Sports Digest: A jubilant Irish team returned from Hungary last night after being placed fourth overall on the medals table out of the 21 countries that competed in the European Transplant & Dialysis Games.
The Irish team of 26 athletes amassed an impressive total of nine gold, 18 silver and 33 bronze medals at the Games, which came to a close on Saturday in Pécs.
The team celebrated their win at the closing ceremony in Pécs.
Representing Ireland were 22 athletes who have received organ transplants (kidney, heart or liver), and four who are undergoing dialysis.
Doping ban rescinded
British sprinter Mark Lewis-Francis has been ruled eligible for selection for Olympic teams after successfully appealing against his lifetime ban following a positive test for cannabis.
The 23-year-old former world junior 100-metre champion and 2004 Olympic sprint-relay gold medallist tested positive for cannabis in March 2005 at the European indoor championships in Madrid.
UK Athletics officials, satisfied that there had been no intention that the substance had been taken to enhance performance, did not ban the athlete from any further events.
Smyth ousts Fetherston
Surprise was confined to the Intermediate grade in the Boys' Singles at the Irish Junior Open Tennis Championships at Fitzwilliam when Belfast's Ben Fetherston was ousted by Dubliner Graham Smyth, writes Pat Roche.
Fetherston, seeded at eight, made a good start winning the first set but subsequently his form went on the slide and he eventually succumbed 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 in over an hour and a half.
The top seed in the Boys' Senior is Daniel Glancy from Castlebar and seeded to meet him in Saturday's final is Paul Foley from Clontarf, a sound winner 6-1, 6-1 yesterday over Dara O'Sullivan.
