Sports Digest

HOCKEY: Although Three Rock Rovers accepted the festive generosity of two penalty strokes, they deserved their 4-2 victory over the habitual holders, Glenanne, in an exhilarating Neville Cup final at Serpentine Avenue yesterday.

Rejuvenated Rovers darted into an eager start in quest of their first senior trophy since winning the Mills Cup in 1997. Phelie Maguire sliced through at an early stage to force Ian Clarke into yielding a stroke for Peter McConnell to convert neatly.

Glenanne responded with a precisely engineered short-corner switch by Paul Fitzpatrick to Graham Shaw but Christian Judd restored Three Rock's lead following a swift zigzag thrust by Peter Blakeney and Garry Ringwood.

In the first raid of the second half, Judd made it 3-1 after his initial short-corner shot had come back off a post. Typically, though, Glenanne rallied strongly for Devin Kehoe to get the finishing touch to another smartly worked set piece. Then, it seemed that an equaliser was forthcoming with Shaw exerting stormy pressure until he incurred a yellow card.

With Ross Harris to the fore, Rovers survived the offensive and counter attacked menacingly through Ringwood to be awarded a second penalty for a half-hit shot that appeared to be off the target when hitting a defender's foot. McConnell, standing in as captain for the fast recovering Alan Bothwell, completed the execution from the spot.

So, it's one up for Three Rock after the first half of the season but their league leadership may yet be threatened by Glenanne in defence of the title.

THREE ROCK ROVERS : W Armstrong; M Henderson, N Denham, R Harris, G Lindsay; P Maguire, P McConnell (capt), G Dowling (S Bredin); C Judd, P Blakeney (G Ringwood), C Carroll.

GLENANNE: I Clarke; D Shaw, J Brennan, P Fitzpatrick, C Murphy; G Shaw, A Browne (capt), D Kehoe; R Billings, J Goulding, A Goulding. Sub: E O' Malley.

BOXING: Wayne McCullough will finally take on Scott Harrison for the WBO featherweight title next spring. After weeks of speculation, the bout has been confirmed for March 22nd.

The venue for the long-awaited clash has yet to be revealed but a meeting on Harrison's home ground in Scotland is expected.

McCullough made a winning return to British boxing in September by beating Johannes Maisa after a seven-year absence and a two-year dispute with the British Boxing Board of Control following the discovery of a cyst on his brain.

CYCLING: Irish cyclists have a chance to stretch their legs after Christmas this Sunday with the hosting of the "Rás an Turcaí" event in Carraroe, Co Galway. Seán Kelly, the 2001 winner, former world junior champion Mark Scanlon, US circuit professionals Ciarán Power and David O'Loughlin, plus the double FBD Milk Rás champion Philip Cassidy are all expected to turn out for the race.

Sponsored by a number of backers including Red Bull, Raidio na Gaeltachta and Telegael, who will screen highlights, the contest will take place on a seven-mile course with the riders to complete six laps. The first three of these will be neutralised in order to encourage cyclists of all levels to join in.

The Galway inter-county football players Seán Óg de Paor and Seán Ó Dómhnaill are also expected to line out.

Further information is available by ringing 091 503147.

ATHLETICS: Illness has forced Ethiopia's former World 10,000 metres champion Gete Wami to withdraw from the Great North Cross Country on January 4th. The absence of this year's Amsterdam marathon champion leaves fellow Ethiopian Tulu the task of taming Paula Radcliffe in the six kilometres race taking place in Newcastle's Exhibition Park.

"Gete's been sick for the last couple of weeks and done no training whatsoever," said Dutch agent Michel Boateng. "

Boateng also confirmed Wami would miss the Belfast International Cross Country on January 11th where she was the biggest name for the Ulster race at Stormont Castle.

TENNIS: Greg Rusedski has ruled himself out of Britain's Davis Cup tie against Australia in February.

Rusedski is recovering from foot surgery and plans to play in Doha in the first week of January before deciding if he is fit enough to play in the Australian Open which starts on January 13th.

But he has already informed captain Roger Taylor he will not play in the World Group first-round tie in Sydney from February 7th-9th. ,

Britain have not won a World Group tie in the competition since 1986 and defeat in Sydney would condemn them to yet another relegation play-off.

GAELIC GAMES: Down manager Paddy O'Rourke has included 12 newcomers in his 36-strong panel for the forthcoming Dr McKenna Cup and National Football League campaigns.

DOWN PANEL: Brendan McVeigh, John Clarke, John Lavery (An Riocht), John Fegan (Annaclone), Ronan Murtagh (Ballyholland), Peter Travers, Bran Burns, Colm Kearney, Shane King (Bryansford), Daniel and James McCartan, Ciaran Byrne, Shane Ward (Burren), Adrian Scullion, Chris O'Neill (Carryduff), Mickey McVeigh, Gregory McCartan, Bernard McAleenan (Castlewellan), Shane Ward (Clonduff), Declan Sheerin (Drumgath), Anthony Devlin (Kilcoo), Patrick Pearse McCartan, Liam Doyle, Aidan O'Prey, Colm McCrickard (Liatroim), Michael Higgins (Longstone), Dan Gordon, Alan Molloy, Brendan Ward (Loughinisland), Brendan Coulter, Brendan Grant, Glen McMahon, Ronan Sexton, Declan Rooney, Michael Walsh (Mayobridge), Martin Cole (Rostrevor).