Dunne: USA will be ‘perfect test’

BOXING

BERNARD DUNNE believes Billy Walsh’s USA will be the ‘perfect test’ for Ireland’s young prospects battling for Irish vests in the countdown to the Tokyo 2020 qualifiers.

The Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) have named 12 current Elite champions on an 18-strong squad for three meetings with the Americans in the US.

Lauren Hogan, Kellie Harrington, Gráinne Walsh, Aoife Burke, Dean Gardiner, Kiril Afanasev, Caoimhín AgyarkoHynes, Michael Nevin, Kieran Molloy, Wayne Kelly, George Bates and Evan Metcalfe, who all claimed Irish Elite belts last month, first box the USA in Boston next Monday.

“It’s a great opportunity to develop a partnership between us and the American team because we are not competing against each other to qualify for major tournaments out there,” said high-performance director Dunne.

HOCKEY

IRELAND suffered a moralebruising 4-1 defeat to England in the heat of Malaysia at the Sultan Shah Izlan tournament in Malaysia.

The Irish contained the Auld Enemy until the final minute of the first half when Barry Middleton put the last touch at a penalty corner past goalie Jamie Carr.

The English, who featured Ulster men Mark Gleghorne and Ian Sloan in their line-up, went two up shortly after the resumption through Sam Ward. Julian Dale converted a rare corner low and hard for the Green Machine who are in Ipoh without some of their best-known players.

But the game slipped out of reach in the final quarter as Ward and Middleton pounced again.

SOCCER

TWO second-half goals from Anselmo Garcia McNulty and Oran Crowe earned the Republic of Ireland U-15s a 2-0 win over Cyprus at Dundalk last night.

Two strikes in less than 15 minutes gave them victory in their first game this year.

BASKETBALL KILLESTER top the Super League table on points difference after their 92-63 victory over Templeogue last night.

The victory is a giant stride for Killester in an enthralling title race with just three points separating the top five teams.