SPORTS DIGEST

Other sports news in brief

Roche, Deignan and O'Loughlin for Beijing 

CYCLING:Ireland's two-man team for the Olympic road race in Beijing on August 9th will comprise Nicolas Roche and Philip Deignan while David O'Loughlin looks likely to contest the individual pursuit following confirmation that Ireland have been allocated a spot in that event.

The only two Irish pros to ply their trade at cycling's highest level, Roche and Deignan will line up for the 168km road race. Roche will follow in the footsteps of his father, Stephen, who represented Ireland at the Moscow Olympics in 1980 before going on to become a legend in the professional ranks.

Both 24-year-olds have plenty of experience and have ridden together on numerous Irish teams at world championship level.

Donald, Poulter to miss Munich

GOLF;Ryder Cup hopefuls Luke Donald and Ian Poulter have both pulled out of this week's BMW International in Munich because of the wrist injuries they suffered at the US Open.

Lying joint 23rd after 14 holes of the final round on Sunday, Donald called for medical attention, but after having his left wrist strapped, he decided not to continue.

His brother and caddie Christian said: "He had a problem with it all week. It had been feeling sore right from the start and when he teed off on the 15th tee he just felt something go, something pop."

Poulter will also be hoping to return at next week's French Open after quitting 15 holes into his second round at Torrey Pines.

The 32-year-old was 14 over par when he had to withdraw, having moved the ball just a few feet from Torrey's thick rough three holes earlier.

Nevin only Irish semi-finalist

SWIMMING:There was triple disappointment for Irish boxers at the European Union Championships in Poland last night after Jamie Conlon, John Joe Joyce and Willie McLoughlin all bowed out at the quarter-final stage.

Conlon was beaten 21-15 by Asloun Redouane of France in a keenly contested flyweight clash and Donegal welterweight McLoughlin lost out to Poland's Mariusz Coperski despite an impressive display. Joyce, who has qualified for the Olympics, suffered a 23-7 reversal to Hungarian light welterweight Gyula Kate.

Earlier another Olympian John Joe Nevin progressed to the semi finals following an 17-8 quarter final win over Danish bantamweight Dennis Ceylan.

Caldwell makes it to matchplay

GOLF:Irish Walker Cup player Jonathan Caldwell secured his place in the matchplay stages of the British Amateur Championship at a windy Turnberry yesterday.

The 23-year-old from Clandeboye mastered the testing conditions over the Ailsa course and battled to a one-over 71 for a three-under aggregate of 140 to be runner-up in qualifying.

McCarthy replaces injured Chamney

ATHLETICS:There are several changes to the men's and women's teams for this weekend's European Cup, writes Ian O'Riordan. The men's team, who compete in division two in Estonia, have called up David McCarthy in the 800 metres to replace the injured Thomas Chamney, while Ian McDonald replaces Peter Coghlan in the 110-metre hurdles.

Ciarán Ó Lionáird is rewarded for some impressive performances as he takes his place in the 5,000 metres, while Tom Carey is named in the 400-metre hurdles.

Chris Crowley comes into the long jump, and Patrick Phelan into the 4x100m relay.

The women's team compete in division one in Portugal and have added Amy Foster for the 200 metres. Claire Wilkinson replaces Zoe Brown in the pole vault.

Injury forces Sorenson out

CRICKET:A cruel stroke of ill-luck deprived Louk Sorensen of an opportunity of qualifying for the main draw of the Wimbledon Championships.

Last night at Roehampton in the second round of the All-England qualifying series, Sorensen was forced to retire with a stomach muscle injury when trailing 1-3 in the final set against his French opponent Edouard Roger-Vassellin.

However, the 284th-ranked Irish number one was a set up and leading 2-0 in the second set, when he pulled a muscle when serving. And eventually he had no option but to concede the match and hand victory to his 153rd-ranked opponent on a 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 3-1 scoreline.

"It was a pity that Louk was forced to retire as he was playing very well," said his father Sean, the current Ireland Davis Cup manager.