SPORTS DIGEST:TENNIS: Serbia's Novak Djokovic crushed Nikolay Davydenko 6-1 7-5 to win the Masters Cup yesterday, underlining his credentials as a major challenger to Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer at the top.
The Australian Open champion, who lost all his matches without winning a set on his debut at the season- ending shoot-out last year, earned just under €1 million to move to within 10 ranking points of world number two Federer.
Railway stretch their advantage
HOCKEY: After the Leinster branch agreed to the postponement of the Hermes v Loreto and Old Alexandra v UCD games, due to the unavailability of international players, Railway Union went in to the weekend as the only top-five first division side in action, writes Mary Hannigan.
They duly stretched their lead at the top of the table, but were made to work hard for their three points by division one newcomers Bray.
Both goalkeepers - Railway's Helen Stevenson and Bray's Mary Goode - excelled, but Sinead Walsh finally broke the deadlock for the home team early in the second half, a goal that proved enough to take the points.
While Railway have now played an extra game, they have a seven-point cushion over Loreto in second place, with another point to spare over Hermes and UCD.
Tigers through
BASKETBALL: Tralee Tigers and DCU Saints have booked their place in the last eight of the Men's SuperLeague National Cup, while Dart Killester's unblemished run in the Superleague continued at home to UCD/Marian.
A Kieran Donaghy-inspired Tigers beat Ulster Elks 104-94, while DCU Saints atoned for their defeat to Limerick Lions in the league by knocking them out of the cup.
Portora, Commercial and UCD enjoy Neptune Head
ROWING: UCD, Portora and Commercial all came away with something to savour from a remarkable Neptune Head of the River at Blessington on Saturday, reports Liam Gorman.
This was the biggest Neptune Head - 185 boats took part in the first of the two time-trials - and conditions were close to perfect.
The green shoots of recovery are clearly showing for the host club, whose two men's senior eights were first off in both heads, but UCD felt they should have had this honour, and duly made their point by having the fastest two crews of the day.
They won the first head through an eight which contained Seán Jacob and Eoghan Hannigan of Old Collegians.
UCD's young guns then topped this by becoming the only crew to break 12 minutes as they won the second head.
Two junior eights provided talking points. Commercial's women's crew was in the top 20 in the first head, clocking 14 minutes 14 seconds, and Portora's boys won their category with a fine performance in the second head, and their girls went on to just better Commercial's time in the later head.
Young Offaly man Rory O'Connor took hold of the new season in impressive style to the win the senior single scull - a lean-looking Sam Lynch trailing in 12 seconds behind him. But, ever the fighter, Lynch teamed up with younger brother Hughie to win the senior double scull by a big margin.
McCann fourth
CYCLING: David McCann continues to ride strongly in the Tour of Hainan, going close to a stage win on Saturday and then retaining his fourth place overall yesterday, writes Shane Stokes.
The Belfast rider finished 38th in the main bunch yesterday and remains 43 seconds behind Boris Shpilevsky of Russia.
The race gets tougher before Wednesday's finish, and McCann has promised to attack on the climbs in an effort to grab the race lead.
Ireland in eighth
BOXING: IRELAND and England finished in joint eighth in the medals and rankings tables at the European Senior Championships which concluded in Liverpool with 11 finals on Saturday.
Ireland's Eamon O'Kane, John Joe Joyce and Ross Hickey all took bronze medals from the 40-nation tournament. The hat-trick of medal wins takes Ireland's tally to 36 since Jimmy Ingle and Paddy Dowdall won double gold at the 1939 European Senior Championships in Dublin.
Lennon is best
EQUESTRIAN: Irish riders dominated yesterday evening's Grand Prix at Towerlands, with the former world champion Dermott Lennon coming out on top on Woods Rosbotham's eight-year- old gelding Hallmark Elite, writes Margie McLoone.
Britain's Guy Williams was second. Cheshire-based Irish rider Anthony Condon took third with Goldex having finished sixth in the earlier jump-off class on Whinny Jackson.
Cork secure seven All Star awards
WOMEN'S FOOTBALL: Cork dominated the O'Neills/TG4 awards with seven All Stars at a banquet at the Citywest Hotel.
The senior finalists - All-Ireland champions Cork and Monaghan - had already secured 20 All Star nominations between them and the Ulster champions were also rewarded for their outstanding displays, securing four All Stars.
Intermediate champions Tipp picked up one All Star, in the form of Edel Hanley, while Michaela Downey landed her first award for Down.
Cumann Peil Gael na mBán also announced that in January the All Stars would travel to Dubai to play an exhibition match.
2008 All Stars: Elaine Harte(Cork); Sharon Courtney(Monaghan), Angela Walsh(Cork), Linda Barrett(Cork); Briege Corkery(Cork), Brid Stack(Cork), Neamh Woods(Tyrone); Amanda Casey(Monaghan), Juliet Murphy(Cork); Michaela Downey(Down), Niamh Kindlon(Monaghan), Nollaig Cleary(Cork); Edel Hanley(Tipperary), Cora Staunton(Mayo), Edel Byrne(Monaghan).
Three Rock Rovers take top spot
HOCKEY: Despite their injury woes, defending champions Three Rock Rovers went to the top of the Leinster first division table on Saturday by beating former leaders Fingal, with Pembroke Wanderers and Glenanne keeping pace in the title race by defeating Kilkenny and YMCA, respectively, writes Mary Hannigan.
The prolific Peter Blakeney gave Three Rock a first-half lead, but Mick McGuinness brought the home side level soon after the break with a goal from a short corner. Patrick Shanahan, though, clinched the points for Three Rock with the winner midway through the second half, lifting them two points clear of the chasing pack.
Ultimately Glenanne had a comfortable enough victory over YMCA, but they had to come from a goal down after Jacob Webber scored five minutes into the game, a lead they held until just before half-time when Richie Shaw equalised. Goals from Graham Shaw, Stephen Butler and Shane O'Donoghue clinched it.
