GOLF: Ireland's Gareth Maybin and Michael McGeady eased their way into the last 32 of the British Amateur Championship at St Andrews yesterday.
Maybin was locked in a tight tussle with team-mate Darren Crowe before winning on the 18th, while McGeady saw off the challenge of American Korey Mahoney by two holes.
In the morning's opening round of matchplay, Sean McTernan of Co Sligo birdied the 18th and then saw Walker Cup panellist Michael Skelton three-putt the next for a one hole win. However, McTernan went down by one hole in the second round to Eric Ramsey of Carnoustie.
Galway's Mark O'Sullivan, who did not play in the morning, lost his opening match 4 and 3 to Matthew Cryer from Coventry.
Maybin now plays Australia's Michael Sim and McGeady takes on Germany's Florian Fritsch for a place in the last eight.
Rising star James Heath came down with a bump when he became the sixth leading qualifier in a row to make a first round exit. The 21-year-old lost to a 15-foot birdie putt on the final green by talented Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez Castano, who finished 10th at the Madrid Open last October.
Holder Gary Wolstenholme is a step nearer winning the title for a third time after overcoming the stubborn resistance of Bellingham's George Cowan on the last green.
Nigel Edwards, who sank the winning putt in last year's Walker Cup win, is also through after beating Chris Botsford of the US 4 and 3.
CYCLING: Following David McCann's win in the FBD Milk Rás last weekend, Ciarán Power has responded by netting 24 UCI points and so stays in touch in the battle for an Olympic place, writes Shane Stokes.
Power sprinted home fifth of 180 riders in the 1.3 ranked Wachovia International in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, finishing to the fore of the 47 riders sprinting for second.
Power's group crossed the line nine seconds after the victorious Dutchman Max van Heeswijk of the US Postal Service team, who had bridged across to lone leader Bobby Julich (Team CSC) midway around the last of 13 hilly laps. Julich was caught by the bunch but Van Heeswijk stayed clear to the finish, with Power fourth in the sprint for second place.
The series continues today with the Wachovia Classic in Trenton, New Jersey, and reaches its climax on Sunday with the 20th annual Wachovia USPRO Championship in Philadelphia. Power will be keen to score more points and so push himself back into the frame for the Olympic slot.
Mark Scanlon's two excellent wins in Estonia last weekend mean that he is now certain to take one of the two Olympic road race slots up for grabs. The 23-year-old Sligoman has amassed 193 UCI points this season, with McCann on 73 and Power on 54. David O'Loughlin, who won a stage and finished third overall in the Rás, has 49 points.
RUGBY: Limerick will host the inaugural world vintage carnival from September 4th-10th. More than 40 teams from 16 countries will participate in two age group categories (men between 35-45 and over 46).
The organisers, Vintage Sports, who are based in New Zealand, announced that Heineken will be supporting the six-day event.
