SPORTS DIGEST

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Carey in mix for Limerick post

GAA:Limerick hero Ciarán Carey is relishing the chance to claim an elusive All-Ireland hurling medal next Saturday - 12 years after he last appeared in a final. Carey, the county's under-21 manager this year, was last night revealed as one of the nominees for the county's senior hurling management post.

The former All Star is still playing and on Saturday will line out in the All-Ireland intermediate final against Kilkenny at Semple Stadium, having accepted an invitation from team manager Jerry Molyneaux to join the squad earlier this year.

 Ireland hoping to begin championship on right foot

BASKETBALL:The Irish Senior Women's side open their European campaign away to Montenegro tonight (7pm Irish-time) before facing Slovenia at the University of Limerick on Saturday (7pm).

Ireland have three matches on their travels with Montenegro, Switzerland and Netherlands all expected to provide tough tests, while Slovenia and Iceland travel to Limerick and Dublin respectively for Ireland's home games.

IRELAND SQUAD:M Aspell, S O'Shea (both Wildcats); A Sullivan (Killester); R Clancy, S Moron (both USA); N Dwyer, M Fahy (both Montenotte Hotel, Cork); F Scally (Uni of Limerick); L Peat, M Fox (both DCU Mercy); E Dyer (Tolka); C Burgess (Adelaide, Australia).

Reigning champion progresses

SNOOKER:Defending champion Stephen Maguire wasted little time in progressing to the last 16 stage of the Northern Ireland Trophy yesterday.

The world number two thumped qualifier Michael Holt 5-1 in their second-round meeting at Belfast's Waterfront Hall and outlined his plans to become the first professional for three and a half years to make a successful defence of a ranking title.

World champion Ronnie O'Sullivan is the last player to have achieved the feat, having won the Welsh Open in 2004 and 2005.

"I was scared of my first match, that's the first time I've felt pressure since the World Championship," admitted the Glaswegian. "It was always going to be a tough match playing Michael, but I didn't expect to win 5-1.

Shaun Murphy suffered a shock 5-2 defeat at the hands of Mark Williams, the two-time world champion who has slipped down the rankings in the past few seasons.