SPORTS DIGEST TennisHolders Spain marched on towards a fourth Davis Cup triumph in five years after David Ferrer overcame the big-serving John Isner to help beat the United States 3-1 in Gijon and set up an away clash with the Czech Republic, who overcame Argentina in Buenos Aires.
World number five Ferrer had to fight from a set down on the clay in the northern Spanish coastal city, coming through 6-7 6-3 6-4 6-2 against the 10th-ranked Isner in exactly three hours for his 16th victory in 16 singles rubbers on clay.
World number six Tomas Berdych gave the Czechs an unassailable 3-1 when he beat Carlos Berlocq in the first reverse singles following the withdrawal through injury of Juan Martin del Potro.
Dockrell takes top ICC award
CricketIreland spin bowler George Dockrell has received a huge boost ahead of the start of the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka tomorrow after he was named as the ICC Associate/Affiliate Cricketer of the Year at an award ceremony in Colombo on Saturday night.
The 20-year-old Dubliner, who made his international debut in Sri Lanka at the start of 2010, took 52 wickets at 15.83 for Ireland in all forms of the game cricket in the voting period for the award, including 14 in T20 Internationals – more than any other bowler, including Full Members.
Dockrell follows in the footsteps of Ireland skipper William Porterfield, who won the award in 2008. "It's great to win such an award, I feel very honoured," said Dockrell.
The Somerset player is set to play in this morning's final warm-up game against Afghanistan ahead of Ireland's World T20 opener against Australia on Wednesday (11.0am Irish time).
- EMMET RIORDAN
Tiernan-Locke maintains lead to claim overall title
CyclingJonathan Tiernan-Locke admitted relief was the overriding emotion as he preserved his 18-second lead over the final stage of the Tour of Britain yesterday to become the first British winner of the event in 19 years.
Endura Racing's Tiernan- Locke kept out of trouble to come home ahead of Australia's Nathan Haas, who rides for Garmin, and Italy's Liquigas rider Damiano Caruso.
The stage was won by Team Sky's Mark Cavendish.
Meanwhile, Omega Pharma-QuickStep won the men's trade team time-trial and Team Specialised-Lululemon triumphed in the women's event on the opening day of the UCI Road World Championships in Limburg, Holland yesterday.
Macklin shows ruthless streak
BoxingIrish middleweight Matthew Macklin produced one of the most ruthless performances of his career against Canada's Joachim Alcine in Las Vegas on Saturday night to put himself in pole position for a third world title shot.
The Birmingham-born fighter dropped the former world champion twice in the opening round and the bout was stopped with 24 seconds to go in the first at the Thomas Mack Center.
Macklin, who was controversially beaten on a split decision by Felix Sturm in his tilt for the German's WBA crown in Germany last year, could now be in line for another dust up with Canada's Sergio Martinez, who beat Mexican Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr on the top of Saturday's bill.
Both men met in Madison Square Garden in New York on St Patricks Day last, Martinez emerging victorious after scoring an 11th round stoppage in the bout.
Ireland campaign ends with heavy defeat to France
Women's Socce rSue Ronan's Republic of Ireland felt the full force of their Uefa qualifying group victors France on Saturday night – losing 4-0 before a capacity 18,000 Roudourou Stadium crowd.
Ireland's realistic aim from the outset of the campaign was a play-off spot into next year's finals but they went into this penultimate qualifier already out of contention.
Ireland are guaranteed now to finish second bottom ahead of an Israel side they conclude their campaign against on Wednesday in Tel Aviv.
REP OF IRELAND:E Byrne (Arsenal); S Perry (Chelsea), L Quinn (Peamount Utd), Y Tracy (Arsenal), M De Burca (Amazon Grimstad); S Smyth (Amazon Grimstad), D Caldwell (Avaldsnes); N Fahey (Arsenal), C Grant (Arsenal); A O'Gorman (Doncaster Belles), F OSullivan (SC Freiburg).
Subs: JA Russell (Doncaster Belles) for O'Gorman (half-time), S Lawlor (Peamount Utd) for Smyth (83 mins).
McAllister and Kelly triumph
AthleticsMarathon Mission runner Joe McAllister claimed the men's title in the Dublin Half Marathon in the Phoenix Park on Saturday, crossing the finish line with a time of 1:10.08.
In second place in the field of 8,386 participants was Frank Quinlan from Waterford AC, who ran a time of 1;12.28, while third place went to Eoin Brennan of Tallaght AC.
In the women's event, Eilish Kelly from Raheny Shamrocks won the race with a notable time of 1:18.14. Niamh Devlin of Dundrum finished second in 1;19.16, with Adrienne Jordan third in a time of 1:19.49.
Africans dominated the Great North Run in Newcastle yesterday with Kenya's Wilson Kipsang taking the men's title and Ethiopia's Olympic 10,000 metres champion Tirunesh Dibaba winning the women's race.
Kipsang produce a scintillating sprint finish to beat fellow Kenyan Micah Kogo on the line with a time of 59 minutes six seconds.
Lorenzo takes advantage of Pedrosa's woes
MotoGPJorge Lorenzo's world championship hopes enjoyed a huge boost as he claimed victory at yesterday's San Marino Grand Prix at Misano while nearest challenger Dani Pedrosa crashed out.
Yamaha rider Lorenzo enjoyed an unflustered run to the flag after the Repsol Honda of Pedrosa was involved in a collision with Hector Barbera on the opening lap.
Lorenzo now leads the way in the championship by 38 points from Pedrosa with five races remaining.
Pedrosa's troubles cleared the way for Lorenzo to cruise to a commanding victory by five seconds from Ducati's Valentino Rossi, enjoying his best ever result for the Italian team at his home race.
