Athletics

Young Cathal Dennehy gained valuable international experience from his participation at the European Cross Country Championship in Toro, Spain.

Dennehy's performances all season fully warranted his place on the team – it was a year in which he claimed gold at an U23 championship in Holland and a top ten finish at the National Championship at The Curragh earlier this month.

He finished third best (behind Andrew Ledwith, 10th, but ahead of the fancied Mark Christie, 46th) of the Irish representatives in the U23 bracket, helping his team to a respectable sixth place overall, although they were earlier bronze medal contenders.

The Emerald AC's time was 25.13 minutes in a race won by Kivi Koguncu of Turkey (24.31).

Boxing

Mark McNamara of the St. Francis Boxing Club in Limerick has collected an All-Ireland Championship at the National Stadium, Dublin.

McNamara was celebrating wildly after he racked up an 18-14 win over Shane McGowan (Sacred Heart), who forced his opponent into three standing counts in the National 67kg (Light Welterweight) contest. Ger Casey (Our Lady of Lourdes, Limerick) was beaten by John Murray in the intermediate final.

The St. Francis BC has produced many fine ambassadors over the years, and its latest prodigy Andy Lee competes against Jason McKay for the vacant Irish Super Middleweight crown at the National Stadium on Saturday night next. Tickets remain on sale from Ticketmaster.ie, including Empire Music.

RTE Television will broadcast Lee's 14th professional bout live.

Coursing

For the second year on the trot, Kyle Bond – the property of Marie Field, Patrickswell – had to be content with the runners-up spot in the Munster Cup at Newcastle West.

After a tremendous buckle, the local runner was squeezed-out by Chasing Glory (Seamus Maher, Mayo and Michael O'Donovan, Kilkee) in a driving finish, to record his second cup win of the season. Kyle Bond, for his part, has long since booked his ticket to the National Finals in Clonmel.

The Oaks Trial was kept in Newcastle West courtesy of Tupele (Dream On Syndicate), which surprised Atlantic Blonde in the final, an outcome that produced wild scenes of celebration.