Sports digest

Today's other stories in brief

Haskell facing Stade Francais's ire

RUGBY: James Haskell has been warned he will face severe consequences from Stade Francais after the Six Nations, when it emerged that he may have breached his contract by failing to return to his French club this week.

The England flanker had been ordered to go back to Paris to prepare for this afternoon’s Top 14 match against Toulouse at the Stade de France. The English RFU refused to let him go, though, saying the player’s lawyer had confirmed a release clause for any and all of the elite player scheme periods.

Egan claims his 10th title in a row

BOXING:Ken Egan was crowned Irish senior champion for the 10th year in a row following a convincing points win over Belfast light- heavyweight Tommy McCarthy at the National Stadium last night.

The Neilstown southpaw was handed a 8-5 decision after three rounds at the home of Irish boxing.

Beijing Olympian John Joe Joyce beat defending champion Willie McLaughlin 12-9 to claim the welterweight belt after a cracking 69kg contest which was level at 3-3 at the end of the first and 6-6 at the end of the second.

Debbie Rogers and Kelly Harrington recorded the first two Elite Womens finals wins of last night, Rogers stopping Rebecca Meaney in round two and Harrington beating Jessica Lyons 10-2.

World and European champ Katie Taylor also won 10-2 in a special bout with 2009 European finalist Julia Tsyplakova of the Ukraine.

Drimnagh middleweight Sinead Kavanagh edged out Ukrainian Tetyana Ivashenko on a double count-back in the first special bout of the session. Tied at 10-10 and 21-21 after the first count-back, Kavanagh got a 5-0 decision from the judges. Four Corners ace Jennifer Harte claimed the first title of the night after stopping of Catherine OGrady in the third round of their light flyweight contest.

Kieswetter hits maiden century

CRICKET:Opener Craig Kieswetter struck his maiden one-day century to lift England to a 45-run victory over Bangladesh yesterday and a clean sweep of their one-day series.

South African-born Kieswetter, who completed his four-year qualification process last month, hit 107 for the tourists in their imposing 284 for five. Bangladesh were restricted to 239 for nine.

Harvey helps Ireland to win

HOCKEY: Ireland's women's team opened their Celtic Cup campaign with a 3-2 win over France in Nice yesterday, all three Irish goals coming from short corners, writes Mary Hannigan.

It was 2-2 at half-time, but two goals from Michelle Harvey and another from her Ulster team-mate Rachel Mulligan were enough to give Gene Muller’s side victory over the hosts. Ireland play Scotland tomorrow in their final game.

Meanwhile, Limerick’s Crescent College Comprehensive booked their place in the All-Ireland Schools’ finals with a 3-1 victory over Cork’s Mount Mercy in yesterday’s Munster Senior Cup final. Orla Hickey gave Crescent the lead after 43 minutes, slotting home from a short corner, but with just seven minutes left on the clock Mercy levelled through Emily O’Leary from another corner.

Three minutes in to extra time Crescent restored their lead, Hickey getting her second goal of the game, and 60 seconds later Ciara Nolan sealed the win when she fired home following Hickey’s piecing run.

Gilsenan cleared to play in Leinster Senior Cup final

RUGBY: Clongowes Wood College number eight Conor Gilsenan has been cleared to play in the Leinster Schools Senior Cup final against St Michael's College on St Patrick's Day after a Leinster Branch disciplinary process last night found him not guilty of "making contact with the eye, or eye area" of a St Mary's College player in the semi-final on February 28th, writes Gavin Cummiskey.

An incident occurred in the 66th minute that led referee Brian MacNeice, on the recommendation of touch judge James Fegan, to show Gilsenan a red card.

The match officials subsequently submitted separate reports to the Leinster schools disciplinary committee.

A statement from the Leinster Branch last night stated: “An independent disciplinary panel was convened to hear the very serious allegations against Conor Gilsenan of making contact with the eye, or eye area, of an opposing player and spent several hours over two days hearing and considering the evidence, including detailed video evidence.

“The committee viewed the video evidence available which was very helpful in reaching a decision. The committee was not satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, on the evidence adduced and bearing in mind the video evidence as also adduced, that Conor Gilsenan was guilty of making contact with the eye or eye area of an opposing player. Accordingly, the committee recommends no further sanction.”