Sports Digest/ ATHLETICS: Alistair Cragg continued his steady comeback from injury by winning the Hot Springs 10km road race in Arkansas, close to his US base, writes Ian O'Riordan.
Cragg clocked 29 minutes, 36 seconds, well clear of Scott MacPherson of the US, who finished second in 31:16.
Having missed the entire summer with a back injury, Cragg is closing in on next month's European Cross Country in Tilburg, Holland - where yesterday several Irish got their first inspection of the course in a pre-event meeting.
Back at home, Rob Connolly produced a masterful run to win the Dublin cross-country title at Santry, and he too looks set to be part of the Irish team in Tilburg.
Elsewhere, Sonia O'Sullivan's plan to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Games in March appears to have been grounded. Despite her recent application for dual citizenship, she is now unlikely to get clearance from the Games organisers.
BASKETBALL: It's official - Ballina are the St Vincent's bogey team, writes Gavin Cummiskey. Not only did they overturn a 14-point deficit to steal victory in the Superleague two weeks back but last night they potentially ruined their season. Well, hopes of cup glory at least.
Ballina are a club with the mentality required to thrive in knockout competition. St Vincent's led by 19-points with five minutes remaining in the second quarter, but were pulled level early in the fourth. St Vincent's rallied to build up a seven-point gap with four minutes remaining, but again the lead was whittled away and with nine seconds remaining, an Evan Pellerin basket sent the Dublin club home empty handed.
St Vincent's do remain top of the Northern Conference after beating Shamrock Rovers Hoops 94 to 76 on Friday.
CAMOGIE: As expected, All-Ireland champions Cork dominated the the 2005 Camogie All-Stars team, which was announced on Saturday night at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin. Clare's Catherine O'Loughlin and Dublin's Ciara Lucey became the first recipients of an All Star award for their counties. Armagh, also received their first award, Colette Mc Sorley was named young player of the year.
2005 All-Stars
Jovita Delaney (Tipperary), Sinéad Cahalan (Galway), Catherine O'Loughlin (Wexford), Julie Kirwan (Tipperary), Anna Geary (Cork), Mary O'Connor (Cork), Therese Maher (Galway), Gemma O'Connor (Cork), Ciara Lucey (Dublin), Jennifer O'Leary (Cork), Rachel Moloney (Cork), Claire Grogan (Tipperary), Eimear Mc Donnell (Tipperary), Catherine O'Loughlin (Clare), Emer Dillon (Cork).
Young Player of the Year: Colette Mc Sorley (Armagh). Manager of the Year: John Cronin (Cork).
ROWING: The senior eight from St Michael's of Limerick exploited the conditions in the afternoon head to notch the fastest time of the day at the Neptune head of the river at Blessington on Saturday, writes Liam Gorman.
The two heads gave some interesting early-season pointers. Paul O'Brien (17) produced the fastest time in the single scull. Siobhan Jacob was a convincing victor in the women's senior single scull.
SHOW JUMPING: Cameron Hanley posted the only Irish win on the Continent at the weekend when riding the mare Night Dancer to victory in the two-phase class in Linz, Austria, on Saturday, writes Grania Willis. Trevor Coyle placed fifth in a Brussels speed class yesterday, but a single-fence error in the feature Audi Masters Grand Prix left him 12th in the final line-up.
There was no joy for Jessica Kurten in the Oldenburg, Germany, Grand Prix, a fence down leaving her out of the money with Quibell yesterday.
GAELIC GAMES: The death has occurred of the renowned Kilkenny hurley manufacturer Raymie Dowling. Supplier to most of the county's teams, he played in goal for the city club, Éire Óg, with whom he won a county medal in 1947, and also for the county in the All-Ireland and NHL finals of 1950, both of which were lost to Tipperary. His son, Brian, will continue the business.
BOXING: Ken Egan cruised into the next round of the World Senior Boxing Championships with a comfortable victory over Byskulov Kymbatbek from Kazakhstan in China yesterday.
From Dublin's Neilstown club, Egan stopped Kymbatbek in the third round of their 81kg contest in Mianyang City, winning 31-11.
Eric Donovan (57kg) will see action today while Darren Sutherland (75kg), Roy Sheehan (69kg) and Conor Ahern (51kg) will all be in the ring tomorrow.
BOXING: Ireland's young boxing prospects were superb when winning six gold medals in the Cadets International Triangular Tournament with France and Germany at the National Stadium at the weekend.
