Fired-up Rebels end Tipperary's reign

SPORTS DIGEST: GAELIC GAMES: Cork ended Tipperary’s reign as Bord Gáis Energy Munster and All-Ireland U-21 hurling champions…

SPORTS DIGEST:GAELIC GAMES: Cork ended Tipperary's reign as Bord Gáis Energy Munster and All-Ireland U-21 hurling champions in last night's semi-final at Semple Stadium in Thurles on a scoreline of 4-19 to 1-21.

Dual star Aidan Walsh scored the 46th minute goal to set up Cork’s surge to victory. Conor Lehane hit 1-4 while Luke O’Farrell and Dean Brosnan scored Cork’s other goals. Cork led 2-10 to 1-12 at the interval.

CORK: D McCarthy; C Joyce, E Finn, S Corry; J Nagle, W Egan (0-1f), M Ellis; S O'Farrell (0-1), D Roche; D Brosnan (1-2), C Lehane (1-4), A Walsh (1-1); L O'Farrell (1-3), M O'Sullivan (0-2), J Coughlan (0-5, 2f). Subs: D Drake for Roche (ht), D Cahalane for Finn (42), E O'Sullivan for S O'Farrell (58).

TIPPERARY: P Ryan; C Hough, K O'Gorman, S O'Brien; J Barry, N McGrath (0-3f), P Heffernan; B Stapleton, A Ryan (0-2); J O'Neill (0-1), S Curran (0-2), P Murphy; J O'Dwyer (0-11, 10f), B O'Meara (1-1), K Morris (0-1). Subs: J Gallagher for Barry (25), S Maher for O'Brien (ht), M Sheedy for Morris (50), W Maher for Murphy (54).

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McCrudden the hero in Portrush

GOLF:That yawning gap of 34 years since David Young was the last man from host club Royal Portrush to win the Magners North of Ireland Amateur Open Championship was closed yesterday.

Local lad Patrick McCrudden, who is currently a caddie while filling in time after finishing college at Denver University, was crowned the 2011 champion. The 25-year-old beat Harry Diamond (Belvoir Pk) at the 19th in the pouring rain after a marathon final that lasted five hours 10 minutes.

“I reckoned that it was about time that a Royal Portrush player won the championship again and I thought that I should do something about that. Somebody had to do something about the situation,” cracked McCrudden.

It was a comfortable morning for Diamond as he overcame Castlerock’s Aaron Kearney by 54. McCrudden booked his spot in the final with a 21 win over Lurgan-based Scot David Sutton.

Impressive Colvert books his place in semi-final

ATHLETICS: Steven Colvert maintained Ireland's good start to the European Under-23 Championships, taking place in Ostrava, the Czech Republic, by comfortably winning his 200 metres heat yesterday, writes IAN O'RIORDAN.

The Crusaders athlete was in flying form as he posted a season’s best time of 20.95 seconds – just shy of his lifetime best of 20.90. If Colvert can come through this morning’s semi-finals he’ll be a likely medal contender for the final later in the day, although that will probably require a lifetime best.

Ferrybank’s Chris Russell didn’t progress after finishing seventh in his heat in 21.63 seconds, outside his best time of 21.23, set in Belgium earlier this season.

Anthony Lieghio underlined his excellent progress over the 800 metres when finishing sixth in yesterday’s final, in 1:48.77.

Emerging high jump talent Kourosh Foroughi also qualified for tomorrow’s final in his event when he cleared 2.14 metres. He qualified second from Group A.

Doherty's win proves all-important

SNOOKER:
Wales, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland made it a full contingent from Britain and Ireland in the World Cup quarter-finals after yesterday's final set of group matches.

Ken Doherty beat Matthew Stevens in the final frame of the Republic’s match against Wales to ensure his side picked up the two frames they needed – they qualified despite a 3-2 defeat.

The Welsh had earlier been assured of their progress before taking to the table after Pakistan were only able to beat Egypt 3-2, while Poland’s doubles win over the second Thailand team ushered the Scots through before their match against Hong Kong began.

England and Northern Ireland had already qualified before their closing Group C meeting, which also went to a deciding frame.

Australia progressed with a 4-1 win over United Arab Emirates.

USA bidding for World Cup glory

SOCCER:The United States face Japan tomorrow in search of their third women's World Cup title and while technique and tactics have played a role in their march to the final, it is a sense of freedom and spirit that has led to their success in Germany.

The US winners in 1991 and 1999, have had their setbacks in the past year, including a defeat to Mexico that meant they were in danger of not making the tournament for the first time, and needed a play-off win over Italy to avoid that fate.

In Germany, the USA lost to Sweden during the group stage, were moments away from elimination in the quarter-final against Brazil before equalising in the final seconds of extra-time and going on to victory in a penalty shoot-out.

That spirit, according to the American’s Swedish head coach Pia Sundhage, comes from the difficult days when participation in the tournament was on the line.

“That tells you about the heart of the team,” said Sundhage.