Patches claims third overall

SAILING: Steady onshore winds off Hyeres held to give a two-race conclusion to the Breitling MedCup circuit at the weekend, …

SAILING:Steady onshore winds off Hyeres held to give a two-race conclusion to the Breitling MedCup circuit at the weekend, where triple-America's Cup winner Russell Coutts, on board Sweden's Artemis, added overall victory for the five-regatta series to his record, writes David Branigan.

There was joy too for Galway's Eamon Conneely, whose TP52-footer Patches placed third overall, just three months after being launched, thanks to a consistent final regatta marred only by a drop in performance on the final day.

Patches dropped from second to fourth for the Hyeres Trophy.

Meanwhile, at the inaugural Laser SB3 Irish Championship at the National Yacht Club, Eoin Leahy's Schneaky Boys from the Royal Cork YC emerged overall winners after a six-race series in a mix of conditions. Eastern champion Tom Fitzpatrick placed second, while the visiting European champion Geoff Carveth was fourth.

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SOCCER:The Republic of Ireland's Under-17 side secured their place in the next phase of the Uefa Championships qualifying process with a comfortable 2-0 win over Denmark in Athlone last night.

Ireland progress to the elite stage where they must win their group to secure a place in the finals in Turkey next May.

Aaron Doran gave Ireland the lead in the 31st minute when he pounced on a loose ball to fire home after a blocked Greg Cunningham free-kick attempt.

The Irish went 2-0 up on the stroke of half-time when Doran drilled a free over from the left and Mark Connolly arrived to volley home from close range.

Ireland meet Slovenia in their final group game in Longford on Wednesday.

REP OF IRELAND: Hanley (Salthill Devon); Ormsby (Crumlin), Dunleavy (Wolves), Connolly (Wolves), Gunning (Blackburn), Doran (Blackburn; Byrne, Shelbourne, 81), Clifford (Chelsea), Towell (Celtic), Hourihane (Sunderland), Murphy (Ipswich; Sheppard, Ipswich, 57), Cunningham (Man City; Heagney, Huddersfield, 69).

GAELIC GAMES: Longstone have been crowned O'Neill's Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland Football Sevens champions for the first time following a thrilling final in Páirc De Burca on Saturday.

The champions became the third Down club to take the title following their 3-9 to 1-5 final win over last year's All-Ireland Club finalists St Galls.

Eamon Trimble and Ambrose Rodgers, son of former Down player of the same name, scored second-half goals.

Earlier in the tournament, Longstone accounted for Kickhams of Antrim and reigning champions Castlewellan in the knock-out stages.

St Galls had overcome Caherlistrane 3-8 to 0-7 in the semi-final, following a 2-11 to 0-9 victory over Kilcoo of Down.

KILMACUD CROKES ALL-IRELAND FOOTBALL SEVENS - Quarter-finals: Longstone 3-13 Kickhams 1-5; Castlewellan 1-12 Thomas Davis 0-10; St Galls 2-11 Kilcoo 0-9; Caherlistrane 2-12 Moy 3-6.

Semi-finals: Longstone (Down) 2-14 Castlewellan 0-15; St Galls (Antrim) 3-8 Caherlistrane 0-7.

Final: Longstone 3-9, St Galls 1-5.

EQUESTRIAN SPORT:Ireland will have no equestrian team at next year's Olympic Games, writes Grania Willis. The show jumpers failed to qualify at last month's European championships in Germany and the eventers crashed out at the championships in Italy at the weekend.

Irish hopes ended when Sally Corscadden, first out on Saturday's cross country course, had to pull up on Millbridge Kalmar. In soaring heat, the hilly course caused numerous problems and Gerry Leahy's grey ran out of steam four from home.

With only a three-man team and therefore no cushion in the form of a discard, that meant the Irish team was out of the championships and out of the Olympics. But Louise Lyons put up a personal best to finish 20th with Watership Down after a classy cross country clear, and Austin O'Connor, despite an early stop, still ended up in 27th with Hobby du Mee.

Britain took a seventh consecutive team title by a huge margin from France and Italy.