Sports Digest/Hockey: Despite the absence of player-coach Craig Fulton, goalkeeper Nigel Henderson and Scottish international Paddy Conlon, Pembroke Wanderers defeated Three Rock Rovers in yesterday's Neville Cup final at Serpentine Avenue, retaining the trophy with a 1-0 win.
Pembroke, shaded a tight game against a side that was also understrength and made the breakthrough 10 minutes from time when midfielder Allan Kershaw got the game's only goal.
In Ulster, two goals from Ross McCandless at Havelock Park helped Banbridge end an 18-year wait for success in the Kirk Cup.
McCandless and Annadale's Ian Hamilton had traded goals in a hard-fought opening half but, with five minutes to go, McCandless converted his second penalty corner of the game to seal victory for Banbridge.
NEVILLE CUP FINAL: Pembroke Wanderers 1 (A Kershaw), Three Rock Rovers 0.
KIRK CUP FINAL (at Havelock Park): Annadale 1 (I Hamilton) Banbridge 2 (R McCandless 2).
- Mary Hannigan
Niland starts as favourite
Tennis: Conor Niland's escapades on the ATP world ranking events in recent months makes him favourite for today's David Lloyd National Indoor tennis championships at the Riverview club.
Niland's power and placement off the ground should prove too formidable for a list of rivals including Eoin Heavey, David O'Connell and Dara McLoughlin.
Welsh visitor Rebecca Llewellan is the player to beat in the women's draw. Rachael Dillon is deemed to be Llewellan's closest rival.
- Pat Roche
Singh set for Qatar Masters
Golf: Fiji's world number two Vijay Singh will take part in the $2 million Qatar Masters golf tournament, an event co-sanctioned by the European PGA Tour and the Asian Tour, next month, organisers said yesterday.
Last year's winner Ernie Els of South Africa had already confirmed his entry for the tournament and Singh's entry further boosts the tournament's profile. Retief Goosen, David Howell, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and Lee Westwood are also scheduled to compete at the event from January 26th-29th.
Armstrong tops Spain poll
Cycling: American cyclist Lance Armstrong, who won his seventh Tour de France in July, has been voted sports personality of the year, according to a poll published in the Spanish daily newspaper El Pais yesterday.
Armstrong beat Spain's first Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso and Italian motorcycle rider Valentino Rossi in the poll of 100 leading Spanish sporting figures.
The Spanish sportsperson of the year was Alonso and the revelation of the year was 19-year-old tennis player Rafael Nadal.
