A round up of today's other sports stories in brief...
Taylor and O'Neill closer to gold
BOXING: Katie Taylor and Darren O'Neill are just one fight from claiming gold at the Ahmet Comert Cup in Turkey following impressive semi-final wins in Istanbul yesterday. Taylor, the world lightweight champion, beat the Chinese southpaw Niyxur Ting 8-0 and will meet England's Amanda Coulson in today's 63-kilo decider.
The Bray woman stopped Coulson on the 15-point rule in round two (19-4) in Waterford last year.
O'Neill, from the Paulstown club in Kilkenny, progressed to the 81-kilo final when his Iranian opponent Tuare Bahzani retired after three rounds. O'Neill had wobbled his man with body shots before Bahzani's corner retired their man on his stool.
He will meet another Iranian, Suair Mahdi, in today's final.
Donnelly hits top form in Donegal
MOTOR SPORT: Eugene Donnelly in a Skoda WRC was back on top form to lead the Topaz Donegal International Rally after yesterday's first six stages, writes Brian Foley.
Donnelly held a 12.4-second overnight lead over Gareth MacHale in a Ford Focus WRC as the competitors left Letterkenny this morning for a long day's rallying over the challenging classic stages of Co Donegal.
Global Tarmac Championship leader Eamonn Boland in a Subaru WRC was third, 9.4 seconds down on MacHale as he paced himself for more points to consilidate his series lead. Kevin Lynch held fourth in a Ford Focus WERC ahead of PJMcDermot in a Subaru WRC, with Kris Meeke a brilliant sixth in the little Renault Clio Super 1600 in front of several WRC cars and all the Group Ns.
The fancied Subaru WRC drivers Derek McGarrity, Tim McNulty and Patrick Elliott retired with various mechanical problems. McGarrity had held an early lead and McNulty was expected to mount a strong challenge for victory.
Trofimov puts climbing skills to winning effect
CYCLING: First-year professional Yury Trofimov of Russia yesterday surprised the race favourites with a fine mountain-stage win in the Dauphiné Libéré.
Part of an eight-man day-long early breakaway, the Bouygues Telecom rider shed his rivals one by one on the day's main climb, the 11.5-kilometre Joux-Plane.
Trofimov then soloed down to the fast descent to the finish in Morzine for his third win of 2008. Second was Cadel Evans of Australia, 18 seconds back, with race leader Alejandro Valverde in third.
"I was surprised but pleased at winning today." Trofimov, a former winner of the Mountain Bike World Championships at Under-23, said.
"My mountain-biking background definitely helped on the descent, it was very fast and technical."
Overall Valverde continues to lead, with Evans moving into second place, 37 seconds behind.
Third is the American Levi Leipheimer at 89 seconds.
The Dauphiné Libéré finishes tomorrow in Grenoble.
Celtics win puts title within reach
BASKETBALL: The Boston Celtics overcame a 20-point, second-half deficit to stun the Los Angeles Lakers, winning 97-91, and move to the brink of their record 17th NBA title.
Boston lead the best-of-seven series 3-1 and can wrap up the title tomorrow in Los Angeles.
The Lakers were cruising with a 70-50 lead before the Celtics roared back in the third quarter, trimming the deficit to two points.
Boston's 11-times All-Star forward Kevin Garnett scored four points during an 8-0 streak midway through the final quarter to ease the Celtics into an 88-83 lead with 2:12 left.
A lay-up by Kobe Bryant with 90 seconds left kept the Lakers in touch but a three-pointer from reserve James Posey on the ensuing possession made it 92-87.
Paul Pierce scored 20 points to lead a balanced scoring attack for the Celtics. Ray Allen scored 19, Posey 18 and Garnett 16.
