A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Leinster sides face tough path to final
The two Leinster sides remaining in the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup will face tough away trips in the semi-finals after the draw was made last night following the conclusion of the weather-delayed quarter-finals.
Merrion have been drawn away to a Donemana side that showed just how formidable they are at home as they hammered Railway Union by 141 runs. Under-19 internationals Ryan Hunter (114) and Andrew McBrine (64) helped them make a massive 348 for nine, with Railway only able to manage 207, Patrick Collins making 64.
The other clash will see defending champions Waringstown taking on The Hills. South African professional Glen Addicott scored an unbeaten 94 to help Waringstown chase down North County’s total of 252 at Balrothery to win by three wickets.
The most exciting tie was at Milverton, where 19-year-old Tomás Murphy took four for 14 to help The Hills restrict YMCA to 157. He then hit an unbeaten 41 as the scores finished tied, with The Hills securing the semi-final slot after losing less wickets. EMMET RIORDAN
English runs second fastest time for 800m in Barcelona
Mark English underlined his competitive instincts and rich promise when finishing fifth in a highly competitive 800 metres at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Barcelona last night, running the second fastest time of his life.
The 19-year-old from Donegal mixed it with a duo of Kenyans and the pre-race favourite Nigel Amos of Botswana, and could have no regrets about his effort.
English give himself every chance of getting among the medals but could not get in a blow at the leaders in the final stages, as Amos took gold in one minute 43.79 seconds, a new World Junior record, with English coming home in 1:46.02, just short of the 1:45.77 Irish junior record he set last month.
Even with a competitive heat and semi-final in previous days he produced strong acceleration on the home straight, and was closing on fourth place finisher Wesley Vazquez of Puerto Rico, who led into the straight but then faded to clock 1:45.29 in fourth.
The silver and bronze were won by Kenyans, Timothy Kitum, finishing second in 1:44.56 and Edwin Melly third in 1:44.79. IAN O'RIORDAN
Lorenzo stretches lead after win in Italy
Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo easily won the Italian MotoGP yesterday, stretching his advantage at the top of the riders’ championship with an assured performance.
Spaniard Lorenzo took the lead from compatriot Dani Pedrosa on the second corner and never relinquished it, finishing over five seconds ahead of his countryman and grabbing his fifth win in nine races this season. “It was a tough race, I didn’t think I would be able to get away, Pedrosa was always close but in the end I managed it and I rode much calmer. I’m happy to have the points on the board,” Lorenzo said.
The 2010 champion is now on 185 points, 19 ahead of Honda’s Pedrosa in second. The pair both dominated the race, with Pedrosa himself finishing five seconds ahead of third-placed Italian Andrea Dovizioso.
Casey Stoner, who was third in the championship before the race and fifth on the starting grid, finished eighth after misjudging a corner and running off the track with 13 laps to go. He raised eyebrows with some extremely aggressive riding in his efforts to make up the lost time.
Lambe just misses out on medal
Claire Lambe held a medal position until the last 100 metres, but had to be content with fourth at the World Under-23 Championships in Lithuania. In a tight race the 22-year old Dubliner took over in second behind the dominant Alena Kryvasheyenka of Belarus just after half way and held off Emma Fred of Sweden until the final quarter, when Fred moved into the silver slot. Lambe then held on to third until a charge by Anna Ioannou of Cyprus denied her bronze.
The Ireland double scull of Laura D'Urso and Holly Nixon – who is just 18 – won their B final, securing seventh place in the world, and Lisa Dilleen came within half a second of winning the B Final of the single scull with a charge to the line. LIAM GORMAN
Haye hooks Chisora out
David Haye produced an explosive fifth-round stoppage of Dereck Chisora to win a thrilling grudge match that delivered on all it promised.
The hostilities started in Munich five months ago were ended by a stunning left hook that spelt the end of Chisora’s challenge at Upton Park.
Haye was in trouble before he delivered the decisive blow that sent his opponent to the canvas. Chisora beat the count but referee Luis Pabon waved the fight off once he was dropped for a second time.
Gary O’Sullivan improved to 15 straight wins after claiming the WBO international middleweight belt on the Haye undercard. The undefeated Cork fighter secured the vacant title with a unanimous decision over Manchester’s Matthew Hall.
High jumper Vlasic pulls out of Games
Former world champion high jumper Blanka Vlasic has pulled out of London 2012 because of injury. The Beijing Olympics silver medallist had been struggling with a bacterial infection which had upset her preparations.
Vlasic underwent ankle and heel surgery in January before suffering from the infection.
“I will not be able to get into the top shape in time for Olympic Games,” Vlasic confirmed on her own website.
The 28-year-old Croatian was one of the favourites to claim gold in London. However, Vlasic claims she does not want to compete in London if she is not 100 per cent. She said: “I’m not interested in jumping below my usual level, so It is the best thing to stay home and get the healing process to the end.”
