A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Rebels land another Vocational title
GAELIC GAMES: Cork completed nine in a row Munster Vocational Senior Football titles with a comprehensive 4-12 to 0-4 drubbing of an outclassed Kerry side at a wet Direen, Killarney, yesterday morning.
Cork had too much for Kerry and will now face the All-Ireland champions in the semi-final.
The victors looked a tad rusty early on but led 1-2 to 0-1 at the end of opening quarter, with Aaron O’Brien scoring a brilliant goal.
However, with Ian Walsh and Garry Farrell dominating midfield, it was one way traffic until half-time as Cork held a 3-9 to 0-2 lead.
The second half was academic as the Rebel County did not have to raise their game. Kerry battled hard but were clearly not good enough.
SCORERS: Cork: A OBrien 2-0, G Finn 1-2 (one free), R Cahalane 1-0, G Barry 0-2, D Canty, K Crowley, I Walsh, G Farrell, G OShea, D OConnor, S Casey, K Histon 0-1 each. Kerry: P Herlihy (one free), D Ó Fuaráin, D Collins, M Ó Horáin 0-1 each.
Irish gymnast earns Czech gold
GYMNASTICS: Kieran Behan (22) has made world gymnastics history by winning the gold medal at the Challenge World Cup in Ostrava, Czech Republic; the first time an Irish gymnast has won such a prestigious title.
With a score of 14.675 the talented gymnast finished not only first on floor at this event but first overall on floor in the series.
“It’s absolutely fantastic . . . to top it off to win the World Cup Series and be ranked number one is absolutely amazing. It opens doors to the invite-only category A event, one will be in Paris and the other in China and that would be fantastic.
“This is my final competition for the year. The World Cup starts in spring next year . . . we’ll hopefully be putting out a full team and can show everyone what Ireland has to offer.”
Sally Filmer of Gymnastics Ireland said: “This first World Cup Challenge win has opened to the A category event for which entry is only by qualification, so next year will be an exciting year.”
Easter ‘may have’ made £35k remark
RUGBY: England forward Nick Easter has conceded he could have been one of the players shamed in the leaked review of the World Cup, but has moved defend his position.
In the wake of a disastrous tournament on and off the field, the Red Rose players were asked to submit feedback to the Rugby Players’ Association, only for their comments to be made public.
One player was reported to have reacted to England’s quarter-final defeat to France by saying: “There‘s £35,000 just gone down the toilet” and Easter admits he may have been that man.
He told a Sunday newspaper that he could have made the remark, but claims that if he did, it was as a joke.
“I may have said it, but I’d gone through a thousand other thoughts first as I sat in the dressingroom numb with shock and despair.”
O’Briain on course to secure spot
GOLF: Royal Dublin’s Neil O’Briain just needs to keep his nerve today to secure a place in the final European Tour Qualifying school in Spain next week.
With one round remaining in the second stage at La Manga O’Briain is tied for ninth place with a 54-hole aggregate of 212 after rounds of 69, 72 and 71. He is seven strokes adrift of the leader, England’s Graeme Clark, but with at least 16 places available from the venue is in a strong position to claim a spot.
Michael McGeady, after a disappointing 74 yesterday, has left himself with a lot to do as he is on 217 in a share of 32nd place and Colm Moriarty, further back on 220, seems out of the hunt.
Meanwhile, at Los Collinas, Cian McNamara is the top Irishman, albeit on 211 in joint 24th. Aaron O’Callaghan and David Higgins are a stroke behind, with Niall Kearney despite firing a 68 yesterday another stroke adrift and Brendan McCarroll completely out of it on 230.
Joyce to lodge appeal after losing contentious decision
BOXING: Turkey’s Istanbul Bosphorus have lodged a protest on behalf of Ireland’s David Oliver Joyce following his loss in the World Series of Boxing in Leipzig, Germany.
Joyce, signed with Bosphorus, was adjudged to have lost a points decision to Rashid Kassem of the Leipzig Leopards on Saturday night.
The Leopards, who have Ken Egan and Con Sheehan in their squad – neither Irish boxer was in action – won the five-bout match 4-1.
Joyce shook his head in disbelief when the ref raised Kassem’s hand in victory.The St Michael’s, Athy lightweight believed he should have got the decision over the Danish champion after the five-rounder. “I was devastated . . . it was a very bad decision as I won the second, third, fourth and fifth rounds,” he said.
“We have lodged a protest and we should know more . . . this week.”
Meanwhile, European Youth silver medallist Gary Sweeney will meet Denis O’Donnell in Friday’s National Intermediate Championships 85Kg final at the National Stadium in Dublin.
‘Rocket’ Ronnie reaches last 16
SNOOKER: Ronnie O’Sullivan was in impressive form as he beat Steve Davis 6-1 to reach the last 16 of the williamhill.com UK Championship.
The former world number one, a four-time winner of this event, lost the first frame but bounced back strongly after that, with a break of 123 the highlight.
Earlier Mark Selby showed why he is world number one as he brushed aside Ryan Day 6-0 to ease into the last 16.
