Sport

Durkan shines as Queen’s take Irish Water Polo honours

QUEEN'S University, Belfast were the best team and deserving winners of the Irish Universities Water Polo Championships at the Aurora Complex in Bangor at the weekend.

Led by team captain Stephen Durkan, who won the MVP award, they beat NUIG 9-7 in the final, thanks in no small measure to the shooting power of Nathan Taylor.

Daniel Moore, making a rare appearance as goalkeeper, was another to shine, along with Matt Fitzpatrick, Brendan Loughran, Matt Hanna, Aidan Brady, Ciaran McKeever, Conor McCool, Paul Angus and Gareth Mann.

The women’s team – with the help of overseas players Maggie Burlington (Canada), Ellen Judd (USA) and Scotland’s Amy Ross – finished in third place behind Trinity College Dublin and NUI-Galway.

THE Irish girls team (U16), coached by Ruth McGuigan, gave an excellent account of themselves when they were pipped by just one goal for the gold medals at the GB Regional Championships in Northampton. They beat Scotland (8-2),Wales (8-7), East (8-2) South East (8-0) but a 4-4 draw against North East left them level on points with the English side, but one goal worse off on goal difference.

The boys team were in London where they really deserved much better than the wooden spoon after losing all four of their games. They went down to South West (10-14), North West (9-11), London (6-8) and North East (8-9).

IN the National League, Setanta’s recent successful run was brought to a shuddering halt when an understrength side were hammered 27-3 by St Vincents.

North Dublin’s late charge in the league continued with wins over Clonard (13-8) and Sandycove (8-7).

League leaders Brugha weren’t in action last week but could put themselves out of sight if they can pick up maximum points against Sandycove in Lisburn on Saturday and Half Moon at the NAC in Dublin on Sunday.

ON the swimming front, the annual Swim Ulster/Dave McCullough Gala goes ahead at the Aurora this weekend with the added incentive of being recognised by FINA as a qualifying event for the Rio Olympics.

The event has attracted a big entry and with Ireland still only having Fiona Doyle qualified for Rio it will be interesting to see if anyone else goes close to a qualifying time.

MASTERS swimming events are usually good for a glut of records and that should be the case at the Long Course Championships which take place at the University Arena in Limerick this weekend.