Tennis

Limerick's Davis Cup ace Conor Niland has agonisingly missed out on taking part in his first Grand Slam Tournament.

He received a last minute call-up to the Australian Open, thus becoming the first Irishman to compete in Melbourne since Matt Doyle over 20 years ago, but was squeezed out by Lukas Dlouhy 4-6 6-2 6-8 in an absorbing qualifying round contest.

"When I was 5-4 up in the final set, I saved a break point when he was 40-30 ahead, but then he came up with a couple of great returns to level at 5-5, and unfortunately for me pushed on from there," Niland said.

Niland, 26, had a first service figure of 62%, compared to Dlouhy's (23) mark of 60%. But the Czech won 54% of the points on his second serve, as against Niland's figure of 36%, and also unleashed 39 clean winners compared to the Irish player's 30.

Basketball

UL Aughinish surrendered interest in the Women's SuperLeague National Cup when beaten 77 to 65 by Team Montenotte Hotel of Cork at the National Basketball Arena.

With their American Courtney McDaniel simply unstoppable, UL went in at the break with a comfortable 37-26 lead. That advantage was extended in the early moments of the third quarter when McDaniel landed a monstrous three-pointer. The Cork side, however, upped the ante from that stage and led by Niamh Dwyer turned the outing completely around.

For McDaniel it proved heartbreaking for despite amassing a brilliant 28 points she had the disappointment of ultimately losing.

Gaelic Games

Timmy O'Connor of Na Piarsaigh is the early favourite to become the next Limerick U21 hurling manager following the shock resignation of Declan Fitzgerald.

O'Connor was beaten by Fitzgerald in a contest for the position this time last year. In 2005, O'Connor managed the Limerick minor side – with Fitzgerald as coach – to their All-Ireland Final appearance against Galway at Croke Park. He had been expected to follow on from this role as boss of the U21s, but was beaten to the job by Fitzgerald, a teacher at Castletroy Community College.

Limerick have been drawn away to Waterford in the opening round of this season's Munster Championship, with the winners to face Tipperary at the semi-final stage.