Cycling: Downing tops leaderboard
Russell Downing shook up the leaderboard of the Tour of Ireland yesterday when he landed the stage win and the overall lead in Dingle on the penultimate day.
The current Premier Calendar Champion in England put a stop to Mark Cavendish, who led the tour for the opening three days.
On the run in to Dingle Downing had difficulties with his bike in the last 10km. It looked like he would not figure in the shake-up, but he clawed his way back up to the lead group. In the dash to the line it all came right when he unleashed an explosive sprint which netted him the stage win and the overall lead.
The foundations were laid as early as the second hour of racing prior to the An Post Sprint at Athea on the Limerick Kerry border when Sweden's Magnus Backstedt moved forward.
Backstedt had Downing's team-mate Peter Williams (Pinarello CandidTV) and Wesly Sulzberger (South Austrlia.com/AIS) in tow as they forged ahead.
Downing's lead is a mere two seconds from New Zealand's Julian Dean who has the backing of a superior team. Best of the Irish is Mark Cassidy of the An Post/Sean Kelly team in 24th place.
Irish duo claim Euro victory
GOLF: The influence of Shane Lowry and Jonathan Caldwell was evident as Great Britain and Ireland comfortably retained the St Andrews Trophy at Kingsbarns yesterday as they beat the Continent of Europe.
Having stretched their overnight lead to five points in the morning foursomes the hosts required just 1.5 points from the eight singles to retain the trophy.
Great Britain and Ireland won 13.5-10.5 -- their fifth consecutive victory.
Meanwhile, Great Britain and Ireland boys came from behind to beat Europe 14-10 in the Jacques Leglise Trophy match. Irish teenagers Alan Dunbar and Luke Lennox won their foursomes out in the country and both won their singles.
Strong finish for Moriarty
Ireland's Colm Moriarty needs a good finish at the ECCO Tour Championship in Copenhagen to move closer to the top 20 on the European Challenge Tour Rankings and automatic qualification for the European Tour next year.
Overnight leader Finland's Antti Ahokas set up a mouthwatering final-round battle with compatriot Roope Kakko and England's Richard McEvoy after a superb seven under par 65 gave him a two stroke lead at the ECCO Tour Championship.
Portrush grab fourth title
Royal Portrush won their fourth title in seven years after defeating The Island in the final of the 2008 Senior Cup at the Galway Golf Club yesterday.
Portrush eased through their morning semi-final against Kilkenny while The Island, who haven't won the Senior Cup since 1929, were surprise winners in their semi-final over seasoned veterans Douglas.
Lucy Simpson and Naoimh Quigg were in superb form ending their matches against Suzy Sheehan and Sarah Carty on the 14th and 13th greens respectively.
Helen Jones and Angie Dwyer had a real battle in the fourth match and were called in from their encounter when Maura Diamond closed out the final match on the 15th green to seal the win.
Robbo spot-on for Drogheda
SOCCER: Shane Robinson's late penalty earned Drogheda United a share of the spoils with Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds.
An action-packed first half produced five goals, Brian Cash twice giving Rovers the lead only for the visitors to twice level, former Rovers favourite Fahrudin Kuduzovic and Shaun Maher on the mark.
Raffaele Cretaro put Rovers in front for the third time in first-half injury-time and this looked like it would prove the winner until Robinson's 88th-minute spot-kick.
Sligo Rovers: Brush; Coleman, Almeida (Doherty ht), Peers, Butler, Cash, O'Grady, Ventre, Ryan, Cretaro (McTiernan 71), Boco (McDaid 89).
Drogheda Utd: Ewings; Shelley (Tambouras 68), Kendrick (Ristila 75), Maher, Gartland, Cahill, Robinson, Hughes, Kuduzovic, O'Brien, Zayed (Thiam 60).
Referee: P Sutton.
Cobh trounce Tribesmen
COBH Ramblers condemned Galway United to the bottom of the table when they scored a 4-1 win in Cobh last night.
Early in the second half Cobh took a two-goal lead thanks to a beauty from Ray Lally and a second from Ross Gaynor.
Galway pulled one back through Iarfhlaith Daveron before John Kearney restored Cobh's two-goal advantage after 63 minutes.
Daryl Kavanagh got on the scoresheet with seven minutes to go.
Cobh Ramblers: McCarthy; Carey, Cummins, Murray, Meade; Lally (Mulconry 70), O'Halloran, J Kearney, O'Neill (O'Shea 80); Gaynor (A Kearney 85), Kavanagh.
Galway Utd: Rogers; Connelly, Kenna, Fitzgerald, McCulloch; O'Shea, Murphy, Russell, Davoren; Molloy (Glynn 58), Jorgensen.
Referee: P Tuite (Dublin).
Ashbourne scratch cups
GOLF: Ashbourne have organised two Ladies Scratch Cups, Senior (handicap 0-9) and Junior (10-18) to take place on Friday September 12.
Tee times can be booked by contacting Ashbourne Golf Club on (01) 8352005 or by logging on to the website www.ashbournegolfclub.ie and selecting Online Bookings.
- Tee times can be booked by contacting Ashbourne Golf Club on (01) 8352005 or by logging on to the website www.ashbournegolfclub.ie and selecting Online Bookings.
