A determined finish by Ireland in the final ten minutes earned them a 69-62 win against Switzerland in a crucial European Championships qualifying game at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght on Saturday night.

An excellent final rally from Mike Mitchell and co-captain Jay Larranaga keeps them on course for qualification for the semi-final round with two more games on the road this week.

It was Ireland who went into the break in front by just one basket - 35-33. Switzerland briefly took the lead in the third quarter, but Damien Sealy helped pull Ireland back in front and late baskets from Mitchell and Larranaga gave Ireland a 12-point lead with just three minutes to go and they never looked threatened after that.

SAILING: In a light air climax to a hectic cruiser class season, titles in three classes were decided on Dublin Bay yesterday as part of the eighth outing of Bank of Scotland's Challenge, a series that was cut short by a lack of wind.

Colm Barrington's class zero yacht Gloves-Off was carried by a sea breeze to a light wind victory despite the best efforts of Fastnet class winner Roy Dickson on board Howth's 40-footer Cracklin' Rosie. Dun Laoghaire's Maurice Mitton was second in Exclamation.

Organisers based at the Royal Irish Yacht Club had to shorten the scheduled two day series to just three races following a decision to abandon racing on Saturday due to an absence of wind that for a while also threatened to rule out racing yesterday as well.