SPORTS DIGEST: BASKETBALL: UL Eagles head coach Mark Keenan insists his team won't be resting on their laurels as they prepare to return to action in the SuperLeague following their National Cup success last Friday.
The Eagles’ 72-65 win over a fancied UCC Demons saw them lift the Men’s SuperLeague National Cup for the first time since 2002.
“We will need to bring ourselves back down to earth very quickly after our cup success over UCC Demons and refocus our attention now on Moycullen,” said Keenan.
The beaten finalists face a stern test at home to DCU Saints. UCD Marian travel to Bord Gáis Neptune, while Belfast Star host 11890 Killester.
UL’s women’s team, who also won the cup last weekend, return to league action and will take on Munster rivals Singleton’s SuperValu Brunell as they look for a 29th straight victory.
Kelly encouraged by ‘strongest team ever’
CYCLING: Speaking about the 2012 lineup at yesterday's team launch in Tielt, Belgium, Seán Kelly said the An Post Grant Thornton Seán Kelly team was heading into the season in a very encouraging way, writes Shane Stokes.
“On paper, we have our strongest team ever, although you do have to turn that into results,” he said. “But I’m happy with the way things are going.”
The squad has 18 riders for 2011, of which five are Irish. Former European junior track champion Sam Bennett remains on board, as do Connor McConvey, Ronan McLaughlin and Mark Cassidy. Seán Downey has signed up and, at 21, is a promising talent.
The team has 13 foreign riders, among them the 2011 An Post Rás winner Gediminas Bagdonas and the former Belgian road race champion Niko Eeckhout. The team has invites to some big races, including next week’s Volta ao Algarve.
Kelly said that a move up to Pro Continental level was an ambition for the squad.
Khan anxious for quick rematch
BOXING:Amir Khan is optimistic his rematch against Lamont Peterson will be confirmed soon.
The WBA last month confirmed they wanted Peterson to defend their light- welterweight crown against Khan after he defeated the Englishman to win the WBA and IBF titles on December 10th.
Khan said: “I’ve sent a contract to Lamont Peterson and hopefully he can sign it and we can get the fight on.”
O’Connor tops table at Palm Beach
EQUESTRIAN:As the Winter Equestrian Festival in Palm Beach enters its fifth weekend, Ireland's Cian O'Connor tops the rider table at the three-star show where yesterday he was to jump three of his horses in a bid to qualify for Saturday's $125,000 World Cup class.
O’Connor has been in Florida for a month, competing alongside US-based Irish riders Kevin Babington, Darragh Kerins and Shane Sweetnam.
Sweetman fared best in Wednesday’s main classes, finishing second and third in the two-speed competitions.
Co Louth’s Mark McAuley is competing in the under-25 classes at Mannerbio in Italy this weekend while dressage rider Judy Reynolds continues her Spanish campaign at Vejer de la Frontera.
At home, 33 combinations have been declared for the first leg of the Horse Sport Ireland/Bluegrass Spring tour which takes place at Kildare International on Sunday.
