out for 217 with four overs left unbowled.
The West Indies openers roared from the blocks, with Devon Smith going on to make 114 from 101 balls as they got home with 70 balls to spare.
Irish qualify at Henley
ROWING:The women's quadruple scull of Rachel Beringer, Amy Duncan, Laura D'Urso and Dympna Kelly last night made it through the qualifiers for the Princess Grace Challenge Cup at Henley. The event is an Open one, the highest category at Henley Royal Regatta, writes Liam Gorman.
The Irish crew, a combination of Belfast Rowing Club, City of Derry and Carrick-on-Shannon, were put together under the aegis of Belfast-based Nathan Adams, who is a talent identification coach. Last night they were one of only two qualifiers in the Princess Grace, along with Imperial College London and Sport Imperial Boat Club.
Trinity College did not compete in the qualifiers for the Temple Cup for College Eights.
Psipsina set to take class
SAILING:Following Tonnerre de Breskens' double success in both line honours and the overall race win on IRC handicap, attention in the Round Ireland Race switched to the two-handed race that has eight entries, writes David Branigan.
Mick Liddy and Mark Pollock on Team Daft overcame intense sleep deprivation to complete the race yesterday as the first of eight boats in that division, though handicapping is certain to favour a smaller entry.
With less than one third of the fleet still at sea last night, John Loden and Paddy Cronin’s Malahide entry Psipsina appears on course to take the overall two-handed class.
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