Derval eyes March return

WORLD champion Derval O’Rourke is confident of defending her 60m indoor hurdles title in Valencia in March despite being sidelined with a foot injury.

O’Rourke was forced to withdraw from this weekend’s Woodie’s DIY Irish Indoor Championships at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast on the advice of renowned sports injury therapist, Gerard Hartmann.

She hopes a two week lay-off will heal the problem, a bruised bone.