SPORTS DIGEST:BASKETBALL: There were scenes of wild celebration as Donegal side Coláiste Choilmcille edged out Marian College Dublin 55-53 in a phenomenal contest in the Boys' U-16B Schools' League final at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght yesterday.
Bríon McGowen, voted the game’s “Most Valuable Player” hit 10 points, including the winning basket in the dying seconds of a pulsating encounter.
In the U-16A Girls’ decider, St Vincent’s from Cork just managed to see off a gallant Mercy Mounthawk, from Tralee, winning 42-41.
Vincent’s had secured the U16 crown at National Cup level earlier this year.
MVP Megan O’Leary was instrumental in securing victory for her side with a 14-point game haul, but was run a close second by Mercy’s Clare Brennan, who almost dragged her side to victory in the final stages.
Pobail Scoil Chorca Dhuibhne from Kerry took the U-19 A Girls’ honours after beating St Joseph’s of Abbeyfeale 50-46.
The game’s MVP, Kate Ní Shuilleabháin, was just one of many excellent performers in this pulsating contest, which swung back and forth from start to finish.
The girls of Joseph’s frantically tried to pull back the defecit and did manage to reduce it to four in the closing stages, but it was the girls from the Gaelscoil on the Dingle peninsula who ran out victorious after what was an absorbing contest.
St Leo’s of Carlow won the U-19 B Girls’ final yesterday, holding off the challenge of yet another Kerry side, Coláiste Na Sceilge, in a tough physical contest.
St Leo’s will be hugely pleased with the contribution of Aisling Hayden, who was voted “MVP” after a massive 16-point contribution as they ran out the winners on a 34-26 scoreline.
Klitschko to start Haye preparations
BOXING:Wladimir Klitschko expects to start preparations for his fight against David Haye in a couple of weeks. Londoner Haye will put his WBA title on the line against IBF/WBO holder Klitschko on June 25th or July 2nd.
The Ukrainian’s elder brother Vitali, who beat Odlanier Solis in the first round of their recent fight, will step in should Wladimir’s abdominal injury fail to heal in time.
The injury twice forced Wladimir to pull out of a proposed fight with Dereck Chisora, but Klitschko junior is focused on beating Haye and is optimistic he will be in top shape for the bout.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I’m still recovering after my injury and in a couple of weeks I will be fit and ready for the preparations.”
“I’m very happy that David Haye eventually signed the contract, it will be the third time we’ve tried to fight each other.”
Niland has to take early bath
TENNIS:Conor Niland yesterday suffered a Davis Cup hangover when he went out in the first round in the ATP Challenger Tour event in Bath, England.
After losing to Luxembourg number one Gilles Muller in the crucial singles rubber three weeks ago in Dublin, Ireland’s top player was bidding to get back on track in the indoor hardcourt tournament.
But instead the number eight seed bowed out on a 6-4 6-4 scoreline against Britain’s Daniel Evans.
Waldrom’s English granny could earn him a call-up
RUGBY:Leicester's Kiwi number eight, Thomas Waldrom, has said he would "definitely" like to play for England in the forthcoming World Cup after discovering he qualifies through an English-born grandmother.
The 27-year-old had been hoping to qualify via residency but has now found a more direct route.
“I remembered reading somewhere that my grandmother was English and my wife said she thought she was too.
“It was mid-afternoon here in England so I rang up my mum in New Zealand, where it was four o’clock in the morning. I apologised for waking her up and asked if Nana was born in England. She said yes and that she had the birth certificate to prove it. I am not too sure exactly where she was born but I am going to get all of the details sent over and authorised.”
England have not been shy of picking players of Kiwi descent, including Shontayne Hape, Riki Flutey and Dylan Hartley.
Guardian Service
Connacht pair extend contracts
RUGBY:Connacht's home-grown forward Andrew Browne has penned a contract extension until the end of the 2013 season.
Browne, younger brother of Brive secondrow Damien, came through the Connacht Academy system in 2007 and has enjoyed regular game time since, winning 45 Magners League caps and 16 Amlin Challenge Cup caps.
The 6ft 5in, 112kg forward has played at blindside flanker this season in the absence of John Muldoon but is equally comfortable in the secondrow.
He has been an integral part of the Connacht pack this season, featuring in 19 games so far.
Browne, who won his first cap for Ireland Wolfhounds this February, was part of the Ireland Under-20 side which won the Grand Slam in 2007.
Another native of Galway, Academy graduate, centre Eoin Griffin, has also put pen to paper on a two-year senior contract.
