Other sports stories in brief
Ireland won't send full teams to Scotland
TENNIS:Ireland are staring at automatic Federation Cup relegation in Tallinn, Estonia, after going down 2-1 in their second match of the competition yesterday, against Greece. They are currently playing in the African/Euro zone group two, reports Johnny Watterson.
Having lost to Lithuania in the first match by the same score, Ireland switched the pairings slightly yesterday but still perished in the two singles ties. Yvonne Doyle lost her match 6-0, 6-2 while Spanish-based Kelly Liggan also went down in two, the second set in a 6-5 tie-break having lost the first 6-3.
Ireland can only hold off automatic relegation if Greece lose 3-0 to Lithuania today and Ireland pick up a point against Estonia.
Relegation looms
ATHLETICS:Athletics Ireland has decided against sending full teams to next month's World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh, reports Ian O'Riordan.
Despite the close proximity of the event, which is set for the Scottish capital on March 30th, only three athletes will be guaranteed selection in the men's and women's senior races, and only two in the junior races.
Since the event reverted to the winner-takes-all long-course races last year, all competing nations can enter teams of nine athletes in the senior races, and it was expected Athletics Ireland would this time avail of that maximum entry - given the limited travel involved, and also the familiar cross country conditions.
Instead, only the top three finishers in the senior races at next month's national cross country - which takes place at Queens University in Belfast on March 1st - will be automatically selected, and only the top two in the junior races.
Details were announced yesterday of Dublin's St Patrick's Day Festival road race, which returns to the city streets for the first time in seven years. The event will take place on Sunday, March 16th, starting and finishing at the Mansion House.
Race director is Eamonn Coghlan, whose late father Bill was director of the inaugural race in 1983 - and which Coghlan himself won. Further details and race entry, which is open to all levels of runners, can be found at www.msb5k.com
