SPORTS DIGEST

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

Lewis joins Haye camp for Vitali Klitschko bout

DAVID HAYE will team up with former undisputed world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis when he bids to snatch the WBC title from Vitali Klitschko next summer.

Former world cruiserweight champion Haye travelled to Germany this weekend to hold negotiations for a title shot in 2009.

Klitschko's brother Wladimir (32) had seemed the likelier opponent, but after talks with both of the Ukrainian brothers it was decided former undisputed cruiserweight world champion Haye, who only made the move up to heavyweight last month, would fight elder brother Vitali (37) first.

The financial and logistical details have all been agreed and the fight will take place in June, probably at Wembley Stadium or Stamford Bridge.

Lewis, who retired as undisputed champion in 2003, bowed out with a controversial cuts stoppage victory over Vitali Klitschko and is therefore better placed than most to advise Londoner Haye.

O'Gorman considering Tipp's request

MUNSTER COUNCIL chairman Jimmy O'Gorman is "strongly considering" a request from Tipperary to hold the 2009 Munster senior hurling final in Thurles as part of the GAA's 125th anniversary celebrations.

O'Gorman has confirmed that Premier County officials are anxious to host the provincial showpiece at Semple Stadium and the Waterford native believes that existing "home and away" arrangements could be parked for a year to accommodate the request.

During the course of his address to the Tipperary annual convention last Sunday, outgoing chairman John Costigan issued a fresh appeal to Munster Council for the right to stage the provincial final.

Costigan paid tribute to Semple Stadium chairman Con Hogan and looked forward to February's historic floodlit showdown with Cork.

Costigan added: "Let's hope as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the founding of the GAA in the Cathedral Town that Munster Council will honour us by staging the provincial hurling final of 2009 in the association's birth place."

Queens offer support package

NORTHERN IRELAND'S next generation of sporting stars has been given a valuable boost by Queen's University in association with Ulster Bank.

Some 25 local athletes have been presented with a high-performance support package by the university which will guarantee them access to the latest scientific sports services on offer from Queen's Sport.

This year's top award went to civil engineering student Ben Crawford who took gold at the recent World University Equestrian Championships in Algeria. Other recipients included Amy McFarland (hockey), Heather Campbell (rowing), Ian Chisholm (swimming) and Jessica Morrow (karate).

Burnett at centre of betting scandal

JAMIE BURNETT has denied any wrongdoing after being placed at the centre of a betting scandal at the UK Snooker Championship in Telford yesterday.

Earlier in the day, bookmakers suspended activity on Burnett's first-round match against Stephen Maguire after a flurry of bets were placed on a 9-3 scoreline in the latter's favour. That proved the final score after Burnett missed a black in the 12th frame which would have pulled it back to 8-4.

The bets had been placed after Maguire opened up a 6-2 overnight lead and Burnett admitted the pressure had got to him.

The two players, who occasionally practice together, said they had heard rumours of heavy betting on the match but both strongly denied any complicity in fixing the score.

Suzuki pull plug on world rally

SUZUKI yesterday announced they were pulling out of the World Rally Championship due to the worldwide economic crisis. The Japanese company, who only joined the championship in 2008 after several successful seasons in the junior category have decided to maximise funds for "core business functions".

Rival Japanese manufacturer Honda announced earlier this month that they were pulling out of Formula One.

Galvin returns for Kildare

KIERAN McGEENEY has named his Kildare panel for the upcoming O'Byrne Cup, adding eight names to the group that brought the Lilywhites to an unlikely All-Ireland quarter-final last August.

Ross Glavin is the best known of the newcomers, having played in the Leinster championship for the Lilywhites under Pádraig Nolan in 2004 and 2005. He has been a leading light for Moorefield in recent years and holds provincial medals with both the club (2006) and the Kildare U-21s (2004). A versatile performer, the army man can operate in defence, midfield or attack.

Mark OSullivan is an exciting attacking option. Used as an impact substitiute by Glenn Ryan as Kildare reached the All-Ireland under-21 final this year. The other newcomers inlude Shane McCormack a clubmate of John Doyle's at Allenwood, Mick Kenny (St Kevin's), Eoin O'Toole (Milltown), Robert Kenny (Straffan), Paul Cornish (Round Towers) and Philip Hennessy (Ellistown).