A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Rainbow wish comes true for world's finest Hendron
CYCLING:Orla Hendron had a triumphant end to her masters track world championship campaign yesterday, winning the women's points race for competitors in the 45-49 year old category, writes Shane Stokes.
Competing in Anadia, Portugal, Hendron placed second in intermediate sprints two and four, and then picked up a further point at the end when she crossed the line in fourth place.
Hendron ended the race with five points, level with silver medallist Elizabeth Clayton, but ahead of the Briton once the finishing position was taken into account. That earned her the gold medal plus the blue rainbow jersey of world champion.
Aideen Collard also went in the same race, netting bronze in the the 35-39 age group.
Terry Cromer competed in the men’s 55-59 points race but was fatigued from the previous days’ racing and did not finish.
Simon Coughlan took silver in the individual pursuit
Shinty stars get better of hurlers
SHINTY/HURLING:Scotland scored a 2-16 to 2-15 win over a Tommy Walsh led-Ireland in the annual international at Croke Park on Saturday.
Shane Dooley grabbed a goal to give Ireland an early advantage, but two goals in the space of a minute, from Finlay Macrae and Gary Innes, earned the visitors a six-point advantage.
The visitors led by 2-7 to 2-5 at the break, after Dooley – son of manager Joe – hit his second goal on the stroke of half-time.
Patrick Horgan, Neil McManus and Willie Hyland were all on target for the Irish, but scores from Innes, Ronald Ross and Macrae kept Scottish noses in front right to the end.
Ireland, meanwhile, retained the Camogie-Shinty International thanks to a 6-9 to 2-2 victory at Seán Eiffe Park in Ratoath, on Saturday morning.
Smith bucks up Broncos in London
AMERICAN FOOTBALL: Back-up quarterback Troy Smith led the San Francisco 49ers to a 24-16 comeback win against the Denver Broncos yesterday at London's Wembley stadium.
Smith, making his first NFL start in nearly three years, ran for his team’s first touchdown in the fourth quarter and then completed a 28-yard pass to wide receiver Michael Crabtree for their second as the 49ers’ record improved to 2-6.
A dour contest between two struggling teams burst into life in the fourth quarter, which began with the Broncos leading 7-3.
BASEBALL:There was no sign of panic from the San Francisco Giants after they suffered their first loss in the World Series on Saturday night.
After winning the first two games at home in the best-of-seven series, the Giants were brought back down to Earth in a 4-2 setback on the road.
Tendulkar backs Morgan as Ashes star
CRICKET:Sachin Tendulkar believes batsman Eoin Morgan and spinner Graeme Swann could be key to England winning the Ashes.
The India great is backing the tourists to edge the series in Australia, whom he feels rely heavily on captain Ricky Ponting.
Morgan is not certain to be in the England XI for the first Test, but Tendulkar is a fan of the 24-year-old from Dublin.
“I think England have a better chance. I favour them slightly,” he said. “I would say Morgan could the the key performer in the Ashes. Morgan and Swann.”
Referring to Morgan, he said: “He’s a very solid player who can control the pace of his innings. He can become a really good Test batsman even though he’s only played a few Tests so far.
“After Morgan you’ve got the experience of Strauss, Collingwood and Pietersen. They’re a really well-balanced side and this is a great opportunity for England.”
Rowland denied gold by a whisker
BOXING: Ireland's Katie Rowland was denied a gold medal at the European Youth and Junior Women's Championships by the slimmest possible margin in France on Saturday.
Rowland, from the Geesala BC in Mayo, remained tied at 4-4 with Victoriya Kuleshava at the final bell, but the Russian flyweight claimed gold from the 51kg Youth final on a 10-9 count-back in Calais.
Christine Gargan, from the St George’s BC in Belfast, was beaten 12-1 by Svetlana Dmitrieva, also of Russia, in the 46kg Junior final.
Nicole Meli, Mikela Walsh, Sarah Close and Clare Grace also finished with bronze medals.
“I thought Katie did enough to win her final, but it just didn’t go our way and to tell the truth we’re gutted,” said Irish coach Pat McDonagh, also Rowland’s club coach.
Neptune clip Eagles' wings
BASKETBALL: Bord Gáis Neptune put a halt to UL Eagles' 100 per cent start to the season after a surprise 88-78 success in the Nivea For Men's SuperLeague.
Recent recruit Michael Bonaparte contributed 31 points to follow the 39 points scored against his former club Killester in their previous encounter.
Moycullen got their first win of the season following a hard fought 75-65 win over Ulster Elks.
The westerners’ defence was key, restricting Elks’ prolific star Kevin Foley to just 14 points.
Yesterday, a last-gasp three-pointer from Ciarán O’Sullivan gave UCC Demons an 83-81 win away to Belfast Star.
DCU Saints finally got the win their efforts in recent weeks have deserved after a 92-75 win over high-flying UCD Marian.
Women’s SuperLeague champions Team Montenotte Hotel Cork maintained their winning run courtesy of a 80-56 win over Black Forge Oblate Dynamos
