Tennis: The inaugural All-Ireland senior schools' tennis Cup finals, which resulted in impressive wins for Gonzaga College and Mount Anville, proved such a success at Riverview at the weekend that Tennis Ireland intend to negotiate with sponsors Ballygowan for a junior cup to be introduced next season.

Gonzaga and Mount Anville emerged from their round robin groups in style before scoring ultimate victories over Belvedere College and Santa Sabina.

Barry King's 9-4 win over Robert Foley in the best of 13 game ties was significant in Gonzaga's win but even more important was Mount Anville's 13-0 doubles success after they had lost the singles to Santa Sabina. Sarah Griffith and Alexandre Tierney were Mount Anville's doubles stars.

Cycling: Continuing the trend of recent weeks, Philip Cassidy, Brian Kenneally and Eddie O'Donoghue displayed their dominant form in yesterday's Des Hanlon memorial in Carlow.

Towards the end of 78 miles rendered arduous by tough climbs and a strong headwind, these three together with Paddy Moriarty forged ahead, leaving race-long breakaway companions Brian Quinn, Martin O'Loughlin, Shane Baker and Brian Lennon to fight for the minor placings.

Coming in along the Kilkenny-Carlow road with 10 miles remaining, Cassidy jumped from the group and grinding a huge gear into the strong headwind, drew clear. As in Drogheda two weeks ago, O'Donohue quickly joined with the 1999 FBD Milk Ras winner, and working together a winning margin was soon established.

With Kenneally and Moriarty floundering behind, a duel looked guaranteed, but when Cassidy suffered an unfortunate puncture with six miles remaining O'Donoghue capitalized and raced clear, building an advantage which he was to hold until the finish line.

Cassidy bettered Kenneally in the sprint to finish second, and was philosophical in defeat. "This is bike racing, and these things happen", he said.

There were several impressive results by Irish riders in international competition this weekend. Professional rider Ciaran Power sprinted home in sixth place at the end of the third stage of the Settimana International in Italy, while David McCann won the Trofeu Guillamet in Spain. A third cyclist from the 10-man Irish Olympic squad, Michael McNena, recorded second and 13th places in stages of the Tour of Chile and currently lies fifth overall.