Magic masters ready to roll back the years in Dundalk Goggins is on cue to pocket senior rankings hat-trick Thunder and Patriots hunt down Elks' slim advantage

BADMINTON: More than 500 veteran players from 24 nations are expected in Dundalk next September when the Ice Dome hosts the European Seniors Badminton Championships.

When the European championships last came to Ireland in 1976, 2,000 spectators attended the finals at Fitzwilliam.

Up to nine courts and an arena capable of holding up to 500 spectators will fit on a covered surface inside the Ice Dome.

Greats of the sport such as Dan Travers, Leon Douglas, Christine Black (Scotland); Peter Emptage, Kevin Jolly, Harry Chadwick, Brenda Andrews, Rajeev Bagga (England); Jesper Helledie, Ellen Aagaard and Martin Christenson (Denmark) are among the active players on the masters' circuit.

Age groups range from over 35 to over 65. More than 100 local players are among the large entry.

Goggins is on cue to pocket senior rankings hat-trick

SNOOKER: Rodney Goggins of the 147 snooker club in Wexford will hope to make it three from four when snooker's fourth senior ranking tournament takes place in the Ivy Rooms Carlow this weekend.

Goggins beat Mario Fernandez in the final of the last tournament before the holiday break.

In the first tournament, Goggins had a narrow victory over Fernandez in the semi-finals and went on to beat Martin McCrudden in the final. Fernandez won the second tournament after Goggins lost to Vincent Muldoon in the semi-finals.

In the Leinster club championships final, Celbridge beat Maynooth. These two teams, along with semi-finalists 147 Wexford and Q Club Wicklow, will represent Leinster at the All-Irelands in Killarney.

Thunder and Patriots hunt down Elks' slim advantage

VOLLEYBALL: Four mens' teams are locked together at the top of volleyball's Premier 32 League with matches resuming this weekend. Ulster Elks currently top the table on set difference ahead of CB Photo Thunder from Limerick and Ballymum Patriots. All three are tied on 14 points.

Aer Lingus, with a game in hand, lie fourth on 11 points but could catch up with the other three if they beat UCD this weekend. In the weekend's other match, CB Photo must beat the Jets if they are to maintain their position.

In the women's Premier 32, with Aer Lingus unbeaten so far, the battle is on for second place.

Santry will hope to pick up maximum points against UCD this weekend, while Tallaght have a difficult assignment against the much-improved Newbridge Wildcats.

WHAT'S ON

Badminton: Ulster Junior Open, Lisburn, Sat/Sun Ulster U-11 Open, Lisburn, Sat/Sun.

Snooker: RIBSA Premier Cup (Senior Ranking No 4), Ivy Rooms, Carlow, Sat/Sun. Intermediate Billiards No 5, Ivy Rooms, Carlow, Sun. Women's Ranking Tournament No 4, Celbridge, Sun.

Squash: Sligo Junior Open, Sat.

Table Tennis: National Veterans' Championships, Saturday. Stiga Junior Challenger Series Event 2, Dunshaughlin, Sun 10.0.

Volleyball: Sat: Women - Div 1: ESB v Naas Cobras, Glin Rd Coolock, 3.0.

Sun: Men -- Premier 32: Aer Lingus v UCD, Alsaa, 11.30; Jets v CBPhoto Thunder, Alsaa, 3.30.

Women -- Premier 32: UCD v Santry, UCD, 12.0; Newbridge Wild Cats v Tallaght Rockets, PBS, 11.0; Aer Lingus v Queen's, Alsaa 1.30.

Div 1: UCD v Santry, UCD, 3pm; DVC v Ballymun Patriots, Col Bhride, 2.0; Rebels v CBPhoto Thunder, Col Chríost Rí, Turner's Cross, 12.30.