Sports digest

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Ireland finish off with win over Israel

WOMENS' SOCCER:Two second-half goals in the space of three minutes yesterday in Ramat Gan saw the Republic of Ireland women complete their Uefa Group Four qualifying campaign with a 2-0 victory over basement side Israel.

Sue Ronan’s side struggled to break down an Israel team that had conceded an average of four goals in their previous seven ties.

American-born striker Fiona O’Sullivan finally grabbed the Ireland opener on 65 minutes before Julie-Ann Russell added the second two minutes later.

Defeats in their previous four qualifiers had put paid to Ireland’s ambitions of claiming a play-off spot into next year’s European Championships.

REP OF IRELAND: Byrne (Arsenal); Perry (Chelsea), Quinn (Peamount United), Tracy (Arsenal), De Burca (Amazon Grimstad); Russell (Doncaster Belles), Caldwell (Avaldsnes), Grant (Arsenal), Smyth (Amazon Grimstad FK); D O’Sullivan (Cork), F O’Sullivan (SC Freiburg). Subs: O’Gorman (Doncaster Belles) for Smyth (h-t), Roche (Peamount Utd) for D O’Sullivan (61 mins), Curtin (Fortuna Ålesund) for Grant (74 mins).

Cork to appoint administrator

GAELIC GAMES:The Cork County Board have announced their intention to take the first steps towards the post-Frank Murphy era by appointing an administrator, a new role which will assume some of the duties currently carried out by the long serving county secretary.

Murphy is to retain that title and will play a key role in the redevelopment of Páirc Uí Chaoimh as well as having overall responsibility for financial, administrative and policy matters. His 40-year tenure was extended by 12 months last year in recognition of the ongoing redevelopment work.

The administrator will take over day-to-day functions within the county, including responsibility for fixture planning, inter-county teams and full-time coaching. The role will shortly be advertised in local and national media. The proposed commencement date is February 1st.

– SEÁN MORAN

Maurice Horan has been reappointed as Limerick football manager for another two years. The Mayo native’s initial two-year deal ended after his side lost out to Kildare in July.

Faltering Fullback takes Kerry National for McNamara

RACING:Outsider Faltering Fullback led a one-two for trainer Eric McNamara in the Guinness Kerry National at Listowel yesterday.

The Co Limerick handler, who also saddled his dual winner Ponmeoath in the three-mile feature, sent out the runner-up Questions Answered for good measure.

Not only was Faltering Fullback a 33 to 1 shot, having failed to win since at this meeting three years ago, but he only got in as second reserve.

The complexion of the race changed when the front-running Whodoyouthink came to grief down the back straight and Faltering Fullback could be spotted making eye-catching headway in the hands of Danny Mullins. With just 9st 12lb on his back, the nine-year-old kicked clear off the home turn and safely negotiated the last couple of obstacles to beat his stable companion by five and a half lengths.

Aidan O’Brien’s progressive stayer Chamonix completed his hat-trick with an all-the-way victory in the Edmund and Josie Whelan Memorial Listowel Stakes under son Joseph.

Egan says Wada briefing in Russia was very positive

BOXING:Ken Egan has this week attended his first World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) Athlete's briefing in St Petersburg, Russia. The Dublin-born southpaw, who was appointed a Wada observer last December, said the two-day meeting was very educational.

“We discussed many things, including ways to improve athletes’ awareness of what can and cannot be taken. It was a very positive, informative meeting, very educational,” said the 2008 Olympic silver medallist.

Meanwhile, Egan and the Irish Elite squad – including the 2012 Olympic team – will be aiming for more medals at the Elite Tammer Multi-Nations in Finland next month.

The Irish Amateur Boxing Association will confirm their squad for Finland shortly.

Tony Martin successfully defends world time trial title

CYCLING:Germany's Tony Martin successfully defended his men's time-trial title at the UCI Road World Championships in the Netherlands yesterday with a narrow triumph over Taylor Phinney of the United States.

Martin, the Olympic silver medallist behind Bradley Wiggins, completed the 45.7-kilometre route in 58 minutes 38.76 seconds to claim Germany’s second time-trial success in Limburg after Judith Arndt won the elite women’s event yesterday.

Phinney finished just over five seconds behind in 58mins 44.13secs, with bronze going to Vasil Kiryienka of Belarus in 1:00:23.75.

Alex Dowsett, Britain’s sole representative in the absence of Wiggins and Chris Froome, finished eighth in 1:01:04.82, with Spain’s Alberto Contador ninth.

Contador was overtaken by the German after around two thirds of the route.

Irish time trial champion Michael Hutchinson was off his usual pace on what was a very hilly course, finishing 46th. He was five minutes 23 seconds behind Martin.