CYCLING: Mario Cipollini yesterday became Italy's first elite world champion since Gianni Bugno in 1992, writes Shane Stokes.
The Squadra Azzuro worked in a determined fashion towards the end of the 256 kilometre race to set up Cipollini for the perfect lead-out.
Irish rider David O'Loughlin had a fine ride, placing 65th of the 168 finishers.
HOCKEY: Ireland made it three wins out of three over fellow World Cup finalists - after wins over Spain and Scotland - when they beat the USA 2-1 in their final pool game at the International Atlantic Cup in Virginia on Saturday.
Daphne Sixsmith and Jenny Burke set up Karen Humphreys in the sixth minute, and, 12 minutes later, Arlene Boyles made it 2-0.
Kim Miller pulled a goal back for the US two minutes before half-time.
CRICKET: Pakistan Cricket Board chairman lieutenant general Tauqir Zia has resigned following the national team's humiliating performance against Australia.
Pakistan slumped to their lowest Test score ever for the second time in two days Saturday, making 59 in the first innings and 53 in the second against Australia in the UAE's Sharjah. Australia won the second Test by an innings and 198 runs.
SNOOKER: Martin McCrudden from Kildare became the first person since 1993 to achieve a 147 maximum break in an Irish ranking tournament on Saturday in the Ivy Rooms snooker club in Carlow.
McCrudden, seeded third for the second event of the senior ranking series, was 2-1 down in his second round match against Dublin's Stephen Merrigan when he produced the first 147 since Wexford's John Buckley in 1993. McCrudden went on to reach the quarter-finals before losing 4-3 to Celbridge's Joe Delaney, who in turn was beaten 5-3 in the final by Wexford's Rodney Goggins.
SNOOKER: Chris Small opened a 7-5 lead over Alan McManus in the final of the LG Cup in Preston last night by winning a tense 12th frame on the blue. The Scottish player went into the mid-session break having won five of the last six frames and was two frames away from victory.
Small's run began in the final frame of the afternoon session, which he won on the black to level at 4-4.
