Walsh secures at least bronze

BOXING

MICHAELA WALSH guaranteed Ireland at least bronze at the European Elite Women’s Championships in Bulgarian capital Sofia.

The Irish featherweight edged Helina Bruyevich on a split decision to book her ticket into Monday’s semi-finals. She now meets Russia’s defending European featherweight champ Daria Abramova.

Kellie Harrington is in quarter-final action this afternoon against Ukraine’s Iulia Tsyplakova.

MOTORSPORT

RED BULL’S Max Verstappen, under pressure to clean up his act after a string of crashes and costly errors, kept his nose clean yesterday to clock the fastest time in opening practice for the Canadian Grand Prix.

Verstappen took full advantage of an upgraded power unit to clock a polished one minute, 13.302 seconds around the 2.7 mile (4.34 km) sun-splashed Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

CRICKET

NEW ZEALAND women’s team recorded the world’s highest one-day international score after posting a 490-4 against Ireland yesterday at Sandymount in Dublin.

New Zealand skipper Suzie Bates top-scored with 151 from 94 balls as her team also went past England men’s mark of 444. There was more disappointment for Ireland’s Cara Murray after she conceded the most runs in a ODI by taking 2 for 119 as Ireland lost by 346 runs.

GOLF

TIARNAN McLARNON leads the Irish charge for the St Andrews Links Trophy after round one.

The former Irish Amateur Close champion started and finished with a birdie, carding six in total while also picked up four bogeys on his way to a twounder par 69 to trail by two.

Meanwhile, Irish duo Olivia Mehaffey and Paula Grant both played a key role as Great Britain and Ireland made a steady start to their Curtis Cup defence.

Mehaffey and Grant were in excellent form to each help earn half a point for Elaine Farquharson-Black’s side, who narrowly trailed the USA 2-1 after the keenly-contested Friday fourballs at Quaker Ridge.

Meheffey stole the show rallying from three down with six to play against Jennifer Kupcho and Lucy Li.

GAELIC GAMES

ARMAGH triumphed in an epic Ulster U-20 FC semifinal at the Athletic Grounds, squeezing out Tyrone by 2-22 to 0-24 in an unforgettable game that needed two spells of extra-time and saw two players sent off for each side.