Today's other stories in brief
Germany first up for Ireland
HOCKEY: Reigning European champions Germany, who won the title for the first time in Manchester two years ago, provide the opposition for Ireland in their opening pool game of the EuroHockey Nations Championship in Amsterdam tomorrow, writes Mary Hannigan. The pool is completed by Spain and Scotland, who Ireland play on Sunday and Tuesday respectively.
A top two finish in the pool would earn a place in the semi-finals and automatic qualification for the 2010 World Cup, but the Germans and Spain – who beat Ireland three times in Valencia last month, scoring 10 goals and conceding just one – are the favourites to reach the last four.
The more realistic target, then, for Gene Muller’s side is the retention of their place in the EuroHockey A division – to achieve that they must finish in the top six of the eight-nation event, a placing that would also give them a slot in one of February’s World Cup Qualifying tournaments.
Ten of Muller’s 18-player squad are survivors from Manchester, where the team finished sixth.
IRISH SQUAD: L Barr, M Frazer, B Cleland (all Ballymoney), C McKean, L Colvin, N Symmons (all Loreto), E Clarke, S McCay (both Ulster Elks), E Cregan (capt), C Sargent (both Cork Harlequins), R Flinn, L Jacob (both UCD), M Harvey, A Speers (both Pegasus), M Goode (Bray), E Gray (Hermes), E Smyth (Railway Union), E Stewart (Armagh). Coach: Gene Muller.
POOLS (World rankings in brackets): A: Netherlands (1), England (8), Azerbaijan (13), Russia (23). B: Germany (3), Spain (7), Ireland (15), Scotland (22).
TODAY: Pool A: Netherlands v Azerbaijan, 12.30; England v Russia, 4.30. Pool B: Spain v Scotland, 8.30; Ireland v Germany, 10.30. TOMORROW: Pool A: Netherlands v England, 2.30; Azerbaijan v Russia, 6.30. Pool B: Ireland v Scotland, 8.30; Germany v Spain, 10.30.
Federer recovers after scare against Ferrer
TENNIS:World number one Roger Federer had a scare at the Cincinnati Masters yesterday before recovering to beat Spaniard David Ferrer 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the third round.
Ferrer held a 3-1 lead in the deciding set but Federer broke back immediately and then again in the ninth game before serving out for a place in the last eight.
World number 19 Ferrer had won just one set in eight previous meetings with Federer but the Swiss was all over the place early on before eventually finding his rhythm.
Andy Murray stepped up a gear to sweep aside 16th seed Radek Stepanek 6-4, 6-1.
Meanwhile, former world number one Kim Clijsters has been granted a wild-card entry for the upcoming US Open. Winner of the 2005 US Open, Clijsters reached the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Open last week in her first tournament back after a two-year break from the tour.
The event begins in New York’s Flushing Meadows on August 31st.
Lee confident of beating Shuler
BOXING:Irish middleweight Andy Lee believes that if he can't beat Anthony Shuler then he may as well throw in the towel. Lee tops the bill against the Indiana-born puncher at the Horsehoe Casino in Indiana tonight amid speculation that he could meet John Duddy or Matthew Macklin in Ireland before Christmas.
Birmingham-born Macklin, who has strong family ties in Tipperary, challenges Finnish boxer Amin Asikainen for the European middleweight title in Manchester next month, and Lee, the current Irish super middleweight champion, would be interested in fighting him if he wins that belt.
BOXING: Jason Quigley ensured that Ireland will be taking home at least silver from the European Youth Championships after progressing into tomorrow’s welterweight final with a convincing semi-final win over Dgaba Hositashili in Szezecin, Poland last night. The Irish youth champ, who boxes out of Finn Valley in Donegal, beat the Georgian 4-0 and will now meet Emil Ahmadov of Azerbaijan.
McVeigh just three off the lead
GOLF:Danielle McVeigh heads into the third round of the Ladies British Open Amateur Championship at Royal Aberdeen this morning with an excellent chance of landing her first British title.
McVeigh, from Royal County Down, kept her head in the ferocious conditions and returned a seven-over-par 79 to remain in the hunt for silverware.
McVeigh’s total of 154 is just three shots off the lead, held by 15-year-old Hannah Turland from Tidworth, Wiltshire, who added a 72 to her opening 79 for a 151 total.
Turlands became the first player in the international field to match the testing womens par of 72 over the two days on the testing Balgownie links.
Louise Mernagh, who led the field for a time on Wednesday, returned an 81 to add to her opening 79 while Ciara Butler from Newlands remained on the fringe of the title race as she went round in 80 to add to her 78 of the previous day.
Irish well off the pace in Chantilly
GOLF:The Irish challenge faded at the Europe Individual championship in the sweltering heat of Chantilly yesterday.
Rathmore’s Alan Dunbar, who was in a strong position on Wednesday, folded disappointingly and crashed to a 78 – 11 strokes worse than on the first day. He had no birdies at all and seven bogeys.
But Dunbar is still the top Irish player on 145, one stroke in front of Brabazon Trophy winner Niall Kearney and Andrew Hogan.
Leading the field is Scotland’s Ross Kellett who takes a five-shot lead into the third round.
Kellet added a 66 to his opening 67 for a halfway nine-under-par total of 133 with fellow Scot James Byrne in a share of second place on 138 after a second 69. On the same mark is Wales Runcie Adam, who shot 71. First-round leader Victor Dubuisson of France shot 75 for 140.
Nice pot for young riders
EQUESTRIAN: The final of the Pegus Horse Feeds and Tiffen Developments league takes place tomorrow at the ShowjumpingIreland pony and young rider national championships in Mullingar, writes Margie McLoone.
The competition, which will be run over three rounds, boasts a prize-fund of €10,000, the largest in Europe for young riders. Thirty-one combinations have qualified for the final and a start list will be determined following today’s 1.30m class at the Co Westmeath equestrian centre.
Senior show jumping action at home this weekend centres on Sunday’s national Grand Prix league at Boswell. Abroad, Denis Lynch, Jessica Kúrten and Darragh Kerins are competing in the five-star Global Champions’ Tour at Valkenswaard in The Netherlands where Joanne Sloan-Allen is also in action.
