A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Macedonia opt for change at the top
SOCCER: Mirsad Jonuz has been sacked as the coach of Macedonia, the country’s football federation has announced.
A statement on the FFM’s website confirmed Jonuz was removed from his post as a result of their poor Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.
“Following extensive discussions regarding results achieved in qualifying for the 2012 European Championship, a unanimous decision has been reached to remove Mirsad Jonuz from his position as the coach of the national team,” said the statement on www.ffm.com.mk.
The FFM added they will hold another meeting soon to find Jonuz’s successor.
Macedonia lie fifth in qualifying Group B with just four points following successive defeats to Republic of Ireland.
Egan finishes ninth in final
CANOEING: Jenny Egan finished ninth in the A Final of the K1 (racing kayak) 5,000 metres at the European Canoe Sprint Championships in Belgrade yesterday. The 24-year-old student had earlier had the same placing in the B Final of the K1 200 metres, an Olympic event.
Barry Watkins finished his campaign yesterday with a fourth placing in the B Final of the men’s K1 500 metres.
Coughlan shines for North County
CRICKET: Teenager Adam Couglan enjoyed a fine all-round performance as North County beat Malahide by 100 runs in the Leinster Senior Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, writes Emmet Riordan.
The 18-year-old scored 50 in County’s total of 300 for six against his former side at the Village, an innings that was dominated by another of County’s promising talents, Tomás Sheil, who made 98.
Coughlan then took three for 41 and Conor Shiel (3-43) to bowl out Malahide for 200 and set up a semi-final with Rush, after they beat The Hills seconds by four runs in a rain affected match at Milverton.
Last year’s beaten finalists, Clontarf, beat Phoenix by 22 runs in another weather interrupted clash, with Rod Hokin (119) and Alex Cusack (89) scoring the runs in a total of 326 for five. They will face either Leinster or Merrion in the semi-finals after their game finished in a tie on Duckworth Lewis calculations.
Martin makes case for Tour place
CYCLING: With the Garmin-Cervélo team currently deciding which riders to select for the Tour de France, Daniel Martin made a strong case for his candidature yesterday when he won a high level race in Italy, writes Shane Stokes.
The Irishman was quickest in the sprint which decided the 1.1-ranked Giro della Toscana, beating Mauro Santambrogio and Miguel Angel Chavez Rubiano to the line in Arezzo.
Martin is aiming to be one of the nine Garmin-Cervélo riders to compete in the Tour. He has never ridden the race, although he was scheduled to start in 2009 but had to withdraw with knee issues. “I think I am in really good form at the moment, maybe the best form I have been in…definitely this year, anyway. So I have just got to hope that they give me my chance,” said Martin.
In-form Maguire claims Irish Open Strokeplay title
GOLF: Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) led from wire-to-wire to win the 2011 Irish Women’s Open Strokeplay title at Elm Park yesterday.
After opening with 64 and 70 to lead the field by five strokes overnight, Maguire posted a two-putt birdie at the first, and never looked back.
Further birdies at the short fifth and long eighth saw her turn two under the card to lead nearest challenger Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush) by ten strokes with just nine holes remaining. Leona’s twin sister, Lisa, saw her final round challenge fade after a double bogey at the short third.
Leona finally romped home eight shots ahead of the field. Meadow signed for a best of the day 70 to finish second while Lisa was next best on +3 for the three rounds.
Ireland won the team event followed by Spain, Wales, Germany England and Scotland.
Zions cruises to victory in France
GOLF: Matthew Zions of Australia scored a final-round 69, two-under par, to win the Saint-Omer Open in France by seven shots yesterday, his first victory on the European Tour.
The 32-year-old finished on eight-under par 276 at Lumbres. England’s Daniel Denison, Peter Gustafsson of Sweden and Scotland’s Craig Lee were joint second on 283.
The winner received a check for €100,000.
Ireland’s Simon Thornton, in contention after the third round, fell away with a closing 78 for a 289 aggregate. That left him two strokes ahead of Niall Kearney, who had a final round of 73.
