A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Leona's miles ahead of field
GOLF:Leona Maguire completed a stunning wire to wire victory at the Portuguese international women's amateur championship at Aroeira yesterday, claiming the title by a massive 15 strokes.
The 16-year-old carded a final round of four-under 68 to close on 14 under par, 15 shots clear of Germany’s Karolin Lampert and Dutch golfer Karlijn Zaanen.
Twin sister Lisa finished in 10th spot on four over to help Ireland claim the team title.
Australia wrap up series victory
CRICKET:Australia wrapped up a morale-boosting one-day series victory over England with two games to spare after a 51-run win in the fifth match at the Gabba yesterday.
Michael Clarke’s team took an unassailable 4-1 lead in the seven-match series after hitting 249 in 49.3 overs and then bowling out the visitors for 198.
Pace pair Brett Lee and Doug Bollinger reduced England to 22 for three before Kevin Pietersen (40) and Ian Bell (36) combined for a 73-run partnership.
England, however, self-destructed when they still had plenty of overs remaining and two well-established players batting.
Pietersen again succumbed to a rush of blood to the head when he misread a slower John Hastings delivery and spooned the ball to Lee at mid-on to leave his team 95 for four. Eoin Morgan (two) also threw away his wicket when he smashed Steve Smith straight to Mitchell Johnson at long off, while Bell chopped Hastings on to his stumps to leave England 103 for six.
Shane Watson then dismissed Paul Collingwood (18) and Chris Woakes (eight) in his first over, the 33rd of the innings, to all but end the run chase despite some final-wicket defiance from James Anderson (22 not out) and Steve Finn (35).
Earlier, Clarke ended his poor run of scores with a half century, while the tail provided a late flurry to help the home side post a good total despite man-of-the-match Woakes claiming six for 45.
Clarke, who had been under pressure, combined for a 65-run partnership with David Hussey (34) for the fifth wicket.
He then needlessly charged Woakes in the 41st over and top edged a simple catch to opposing skipper Andrew Strauss on 54.
Clarkes dismissal left Australia 190 for six but Smith (24 not out), Johnson (16) and Hastings (13) combined well in the latter stages to set up a victory charge that will give them confidence heading into next months World Cup.
Heffernan takes national title with ease in Cork
ATHLETICS:Robert Heffernan displayed the obvious benefits of a lengthy period of warm-weather training in Australia recently by winning the National 30km walk championships in Cork yesterday – easily coping with the cold and the opposition to improve his own national record to two hours, seven minutes and 48 seconds, writes Ian O'Riordan.
Heffernan turned it into an absolute exhibition, with only Colin Griffin from Ballinamore AC attempting to go with him. However, Heffernan was in determined form and was quickly away on his own. Laura Reynolds of Mohill AC won the women’s 20k walk in 1:38:08, while Kate Veale of West Waterford AC looked impressive as usual in winning the junior 7.5k race.
Joe Sweeney of Dundrum-South Dublin was an equally convincing winner of the Raheny five-mile road race, striding away powerfully from former winner, Seán Connolly, to win in 23 minutes 22 seconds. Although just off the course record, it underlined Sweeney’s excellent form of late and the National Inter-Counties cross-country champion will next target a 30km road race in the Netherlands in two weeks which could be informative as regards a marathon future. Deirdre Byrne of DSD won the women’s event comfortably in 26:45.
Elsewhere, Ailis McSweeney started her indoor season on the same note as she ended her outdoor campaign last summer with a new lifetime best, this time in the 60 metres at a meeting in Germany.
Impressive win for Nixon
ROWING:Youth was again to the fore at the St Michael's Head of the River at O'Brien's Bridge in Co Clare on Saturday. Seventeen-year-old Holly Nixon of Portora was an impressive winner of the women's single scull, coming home four seconds faster than Monika Dukarska of Killorglin, who won the senior title in the National Head run in conjunction with the event.
In the men’s pair, UCD took the national senior title, but the two fastest crews, both clocking 12 minutes and eight seconds, were the junior pairing of Kevin Neville and John Griffin from Presentation and the St Michael’s intermediate crew of Mark O’Brien and Declan O’Connor. Ireland international Cathal Moynihan marked his return from injury with a good win in the single scull, while Skibbereen won the women’s senior pair.
The fastest crew overall was the NUIG/Gráinne Mhaol senior eight, and this combination also took the fours pennant.
Rowing mourns death of Cromie
IRISH rowing is mourning the passing of adaptive athlete Karen Cromie. The 31-year-old Fermanagh woman, who had just been named in the Ireland Paralympic panel, died tragically on Friday.
A native of Ballinamallard , Cromie was injured in an accident while at university in Edinburgh. She was confined to a wheelchair, but took up adaptive rowing with enthusiasm, and represented Britain at the Paralympic Games in Beijing in 2008. She joined the Ireland system in 2009, and also competed for Ireland last season.
“It’s very tragic, shocking news,” said John Armstrong, who coached Cromie. “I feel gutted for her mum and dad and her brother and sister.
She was a great ambassador for Paralympic sport, and did a lot in that direction.”
Karen Cromie’s funeral is set for today (1.30pm) at Ballinamallard Methodist Church, Enniskillen.
