SPORTS DIGEST:GOLF: Pádraig Harrington will make his first appearance in the European Tour's flagship BMW PGA Championship for three years at Wentworth from May 20th-23rd.
The announcement was made after Harrington finally managed to practise on the new-look West Course yesterday after being forced to change his plans last week.
“I’m very impressed with the changes that have been made and in particular I’m happy to see the way that the greens are now putting,” said the three-time major winner.
“I really want to win the BMW PGA Championship and look forward to coming back. Once I heard that they were going to remodel the greens, I said that when that happens I’ll be one of the first there.”
Coláiste Éanna claim title
GAELIC GAMES: Coláiste Éanna 3-14 Coláiste Eoin 1-16
Coláiste Éanna came from behind to defeat Coláiste Eoin and claim the Dublin Schools’ Hurling A title at O’Toole Park yesterday. Three second-half goals were crucial as the Ballyroan boys recovered from trailing 1-8 to 0-7 at the break. Impressive scoring displays from Mark Schutte and Seán Mac Craith added to corner forward Marc Ó Duibhur’s early goal.
But Naoise Maguire caught goalkeeper Seán Ó Gairbhith flat-footed from the second-half throw-in. Substitute Alan Flood pounced for a goal and a sideline cut from Finnian McDonagh saw them two points ahead with 10 minutes remaining. John Breen sealed the victory with a well taken goal from a McDonagh sideline ball.
Coláiste Eanna: J Breen (1-3), F McDonagh (0-3), A Flood, N Maguire (1-0 each), C Moffat (2f), N Ryan, R Cleary 0-2 each, F Furey, G Corrigan 0-1 each.
Coláiste Eoin: S Mac Craith 0-8 (1 pen, 4f, 1 '65), M Schutte (0-4), A Ó Murchú (0-3), S Ó Móráin (0-1).
Revamped format gets under way
CRICKET:The first season of the new decade gets underway in Leinster today, with a revamped format that sees teams line up in 13 divisions as opposed to the old grade structure, writes Emmet Riordan.
The axing of the 45-over competition means the eight teams in Division One and Two are straight down to league action, with little time for dusting off the winter cobwebs. Defending champions Clontarf get their Division One campaign underway today when last year’s runners-up, Railway Union, make the trip to Castle Avenue.
The international venue proved far from a fortress for the side last year, with two of their three league losses coming at the ground.
Australian all-rounder Rod Hokin is back in Dublin 3 for another summer, while Jordan Coghlan could prove the pick of a fine group of young cricketers that should keep the side challenging for top spot.
Railway have been boosted by the arrival of Ireland Under-19 all-rounder Graham McDonnell from neighbours Pembroke but will have to do without senior internationals Trent Johnston and Kevin O’Brien for the early games of the season.
Irish play first game on Wednesday
HOCKEY:The International Hockey Federation has announced the revised match schedule for the World Cup Qualifier in Chile, writes Mary Hannigan.
The tournament will still finish on Sunday week but it is now a round robin event, with the winners of the group taking the sole qualifying spot for August’s finals in Argentina.
Ireland, who were due to open the tournament against Scotland today, will now play their first match against Malaysia on Wednesday, followed by Scotland on Thursday, Chile on Saturday and Australia on Sunday. Half the Irish squad is flying out to Santiago today, the second half leaving tomorrow and arriving on Monday morning.
