SPORTS DIGEST/ Athletics: Sonia O'Sullivan looks certain of fulfilling her ambition of running in the Commonwealth Games for Australia, writes Ian O'Riordan. The Commonwealth Games Federation have approved her application to take part, along with former Nigerian sprinter Ambrose Ezenwa, and she'll now run over 5,000 metres in Saturday's Australian trials to try to book her place on the team.
The federation decided their rules did not prevent either athlete from representing Australia, although it would be different if it were the Olympic Games or World championships. Commonwealth regulations require only a passport for representation, and O'Sullivan was granted her Australian citizenship last week in an Australia Day ceremony.
Her appearance for Australia will in no way affect her Irish eligibility, and O'Sullivan in fact intends to compete in the European Championships in Gothenburg next August. Nor will she be the first Irish athlete to run in the Commonwealth Games, as several others have competed for Northern Ireland.
Yet she still needs to finish in the top-three in this weekend's trials to ensure her selection, before the Games take place next month at the Melbourne Cricket Ground close to her home. On current form she shouldn't have too much trouble beating the best of the Australians.
Ezenwa, meanwhile, has lived in Australia for the past five years and was also granted his citizenship recently. He is now one of the favourites to make the team in the 100 metres.
Doherty hits form
SNOOKER: Former world champion Ken Doherty won a high-quality, all-Irish battle to secure a place in the second round of the Malta Cup.
The Dubliner compiled two century breaks as he defeated Belfast's Joe Swail 5-3.
Doherty (36), had lost to Swail in this season's Grand Prix, and in the final of the Irish Championship.
"It was nice to get one over on Joe, because he's had the better of our meetings lately," said Doherty. "I knew it would be tough because he's having a really good season.
"It hurt when he beat me in the Irish final, but I don't look at this as revenge because he's such a good friend."
Ireland make hard work of warm-up
CRICKET Ireland managed to defeat Scotland in their first warm-up match for the Under-19 World Cup in Colombo yesterday, but they made hard work of it, writes James Fitzgerald in Colombo.
Cruising at 188 for 2 and with plenty of time to spare as they closed in on the Scots' score of 252 off 50 overs, the Irish youngsters then managed to lose six wickets for just 52 runs, giving Scotland a sniff of victory.
But an assured 28 not out from Cliftonville batsman Richard Stirling saw the team home with just two wickets and five balls to spare.
Earlier, Stirling's club-mate Gareth McKee and Fintan McAllister of Rush put on 132 for the first wicket to give the Irish the perfect start. The barrel-chested McKee was in particularly fine form, hitting 65 quick runs that included 10 fours and two sixes, while the more watchful McAllister bided his time at the other end.
Earlier, in hot and humid conditions, Ireland's fast bowlers toiled hard, with Neil Gill hitting a nice line, picking up two wickets.
The pick of the Irish attack, however, was off-spinner Andrew Poynter, who took two crucial wickets for just 27 runs.
Today Ireland take on Uganda in their final warm-up match. They will then have two days off before their first match in the tournament proper against Zimbabwe on Sunday. With their bowlers conceding 30 wides and fielders making several errors yesterday, there is still plenty of work for them to do before then.
