Sports Digest

David Duval, who had planned to play next week's Smurfit European Open at The K Club, will now miss the event because of "scheduling difficulties".

GOLF: Confirming the former British Open winner's decision, a tournament spokesman acknowledged the player's decision was a disappointment.

"David was very keen to play and due to scheduling difficulties had to change his plans. We apologise to all those golf fans who were looking forward to seeing him in action, however he does hope to play the event in the future."

The spokesman confirmed that Nick Faldo, who had to pull out of last year's event through illness, will play this year.

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GOLF: Ireland scored a 6-3 victory over Scotland in the youths international at Cork yesterday. This was Ireland's sixth victory since the event was introduced in 1981.

Ireland got off to a great start by winning all three foursomes, and in the afternoon shared the six singles 3-3.

David Ryan (Grange) scored a fine 3 and 2 win over Martin Laird in the top singles, while Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge) beat Jack Doherty, the reigning Australian Amateur Open champion, 4 and 3.

Greg Bowden (Hermitage), who lost at the 24th hole in the semi-finals of the Irish Amateur Close Championship at Tramore, gained Ireland's third singles victory with a 2 and 1 win over Richard Ramsay.

Connor Doran (Banbridge) lost by one hole to Wallace Booth when he holed from 45 feet for a birdie three at the final hole.

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HOCKEY: After finding England a shade too accomplished in the six matches in Birmingham and Dublin over the past month, the Ireland men's team take on less demanding opposition in the four-nations tournament involving Austria, Switzerland and Russia in Vienna this week as the build-up continues for the European Championship in Barcelona in September.

There will be a useful test in today's opening game against Austria as to how the Irish squad will cope with torrid conditions as temperatures have exceeded 30 degrees in Vienna on recent afternoons.

IRELAND (squad): N Henderson (capt), W Bateman; P Brown, J Black, D Smyth, E Lutton, G Elliott, S Butler, K Burns, M Irwin, M Raphael, C Jackson, J Sherriff, G Shaw, D Hobbs, A Barbour, N Buttimer, J Jermyn. Coach: J Clarke; Assistant coach: Soma Singh; Stand-in manager: D Judge.

Today: v Austria, 4.0; Tomorrow: v Switzerland, 4.45; Saturday: v Russia, 3.0

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CYCLING: Former Junior Tour of Ireland winner Brian Ahern highlighted his good form in the last big contest before this Sunday's national road race championships, winning the Stephen Roche Classic in Meadowmount, Dundrum, last night.

Ahern is just back from three weeks racing in Belgium and showed his speed in the race, breaking clear on several occasions and securing the prize as the most aggressive rider. More importantly, he responded to a last lap attack by Scott McDonald, going with the Orwell rider and outsprinting him at the finish.