SPORTS DESK With Dan Dooner

O’Rourke won’t defend world title

There was disappointing news from the world of boxing recently as it was confirmed that world champions Lisa O’Rourke and Irish teammate Amy Broadhurst will not be defending their titles at this year’s World Championships in India.

The Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) has said it would not be sending a team to next month’s tournament in New Delhi due to alleged corruption within the International Boxing Association (IABA).

U-20s off the mark

Noel Dunning’s Roscommon U-20 footballers got their development league campaign off to an impressive start at the Hyde last Saturday night when they were 1-13 to 1-10 winners over Galway. An early second-half goal from the excellent Eoin Ward had the young Rossies in the ascendency be- fore Fergal Ó Sé dragged Galway back into it with a goal on 47 minutes. The hosts regrouped, however, and two late points from Eoin Colleran and Bobby Nugent made sure of the win.

Roscommon travel to Laois in round two this Saturday hoping for more of the same.

Convent into All-Ireland final

The Convent of Mercy footballers are into the Junior ‘D’ All-Ireland final following a very one-sided victory over Loreto College Coleraine at Dr Hyde Park last Friday.

The game, which was played in wet conditions, was delayed by an hour due to the originally assigned referee from Westmeath getting his dates mixed up. Knockcroghery referee Tom Killion was called in as a late replacement and he received the loudest cheer of the afternoon when taking the field for the delayed 2 pm throw in!

The match itself turned out to be a bit of a damp squib but take nothing away from the Convent who were devastating in attack, led by Síofra Hession and Hazel Kelly, and now advance to a national final.

Tully set for Houston

The very best of luck to St. Coman’s handball legend Fiona Tully who travelled to Houston, Texas this week to take part in the second pro-stop of the year. The second seed will take on compatriots Catriona Casey and Eilise McCrory as well as some of the best US players.

St. Coman’s’ Sean Raftery was the county’s sole representative in the 40x20 Connacht Championships last weekend. Sean was well beaten by Jack O’Donnell in the Junior B grade.

Carragh Kennedy suffered a similar fate in her Ladies Junior B grading match against Laura Finn last Saturday. The Sligo woman took a 21-19 21-9 win. Carragh did, however, bounce back with a comfortable win over Síle Spain in the Junior B division.

(Right) Grace Corrigan was Roscommon’s only winner at the Connacht finals of the Cumann na mBunscoil handball competition played in Co Sligo last Saturday. Grace from Liscaul National School won the U-13 Singles event. There were bronze medals for Lisacul’s Senan Johnson and Saoirse Hyland, Gaelscoil de hÍde’s Sean Carthy, and doubles pair Ryan McDermott and Fionn Connolly.

mullen Hurdle at Navan and Leopardstown’s Christmas Hurdle this season, as he was last season, so there is no serious cause for concern.

Murphy returns

Jockey Oisin Murphy returns after serving a 14-month suspension for alcohol and Covid breaches at Chelmsford today (Thursday). The Kerry native, a three-time champion jockey, will partner the Mick Appleby-trained Jupiter Express in the second race on the card. The British Horseracing Authority have indicated that Murphy will undergo increased alcohol and drug testing after failing two breath tests. He will travel to the Middle East to ride at Qatar at the weekend.