A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Jayawardene stars for Sri Lanka
CRICKET: An imperious century from Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene frustrated England on a finely-balanced opening day of the first Test in Galle.
James Anderson had earlier become the sixth English man to take 250 Test wickets as the hosts slipped to 67 for four, but captain Jayawardene’s 30th hundred led his side to 289 for eight at stumps.
His knock of 168 not out contained 20 fours and three sixes but he should have been gone by the close, Anderson putting him down on 90 and Monty Panesar adding two woeful drops in the closing stages.
Tipperary do U-turn on selectors and instead appoint Creedon
GAELIC GAMES: Tipperary have agreed the appointment of Peter Creedon as their new senior football manager despite originally suggesting the existing selectors would serve until the end of the league, writes Ian O’Riordan.
Creedon, the Cork native and former Tipperary minor and under-21 manager, has been identified as the replacement for John Evans, who stepped down earlier this month.
Creedon himself has identified Gerry McGill, manager of the Dublin ladies senior football team that captured the 2010 All-Ireland title, as one of his selectors, along with coach Michael O’Loughlin.
Tipperary are already regulated from Division Three, but drew with leaders Longford last Saturday night.
After that game the existing selectors Tom Twomey, Joe Shiels and Brian Burke were told their services were no longer required.
Investigation into incident launched
GAELIC GAMES: Croke Park officials have begun an investigation into the incident that left a young Laois hurler seriously injured last Saturday. Shane Cleere was playing for St Fergal’s College, Rathdowney, in the All-Ireland Vocational Schools senior hurling A semi-final against Nenagh VS of Tipperary when an opponent allegedly struck him in the second half.
Cleere, from the Rathdowney- Erril GAA club, was still undergoing tests on suspected kidney damage yesterday and school sources indicated that the player’s parents remain extremely upset and are not prepared to comment on the situation at this point in time.
Cleere was attended to on the pitch for some 40 minutes before an ambulance arrived at Templetuohy GAA club to ferry him to hospital
in Clonmel. The full forward lay on the pitch until the ambulance and comforted by three nurses, including his mother, who were spectators at the game.
Medics administered oxygen and pain relief when they arrived before the match was abandoned by Offaly referee Tony Carroll. Cleere has been detained in hospital ever since.
A spokesman for the GAA’s Post-Primary Schools Council confirmed last night that “the fixture will be replayed in due course”. As a result, the All-Ireland Vocational Schools senior hurling A final, which had been fixed for Semple Stadium next Saturday, has been postponed.
Referees seeking fiscal assurances
GAELIC GAMES: The concerns last month that GAA referees could be targeted by more stringent expenses guidelines has surfaced again, writes Ian O’Riordan.
This time in Tipperary, with the first round of Tipperary’s north senior hurling championship over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend under threat as referees in the division consider a withdrawal of services.
Referees in the division are reportedly seeking assurances from county board officials by the weekend on how they will be paid this year, with specific clarification on tax- and social welfare-related issues.
