Today's other stories in brief
Action-packed fare in prospect
HANDBALL: An action-packed Easter Saturday is in prospect today as the Dalkia All-Ireland (40x20) Senior Singles Championships reaches the quarter-finals stage.
The country's top eight male and top eight female players will take to the courts in Kingscourt, Co Cavan, and the O'Loughlin Gaels premises in Kilkenny city.
The first quarter-final of the three-match programme at Kingscourt features an all-Ulster clash between Antrim's Ricky McCann (Gortnamona) and Armagh's Charly Shanks (Clann Éireann, Lurgan).
Next up, second seed Eoin Kennedy (St Brigid's, Blanchardstown) takes on Mayo kingpin Dessie Keegan (Ballaghaderreen).
Last September, Kennedy became only the third player in the history of the domestic game to complete the "grand slam" of All-Ireland softball and hardball (60x30) senior singles and doubles titles in the one season.
The third quarter-final features a fascinating clash between the defending champion, Paul Brady (Kingscourt), and Meath's Brian Carroll (Kells).
The top seed, Cork's Tony Healy (Ballydesmond), will take on the Westmeath young gun Robert McCarthy jnr (Mullingar) at the Kilkenny venue.
O'Loughlin Gaels also hosts three of the women's quarter-finals (2pm), while Mullingar, Co Westmeath, hosts the fourth (11.30am).
Cricketers meet Concern project kids
CRICKET: The Ireland cricket team yesterday presented playing equipment to impoverished children in Bangladesh.
The squad, which is on an international tour of the country, paid a courtesy call on a project run by the Irish NGO Concern.
The visiting players gave bats, wickets and balls to 11 children who are part of a Concern outreach programme.
Ireland team manager Gavin Craig said: "Cricket can brighten the lives of children here and give some the opportunity to improve their standard of living."
Kieron Crawley, Concern's director in Bangladesh, added: "Sport has the potential to create a level playing field on which people from all cultures and backgrounds can meet.
"The presentation of cricket equipment to the children is therefore a fitting gesture that reflects the importance of equal opportunity in life - the right of all children."
Ireland coach Phil Simmons said: "I've travelled the world with cricket, and it's great to be able to give something back to these children."
Concern, which is marking its 40th anniversary this year, has been working in Bangladesh for some 35 years.
Nadal battles to reach last four
TENNIS: Defending champion Rafael Nadal held his nerve to reach the last four at the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, California, by beating American James Blake for the first time, 7-5 3-6 6-3, in the quarter-finals.
The second-seeded Spaniard broke in the eighth game of the third set, when Blake overhit a forehand, before serving out for victory in a contest lasting just over two hours.
World number two Nadal next meets Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic after he beat Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6 6-2 earlier in the day.
Third-seeded Djokovic, who lost to Nadal in last year's final, survived an erratic first set before raising his game to wrap up victory in two hours, five minutes on the Stadium Court.
In the women's event, third seed Jelena Jankovic reached the last four when American Lindsay Davenport retired from their quarter-final because of a back injury.
The 31-year-old Davenport, twice a champion at Indian Wells, summoned her trainer when trailing Serb Jankovic 4-1 before deciding to withdraw after losing the first set 6-2.
Boland on hand to profit from Higgins's misfortune
RALLYING: Eamonn Boland in a Subaru WRC was the overnight leader of the Circuit of Ireland after yesterday's opening day, run out of Newcastle, Co Down, in bitterly cold weather over 65 miles of stages, reports Brian Foley.
Global Irish Tarmac Championship leader Mark Higgins built up an early lead over fellow Subaru WRC drivers Boland and Derek McGarrity, heading Boland by 22.7 seconds and McGarrity by 51 seconds after the second stage.
Gareth MacHale was trailing by 61.6 seconds in fourth in his Ford Focus WRC, ahead of Tim McNulty in a Subaru WRC, with his brother Aaron MacHale in sixth in another Focus WRC.
After the third stage Higgins extended his lead over Boland to 25.4 seconds, but there was drama at the start of the fourth and final stage when the British driver was forced to retire his Subaru WRC with a broken differential.
Boland inherited the lead to end the day with a 54.2-second advantage over McGarrity, who was making a great comeback after incurring a serious arm injury two years ago in the Manx Rally.
A hard-charging McNulty overtook Gareth MacHale to narrow the gap on McGarrity to 1.1 seconds. The time sheets showed Gareth MacHale down 66.3 seconds on Boland, with Aaron two minutes and 33.6 seconds behind the leader.
The rally restarted this morning at 7am and drivers face similarly difficult conditions to the Galway International in February, with the strong possibility of snow on some stages.
This will be a day when tactics must be tempered by caution as the weather will dictate the pace. The big danger for Boland will most likely be McNulty, who is only 55.1 seconds behind and is expected to put in one of his big charges.
Gareth MacHale will not be happy with fourth, as he is particularly anxious to make amends for his first-stage exit from the Galway International.
Pembroke's high five leaves them top
HOCKEY: Pembroke Wanderers weathered the wintry elements and their Welsh opposition to open their European Cup Winners Trophy campaign with a 5-1 victory over Penarth in Ghent yesterday, writes Mary Hannigan.
On a pitch whitened by hailstones the Leinster first division leaders were 3-0 up at half-time, Hilda McGuire, Siobhán Collins and Stephanie Hall getting their goals, with Natalie Fulton and Shona Doyle adding two more after the break to Penarth's one.
A 1-1 draw between HC Moscow and Slavia Praha later in the day puts Pembroke top of their pool going into today's game against the Russians. They play the Czechs tomorrow in a match likely to determine whether they qualify for Monday's gold medal play-off, the prize for the winners being promotion for their country to next season's Cup Winners Cup.
Macklin faces veteran 'Boy'n
BOXING: Birmingham-born Irish middleweight Matthew Macklin believe his recent training camp in Florida plus a change of coach has provided ideal preparation for his clash with the Mexican Luis "Yori Boy" Campas at the National Stadium, Dublin, tonight.
Campas, a veteran of 102 fights, with 11 losses, meets the former Tipperary under-21 hurler, who has won 20 of his 22 fights, over 10 rounds.
Campas (36) has traded leather with the likes of Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad, and lost to Derry's John Duddy on points in Madison Square Garden in September 2006.
The 25-year old Macklin who will have his friend Ricky Hatton helping out in his corner at the Stadium and parted company with his coach Billy Graham a few months ago, reckons his new trainer Buddy McGirt will give him the edge in tonight's bout.
The undercard will feature Andrew Murray and James Gorman, Cork's Cuban import Mike "El Rebelio" Perez and a pro debut for the former Irish amateur champion Ian Tims.
