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What's going on in the world of Irish sport

“I just want to concentrate on my training and preparing the best that I can for the Olympic Games.”
Nolan and the rest of the Irish team received a hero’s welcome when they landed at Dublin Airport on Sunday afternoon.

“There’s five of us qualified for the Olympics now and it’s great,” added the Wexfordman.

“Our aim before the worlds in Baku last year was five, so I suppose we’ve reached our target you know. It’s great there’s the five of us going.”

Sports Shorts

SNOOKER: Ireland’s Ken Doherty was beaten 10-4 by Australia’s Neil Robertson at the world championships in Sheffield on Sunday. Ulster’s Mark Allen is in trouble with the game’s governing body after accusing Chinese players of cheating . . .

RUGBY: Munster drew 20-20 away to the Scarlets in the Celtic League on Saturday while Connacht scored a late winner in their 19-16 victory over Aironi. Leinster were too good for Ulster in Friday night’s derby clash at Ravenhill . . .

RUGBY: Gordon D’Arcy, Jamie Heaslip and Isa Nacewa are all back in the Leinster squad for Sunday’s Heineken Cup semifinal away to Clermont-Auvergne in France. Eoin O’Malley is still a fitness doubt with a calf injury . . .

RUGBY: Ulster expect to have Paddy Wallace and Pedrie Wannenburg fit for Saturday’s Heineken Cup semifinal against Edinburgh at the Aviva Stadium but Chris Henry and Paul Marshall remain injury worries . . .

GOLF: Rory McIlroy remains at number one in the latest world rankings with Graeme McDowell at 11th, Darren Clarke at 69th and Padraig Harrington at 84th . . .

RUGBY: St. Mary’s are the new AIL League champions after a last-gasp win over Young Munster on Saturday.

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Nster.com