Other stories from the different sports

O'Mahony stays Murray breezes through

GAELIC GAMES: John O'Mahony's reign as Mayo boss has been extended for a further two years. O'Mahony still has a year to run on his existing contract but Mayo GAA bosses have placed their faith in him and extended his deal to 2011.

"This gives an opportunity to keep stability, and we can continue to keep on building our team," said O'Mahony.

Donegal succession delayed

GAELIC GAMES: The managerial merry-go-round turned ugly yesterday as the process of electing a successor to Brian McIvor as Donegal manager hit an impasse, writes Ian O'Riordan.

John Joe Doherty, who was originally offered the position but failed to reach agreement on a number of issues, is now back in the running.

Charlie Mulgrew and Declan Bonner were expected to be ratified at Wednesday night's county board meeting but instead Doherty addressed the meeting, and agreed to meet the interview panel again in the coming days.

However, Bonner last night stated his intention to distance himself from any further role with Donegal football until the officers in charge of the football resign.

And in Cork, Gerald McCarthy has said he has no intention of stepping down as hurling manager, despite admitting that he does not have the backing of the players.

Ireland rained out of Tri-Series

CRICKET: Ireland's stay in Nairobi ended in frustration yesterday when yet more rain put an end to their participation in the Tri-Series, writes Emmet Riordan.

The clash between Kenya and Zimbabwe was the third game to be abandoned due to a waterlogged outfield at the Gymkhana Club, leaving the three teams tied on nine points. It will be the two African sides that contest tomorrow's final, with Ireland missing out due to an inferior run rate.

Murray breezes through

TENNIS: Andy Murray moved one step closer to retaining his St Petersburg Open title yesterday by breezing past Ernests Gulbis 6-4 6-2.

The British number one showed glimpses of his best form as the match wore on to beat the highly-rated Latvian in just over an hour. Murray broke serve twice in both sets to set up a quarter-final with Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia, who beat France's Jeremy Chardy 6-4 7-6(3).

Gulbis defied the 46 ranking-point difference between the two in the opening exchanges and matched Murray up until the eighth game of the first set.The world number four broke Gulbis' serve twice again in the second set to seal the win.

He had two break points for the match but needed only one of them.