Sports Digest/ROWING: Former world rowing champion Niall O'Toole lost his chance of competing at elite level for Ireland this year when he did not finish his heat on the first day of the final selection regatta at the National Rowing Centre in Cork yesterday, reports Liam Gorman.
O'Toole, who turns 35 this year, said he might retire if he failed to pass this test, but it is understood he is considering trying to compete at the highest level again next year - he has rowed in three Olympic Games.
Paul Griffin did poorly in his heat and finished third in the C final (15th overall) in a single scull and may also have to give up hopes of racing for Ireland this year at World Cups or World Championships.
The big winners yesterday were Skibbereen's Eugene Coakley, Tim Harnedy and Richard Coakley, 1-2-3 in the lightweight single final.
Sinéad Jennings won the women's lightweight single final from Heather Boyle.
In the men's heavyweight single Seán Jacob beat favourite Seán Casey, with Rory O'Connor, who is only 17, third.
ATHLETICS: The Irish Sports Council will announce on Tuesday their decision on the appeals submitted by athletes who had grand aid cut.
SOCCER: Finn Harps take on Longford Town in Ballybofey this evening without last season's top scorer, Kevin McHugh, who is suspended after being sent off against Bohemians last weekend, reports Emmet Malone.
Felix Healy's side have struggled so far this season but Alan Matthews concedes his own side's inconsistency could also be a factor, despite last Monday's Setanta Cup win over Glentoran.
"Monday's win was good for us," he said, "but we have this game and then Drogheda in the league so we need to park everything else and concentrate on the league a bit."
Bohemians, meanwhile, will play a team from Soccer Against Racism in Ireland for the inaugural Harry McCue Perpetual Trophy on Monday at 3pm at Pearse Park in Crumlin.
SOCCER: Ireland's Under-19s were beaten 1-0 by group winners Serbia and Montenegro in the final match of the UEFA qualifiers in Novi Sad.
The goal came a minute before the break from Marko Djazovic.
Joey O'Brien wasted Ireland's best chance when heading wide from Michael Collins's cross seconds before the interval.
IRELAND: Randolph (Charlton); McFaul (Notts County), O'Dea (Celtic), McShane (Manchester United), Painter (Birmingham City); Collins (Huddersfield Town), Cregg (Arsenal), O'Brien (Bolton), Foley (Aston Villa); Morris (Leeds), Hayes (Reading). Subs: Hand (Huddersfield Town) for Collins (h-t), Keogh (Stoke) for McShane (64 mins), Long (Cork City) for Morris (78 mins).
TENNIS: Defeat by Latvia in Turkey yesterday denied the Irish women the chance of contesting promotion in the Euro-African zone of the Fed Cup, reports Pat Roche.
Anne Mall served for the match at 5-4 and 30-love in the top singles, but Irina Kuzmana went on to win the tie break 7-4 and then took the final set 6-3.
Earlier Yvonne Doyle lost to Alise Valdere 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. Karen Nugent and Rachel Dillon won the doubles. To avoid relegation Ireland must beat Tunisia today.
CYCLING: Following treatment of a chronic thigh injury, Ciarán Power returns to racing with his Navigators Insurance team in the Rund um den Henninger Turm in Frankfurt tomorrow, reports Shane Stokes.
Power also plans to join Irish road champion David O'Loughlin for the Four Days of Dunkirk race, from May 4th to 8th.
