SPORTS DIGEST

A round-up of today's other sports news in brief

Downey wins Tour of Ulster

CYCLING:Showing strength and experience beyond his years, 18-year-old Seán Downey yesterday won the Tour of Ulster in Omagh, writes Shane Stokes.

The Banbridge CC rider had finished just .67 seconds behind race leader Martyn Irvine (Curran Racing) in Sunday evening’s time-trial, ending the day 24 seconds back in third overall.

He then made his move into the yellow jersey when he finished sixth on yesterday’s final leg, crossing the line in a seven-man group three seconds behind the stage winner Ray Clarke (Worldwide Cycles) and runner-up Conor Murphy (Usher IRC).

Downey had gone clear with 10 others 14km into the rain-lashed stage, building a clear lead over the peloton. Irvine missed a chasing group and found himself riding hard to get back on terms, but was ultimately unable to catch the main break.

He crossed the line one minute and 34 seconds behind Downey, dropping to sixth overall in the final general classification.

Armstrong may go it alone

CYCLING:Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong has again hinted he is close to building his own team and extending his career into 2010, revealing the chances of it happening are "high".

“I’d like to have my own team,” said the Astana rider, who is set to ride in the Giro d’Italia which begins on Saturday. “I want to be the owner, directeur sportif and . . . rider. If I do own a team I want to ride as well.”

Hanratty’s goal seals victory

GAELIC FOOTBALL:A goal from Ciarán Hanratty in the 54th minute helped seal a 2-11 to 2-9 victory for Monaghan over Dublin in a challenge game to mark the official opening of Corduff's new pitch yesterday.

Monaghan led at half-time by 1-8 to 1-5, with Tomás Freeman getting Monaghan’s goal from a penalty after five minutes and Dublin’s goal coming from Bernard Brogan in the 33rd minute.

The sides were level twice in an increasingly competitive third quarter with tempers threatening to boil over on a number of occasions.

Hanratty’s goal gave Monaghan a four point lead, with Dublin only able to pull back two points.

SCORERS– Monaghan: T Freeman 1-2, P Finlay 0-4, C Hanratty 1-0, R Ronaghan 0-2, B McKenna, M Downey, G Doogan 0-1 each) Dublin: B Brogan 1-4, B Kelly 1-1, P Andrews 0-2, D Connolly, P Burke 0-1 each).

Irish pair claim places in final

BOXING:Ireland's Joe Ward and Michael Reilly boxed their way into today's finals of the Heydar Aliyev Cup in Azerbaijan with impressive semi-finals wins in Baku yesterday.

But Chris Mullaly bowed out of the 10-nation tournament at the last four stage after suffering a 5-3 reversal to Dmitriy Rubtsov of Russia yesterday.

Moate middleweight Ward, who won silver at this tournament last year, beat Askin Burak of Turkey 11-2 and Dublin lightwelter Michael Reilly outpointed Singh Vishal of India 4-1. Ward and Reilly are now guaranteed at least silver and Mulally will be taking home bronze.

The organisers of the Baku dust up are handing out medals and cheques for podium finishes – a first prize of gold and €900 silver and €670 for the finalists and bronze and €335 for losing semi-finalists.

Ireland are using the 10-nation box-off in preparation for this months AIBA World Junior Championships which begin in Yerevan, Armenia on May 23rd.

Kenyans dominate Belfast marathon

ATHLETICS:Kenyan athletes once again dominated the Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon yesterday, as John Mutai became the first man to win the event three years in succession.

Mutai’s time of 2:17:34 was slower than in his two previous wins – and 90 seconds outside Marty Deane’s record – but his run was four and a half minutes quicker than fellow Kenyan and 2006 runner-up Zak Kihara (2:21:09). Moldova’s Sergiu Ciobanu (2:23:57), now resident in Tipperary, finished third.

The women’s race was dominated by Joyce Kandia, repeating her 2006 victory, but in a somewhat slower time of 2:47:44. Fellow Kenyan Joyce Kirui was slightly more than two minutes behind, with Moldova’s Svetlana Shepeleva another two minutes further back.

A total of 17,250 people took part.

Strong finish sees off Offaly

GAELIC FOOTBALL:Teenage star Donie Kingston helped himself to seven points as Laois came from behind to beat Offaly 1-15 to 0-15 in a challenge at Portarlington yesterday.

Offaly led 0-9 to 1-4 at the break having played with a strong wind, with Laois keeping in touch thanks to a superb goal from wing back Peter O’Leary. The impressive Niall McNamee and half-time sub Thomas Deehan kept Offaly ahead throughout the second half, but Laois finished strongly and four points in the last five minutes ensured a three-point win.

SCORERS –Laois: D Kingston 0-7 (three frees), P O'Leary 1-2, B McCormack and P Clancy 0-2 each, N Donoher and D Brennan 0-1 each. Offaly: N McNamee 0-6 (three frees), N Darby 0-2 (frees), T Deehan and J Coughlan 0-2 each, M Mitchell, N Smith and N Coughlan 0-1 each.

Irish girls collect FA Cup medals

WOMEN'S SOCCER:Irish goalkeeper Emma Byrne and midfielders Ciara Grant and Niamh Fahey were all part of the Arsenal side that defeated Sunderland 2-1 in front of 23,291 spectators in the women's FA Cup final yesterday at Pride Park in Derby.

It was Vic Akers’ 30th honour as Arsenal manager in his penultimate game in charge.

Goals from Katie Chapman and Kim Little added to Akers’ long list of achievements, highlighted by their European and domestic quadruple in 2006-07.

While only one goal separated the teams on paper, the margin of victory could have been much greater as Arsenal dominated the game throughout.

Suzanne Grant was guilty of squandering several chances and on another day might have had a hat-trick.

Akers can add a 31st honour in his final game before turning full time to his first-team kit man duties, as Arsenal go head to head with title rivals Everton next week.