SPORTS DIGEST

Stage win for Bertolini -  CYCLING:Italys Alessandro Bertolini of the Diquigiovanni team won the 11th stage of the Giro d'Italia yesterday.

Bertolini was part of the breakaway that characterised the hilly stage from Urbania to Cesena.

He sprinted away to win alone when compatriot Fortunato Baliani crashed 750 metres from the finish.

Spain's Pablo Lastras Garcia finished five seconds behind and Baliani was third at 16 seconds.

Italys Giovanni Visconti of the Quick Step team was one of many riders who crashed in the rain but he retained the overall race lead.

Magee for Beijing

BADMINTON:Donegal's Chloe Magee is on her way to the Beijing Olympics after Badminton Ireland this week confirmed they asked for her inclusion on the Irish Olympic team.

The 19-year-old Raphoe girl, who is based in Sweden, obtained the call due to her 25th place in the European rankings, and the fact she is currently ranked 65 in the world.

"Olympic qualification is what I always have been aiming for," she said yesterday. "I got a call from Badminton Ireland on Monday and they told me that I had made the standard and just have to wait on official confirmation."

Badminton Ireland had to ensure that Magee reached the qualifying standards and they then routinely request the Olympic Council of Ireland to formally confirm her selection.

McAllister's debut

CRICKET:Rush wicketkeeper Fintan McAllister will make his Ireland senior debut in Sunday's Friends Provident Trophy tie away to Warwickshire after being called up by coach Phil Simmons.

The 21-year-old left-hander takes the place of Gary Wilson, who is required by Surrey this weekend.

IRELAND (Squad for FP Trophy games v Warwickshire, Edgbaston, Sunday and Nottinghamshire, Trent Bridge, Monday) W Porterfield (Gloucestershire, Capt), A Cusack (Clontarf), P Eaglestone (Strabane), T Fourie (Railway Union), J Hall (Waringstown), G Kidd (Waringstown), F McAllister (Rush, wkts), K McCallan (Waringstown), K O'Brien (Railway Union), R Rampaul (Overseas), P Stirling (Cliftonville), R Strydom (North County), A White (Instonians).