SPORTS DIGEST:TENNIS: Lleyton Hewitt recovered from one set down to defeat Roger Federer in the final of the Garry Weber Open in Halle yesterday.

The Australian won 3-6 7-6 (7/4) 6-4 to triumph in his first final appearance of 2010, ending Federer's 29-match winning streak at the tournament.

Federer, a five-time winner at Halle, did not drop a set in the previous four rounds and was well set after breaking Hewitt early on. The Swiss took the first set without trouble but Hewitt hit back to take the next on a tie-break before wrapping up victory on the first match point.

Federer started strongly and earned two breaks on Hewitt's first service game and appeared on course to make light work of his sixth Halle final, taking the first set 6-3.

"It's fantastic," said Hewitt. "Roger is a hell of an opponent and everybody knows how good he is on the grass court. His record speaks for itself, I just got lucky."

County and Railway keep up run

CRICKET: North County and Railway Union kept up their unbeaten run in all competitions to make the last eight of the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup, writes Emmet Riordan.

Railway proved too strong for Sandymount rivals YMCA at Park Avenue, winning by 141 runs, but County didn’t have it all their own way at home to Limavady, eventually chasing down a target of 221 with four balls to spare.

Defending champions Leinster lost by four wickets away to Fox Lodge, while Malahide lost at home to Waringstown by three wickets.

Their reward is another trip to Fingal to take on The Hills in the quarter-finals after they beat Pembroke by six wickets in an all-Leinster tie at Milverton.

Merrion enjoyed a fine 120-run victory over Belfast side CIYMS at Anglesea Road and will now travel to take on North County in the quarter-finals. Railway Union are drawn away to Coleraine.

Roche coming back to form

CYCLING:Nicolas Roche has continued his fine run to form after a month-long layoff, netting 21st in Saturday's opening time trial in the Tour of Switzerland and then improving to 15th overall, writes Shane Stokes.

The 25-year-old was third fastest at the intermediate checkpoint in Saturday’s time trial and is 21 seconds behind the race leader Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank). Compatriot Philip Deignan is 91st overall.

Former Belgian road race champion Niko Eechout took a win for the An Post Grant Thornton M Donnelly Sean Kelly team on Saturday.

At home, Neil Delahaye (Usher IRC) won the Sean Nolan Meath Grand Prix, Michael Fitzgerald (The Edge CC) won the John Drum Memorial and Thomas Martin (EuroCycles) took the Noel Taggart memorial.

Muckross shine in Blessington

ROWING:The yellow of Muckross shone brightest of all at Metropolitan Regatta as they won the men's eights title with a comprehensive victory over second-placed NUIG at Blessington on Saturday, writes Liam Gorman.

The win adds another plot twist to the story of the men’s senior eight this year, with Queen’s, NUIG and Muckross now all in the mix for the coveted Big Pot at next month’s National Championships.

Metro enjoyed sunshine and featured some fine racing, but finished two hours late and on a downbeat note. Timing and printing problems cost the regatta in terms of both atmosphere and credibility.

Due to an extended break Galway’s senior eight and Bann’s juniors had already left the venue when Muckross swept down the lake to victory in a combined A and B final.

A thrilling finish in the men’s senior coxless four Commercial came from behind to catch a fancied NUIG crew right on the line. However, Commercial were mistakenly announced as winners before the Dublin crew duly received their prize. The official result, however, did not become available until later and recorded NUIG as the winners.

Commercial’s young crew won the women’s eight, coming in well ahead of Trinity, while Offaly sisters Eimear and Joanne Moran were the fastest women’s double scull.

Neptune’s Elaine Fitzgerald and Claire Ludlow took the women’s senior pair title setting themselves up for a real shot at a win in the elite lightweight event at Women’s Henley.

Dympna Kelly took the senior singles title.

Gillick set for challenge in Barcelona

ATHLETICS: David Gillick was reminded he won't have it all his own way at next month's European Championships in Barcelona when beaten into a second place by Martyn Rooney in his opening 400 metres of the outdoor season, writes Ian O'Riordan.

Competing at the European Permit meeting in Geneva, Gillick clocked 45.32 seconds, with Rooney, Britain’s 2008 Olympic finalist and Gillick’s training partner, posting an impressive 44.99.Derval O’Rourke won her first 100 metres hurdles race of the summer in 13.09 seconds. Kelly Proper of Waterford won the long jump with 6.32 metres, and later played a part in the Irish highlight in Geneva with a new national record in the women’s 4 x 100-metre relay.

The team of Claire Brady, O’Rourke, Niamh Whelan and Proper finished second to Italy with 44.27 seconds, inside the European qualifying standard of 44.50 and smashing a four-year Irish record of 44.68.