SPORTS DIGEST:Monaghan defeated Cork 1-13 to 2-7 to deny the latter the five-in-a-row with an outstanding second-half display in the Division One football final at Parnell Park on Saturday.
Claiming their first league title since 1999, Monaghan dominated the second period but were kept on the edge of their seats when Nollaig Cleary goaled for Cork with 10 minutes remaining and Valerie Mulcahy stroked home a penalty after a foul on Juliet Murphy to reduce the deficit to three points.
But the superb Cathriona McConnell stepped up with the late point to seal the win.
Smith makes progress to last 16
Ireland’s Ceire Smith progressed to the last-16 of the AIBA World Women’s Championships and Olympic qualifiers after claiming her second win in two days at the Olympic Stadium in Qinhuangdao, China, yesterday.
The Cavan BC flyweight, who stopped Veglina Svetlana of Tajikistan on Saturday, hammered out a 12-4 decision over Jamaican puncher Sarah-Joy Rae on Sunday and will meet Polish fourth seed Anna Michalczuk tomorrow.
Katie Taylor, who is aiming for her fourth World title in-a-row, is in action early this morning against Tunisia’s Rim Jouini.
North County sum up Leinster intent
Leinster clubs made a strong statement of their intent to win back the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup, with all eight Division One sides making it through to the second round of the competition.
Five-time winners North County best summed up the will to win when they came back from losing their first four wickets for just four runs in reply to Creevedonnell’s score of 159.
But an unbeaten 78 from Ireland international John Mooney and 60 from Ciaran Garry earned them a three-wicket away victory.
The second round will see three all-Leinster clashes.
Federer equals Nadal’s record
Roger Federer matched Rafa Nadal’s record of 20 Masters titles when he fought back from a set down to beat Tomas Berdych 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 in the Madrid Open final yesterday to secure his fourth title of the season.
Having lost the first set, Federer responded with two breaks of serve to level before a couple of double faults from Berdych put Federer 5-3 ahead in the decider but the 16-times Grand Slam champion faltered when serving for the match. However, he conjured another break to convert his fourth match point.
Lavery wins Shay Elliott Memorial
Philip Lavery soloed to victory in the Shay Elliott Memorial in Wicklow yesterday. The Node4 Girodana rider broke clear early on with Damien Shaw (Lakeside), Adam Armstrong (Eurocycles) and the junior competitor Ryan Mullen (Planet X). Lavery attacked alone on the climb of Glenmalure and raced on towards the finish.
Wendy Houvenaghel (Ricci Chain) was quickest in the the women's Celtic Chrono in Stormont, covering the 22-mile course in 48 minutes 35.09 seconds. Mel Spath (Cycleways) was best of the Irish in ninth. – SHANE STOKES
Pozzovivo claims Giro d’Italia solo win
Italian climber Domenico Pozzovivo claimed an impressive solo win in yesterday’s mountainous finale at Lago Laceno, while Canada’s Ryder Hesjedal retained the overall lead. Cheered on by dozens of supporters waving his photos from his nearby home town of Policoro, the Colnago-CSF rider broke away 6.5 kilometres from the finish on the second-category Colle Molella climb.
Spain’s Benat Intxausti finished second, 23 seconds back, on the long, hot 229-km stage from Sulmona to Lago Laceno. Spain’s Joaquim Rodriguez led a group of 23 riders for third.
