Sports digest

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

Dunbar pipped at the post

GOLF: ALAN DUNBAR was pipped at the post in a brave bid to become the second Irishman in three years to lift the Brabazon Trophy at Burnham and Berrow on the Somerset coast yesterday.

The 22-year-old Irish international from Rathmore appeared to be out of contention following a disappointing third round 79 on Saturday but he moved into top gear on the final day to card an impressive 69 and come within a whisker of becoming English Amateur Open stroke-play champion.

After his strong finish he looked as though he might follow in the footsteps of Niall Kearney, who won at Moortown in 2009. But 25-year-old Neil Raymond of Corhampton, Southampton, kept his nerve in the closing holes after a few hiccups to post a 75 and finish on 287, three over par, just one stroke clear of Dunbar and Nuneaton’s Andy Sullivan.

Song fined by Cameroon

SOCCER:Arsenal midfielder Alex Song has been fined by Cameroon's football federation for showing an "attitude of contempt" towards international captain Samuel Eto'o.

The Cameroon federation said that the 23-year-old had been fined €1,500, severely reprimanded and ordered to carry out three days’ training with young players after he refused to shake Eto’o’s hand before the Indomitable Lions’ African Nations Cup qualifing match against Senegal on June 4th.

Europe take Vagliano Trophy

GOLF: Leona Maguire once again showed her immense talent in the wind and rain at Royal Porthcawl at the weekend – but Britain and Ireland still suffered a record defeat by the Continent of Europe in the biennial Vagliano Trophy match.

The 16-year-old from Slieve Russell can take considerable personal satisfaction from the match as she was the only player from either side to conclude the two-day contest with a 100 per cent record.

Maguire won all three matches she was involved in and this was an excellent return considering Britain and Ireland went down 15½-8½.

Maguire and Irish compatriot Danielle McVeigh were in fine foursomes form to demolish Theresa Koelbaek and Madelene Sagstrom by 6 and 4. In the afternoon Maguire beat France’s Celine Boutier 3 and 1.

Fletcher wins Hickstead Derby

EQUESTRIAN SPORT:Ireland's captain David O'Brien and Shane Breen, riding the greys Mo Chroi and Mullaghdrin Gold Rain respectively, shared second place with three British riders in yesterday's Hickstead Derby, writes Margie McLoone.

The quintet earned €15,000 apiece, while the winner of the €45,000 first prize was Britain’s Tina Fletcher, one of just two women in the field and the first to win the famed Derby since 1973. Fletcher, narrowly beaten into second place last year and runner-up also in 1991, rode the big-jumping and hard to settle Promised Land, owned by her husband Graham.

Breen, who is based at the Sussex showgrounds, won two classes on Saturday and landed the speed Derby with Magic Fox.

Loughnane makes Liu battle all the way

ATHLETICS:There were mixed performances by the Irish race walkers at the Dublin International Grand Prix event in the Phoenix Park yesterday, when it was left to World Championship silver medallist Olive Loughnane to once again carry the flag, writes Ian O'Riordan.

Loughnane renewed rivalry with Hong Liu, the woman she relegated to third place in the World Championships 20km in Berlin two years ago, although this time the Chinese woman got her revenge with a comprehensive victory in 1:29.44, some 34 seconds slower than she recorded in Berlin.

Loughnane made her battle all the way before she was forced to give ground before finishing second in 1:31.53, with Amy Amarilis Franco Nunez of Guatemala third.

There was a disappointing performance in the men’s 20km when Robert Heffernan was forced to drop out with a niggling hamstring injury after only 6km, with China’s Zhen Wang taking the spoils in 1:19.46, just 23 seconds ahead of Tunisia’s Hassanine Sbei.

Breen takes Kilkenny rally

MOTOR SPORT:Waterford's, Craig Breen in his Ford Fiesta S2000, took a strong victory in the Suirway Farm Machinery Raven's Rock Rally, round five of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.

After nine stages in Co Kilkenny, Breen and his Welsh co-driver, Gareth Roberts, were a minute and 45 seconds ahead of the Subaru of Colm Murphy/Don Montgomery, who took maximum points in the Dunlop series. Sam Moffett/James O’Reilly (Mitsubishi) were 17 seconds further behind in third to move into second place in the Championship, 26 points behind the non-competing series leader, Tim McNulty.

Breen led by 19 seconds after the opening stage, with both Murphy and Welsh driver Seb Ling (Mitsubishi) tying for second.

Ed O’Callaghan (Escort), third after the second stage, crashed out on Stage Three.

Breen edged further ahead, at the final service, his lead margin was one minute and 28 seconds.   Murphy and Moffett took the final places on the podium.