SPORTS DIGEST:SOCCER: League of Ireland champions Shamrock Rovers have confirmed the appointment of Derry City manager Stephen Kenny as Michael O'Neill's successor.
The 40-year-old Dubliner was in his second spell at the Brandywell, but was approached by Rovers after O'Neill departed at the end of the Europa League campaign.
Rovers are expected to have to pay compensation to Derry City for Kenny, who had a year left on his deal with the club.
Kenny, who won a league title with Bohemians in 2003, was in the frame for the job three years ago before O'Neill embarked on a tenure that yielded two consecutive league titles and an unprecedented European campaign in the group stages of the Europa League.
This time round he is thought to have faced competition from the likes of Jason McAteer, Alan Kernaghan, David Kelly, Brian Kerr and Paul Cook.
Meanwhile, the first round draw for the Setanta Sports Cup will be made at Aviva Stadium on January 25th. The first round will involve eight unseeded clubs, with Irish Premiership sides taking on Airtricity League sides on February 13th and February 20th.
The unseeded clubs in this year's competition are: Cliftonville, Derry City, Glentoran, St Patrick's Athletic, Lisburn Distillery, Bohemians, Portadown and Bray Wanderers.
The winners will join defending champions Shamrock Rovers, Linfield, Sligo Rovers and Crusaders in the quarter-final draw.
Tendulkar must wait on milestone
CRICKET:Sachin Tendulkar threatened to bring up a magical 100th international century but was dismissed late on day two after helping put India in command of the first Test against Australia in Melbourne.
Tendulkar was bowled superbly by Peter Siddle for a dashing 73 from 98 deliveries, three balls before stumps at the MCG.
He had teamed up with Rahul Dravid, who scored a patient 68 not out to help the tourists reach 214 for three heading into the third day in response to Australia’s first-innings score of 333.
Earlier, Australia made it past 300 thanks to some handy cameos from Siddle (41), Ben Hilfenhaus (19) and James Pattinson (18 not out) after starting the day on 277 for six.
Veteran Indian paceman Zaheer Khan (four for 77) and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (three for 81) wrapped up Australia’s innings as they shared the remaining four wickets evenly.
Defending champion starts strongly
TENNIS:Defending champion Lazare Kukhalashvili made a strong statement of intent last night when he opened the defence of his men's singles title in the National Indoors Championships at Dublin's David Lloyd Riverview.
The Dublin-based Georgia native, who defeated Niall Fitzgerald in last year’s final, when the Greystones player was forced to retire after only four games due to a shoulder injury, needed only 58 minutes on court as he saw off the challenge of Francis Venzon, from the Omagh club, on a 6-0 6-0 margin.
Another very impressive winner was Greystones’ Ciarán Fitzgerald, who defeated Mike Johnston, who plays out of the Donnybrook and Fitzwilliam clubs, 6-2 6-0.
Templeogue’s Peter Mimnagh- Fleming had to withstand a strong second set performance by Carrickmines’ Paddy McCooey, before emerging 6-1 6-4.
Brees goes past Marino’s record
NFL:New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees broke Dan Marino's 27-year single-season passing record as the Saints beat the Atlanta Falcons 45-16 to clinch the NFC South.
Brees came into the game needing 305 yards to beat the former Miami Dolphins quarterback’s 1984 record of 5,084 and finished the game with 307, breaking the record with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Darren Sproles with less than three minutes left.
The New Orleans crowd gave Brees a raucous ovation and the Saints called a timeout to mark the milestone and let Brees enjoy the acclaim.
“Honestly, I was trying not to think about the record. I knew we were close,” Brees said.
“I got (rushed) by the offensive linemen and I figured at that point, ‘Okay, I guess we finally broke the record or they wouldn’t be hoisting me up like this.’
“So many people contributed to this and I’m happy for them.”
Le Beau Bai claims Welsh National
HORSE RACING:Le Beau Bai provided the closest possible thing to a first home-trained winner of the Coral Welsh National since Norther in 1965.
Third in Chepstow’s annual highlight in 2009, but mistakenly not entered for last season’s running, the gallant stayer was representing Richard Lee, whose yard is just a stroll over the border in the Herefordshire village of Byton.
Le Beau Bai went off favourite the last time he lined up in the race and was this time supported into 10 to 1.
Giles Cross tried to make every post a winning one under Denis O’Regan in an attempt to go one better than 12 months previously.
The pair had it between them for the final mile and Giles Cross kicked clear turning in, but O’Regan was sending out distress signals at the second-last.
Charlie Poste kept urging Le Beau Bai along and he kept up his work to score by seven lengths.
