Today's other stories in brief
Byrne, Travers for Worlds
ATHLETICS:Ireland will have just two representatives at the World Cross Country Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, on March 28th after Athletics Ireland yesterday announced Linda Byrne of Dundrum South Dublin AC for the senior women's race and John Travers of Donore Harriers AC for the junior race.
Senior men’s champion Mark Kenneally of Clonliffe Harriers declined his place on the team as he is focusing his efforts on preparation for the European Championships in Barcelona in July.
Byrne is thus the sole senior representative, but is in good form after her solo winning show at the National Cross Country earlier this month.
Travers was equally convincing in winning the junior title, and last Saturday also added the Irish Schools title to his increasing list of honours.
McCann retains lead in Taiwan
CYCLING: Winner of the opening stage on Sunday, David McCann successfully defended his race lead on yesterday's second stage of the Tour of Taiwan.
Miyataka Shimizu took a bunch sprint victory ahead of Kam-Po Wong, while McCann finished 23rd.
He crossed the line in the same time as Shimizu and remains 11 seconds clear.
Reports of Tiger's return prove to be premature
GOLF:Despite the sightings of Tiger Woods on the range with his coach, Hank Haney, and despite the speculation that PGA commissioner Tim Finchem might shed some light on the world number one's return to action after calling a teleconference for last evening, there is – as yet – no confirmation of when he will be back, writes Philip Reid.
Maybe it will be next week’s Tavistock Cup. Maybe it will be the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Maybe it will be the US Masters.
Finchem, though, claimed not to know when or where it would happen. Rather than heralding the return of the Tiger, the teleconference merely announced the extension of a title sponsor to the San Diego Open until 2014.
As for when Woods would reappear, all Finchem divulged was that, “Tiger has indicated to us he will give us reasonable notice because we have some preparation to do. But I don’t have the specific date on when he will come back and I can only assume all the speculation about late March and early April, if he is going to start back then, we will know soon.”
If Woods intends to return for next week’s tournament in Bay Hill, he has until next Friday to inform the PGA Tour.
Quick goals see Kilkenny CBS go on
GAELIC GAMES: Two goals in three second-half minutes helped Kilkenny CBS get the better of Thurles CBS by 3-15 to 2-8 and book their place in the All-Ireland Colleges senior hurling A semi-finals.
Having taken a two-point lead into the second half (0-10 to 1-5), the Kilkenny side were stunned four minutes after the restart when Tommy Doyle’s speculative shot dropped under the crossbar, handing Thurles the initiative once more.
However, within 60 seconds they were back in front. Cathal Kenny’s pointed effort clattered off the crossbar and dropped into the square, where Peter Vickery pounced to scramble the ball home.
Two minutes later the city side hit the net again. Brian Kennedy reacted quickest to a teasing ball from Ollie Walsh, squeezing between goalkeeper Jimmy Maher and corner-back James Bourke before taking possession and finishing to an empty net.
Kilkenny had looked out of sorts at the start – they hit an alarming 12 wides in the opening 30 minutes – and looked to be in trouble at the end of the first quarter.
Thurles made a bright start, reinforced when full forward Aidan Stakelum lost his man and flicked a dropping ball past goalkeeper Eddie Burke on 12 minutes.
Trailing by four points (1-4 to 0-3) after 16 minutes, the Kilkenny school quickly took control. Captain Richie Doyle and Stephen Farrell picked off two points each from placed balls, while Cathal Kenny grabbed two from play.
KILKENNY CBS: E Burke; J Lynch, A Forristal, P Moore; O McGrath, R Doyle (0-2, 65, 1f), G Gaule; M Holohan, Conor Kenny; O Walsh (0-1), Cathal Kenny (0-4), M Clifford (0-1); B Kennedy (1-1), S Farrell (0-6, f), P Vickery (2-0).
THURLES CBS: J Maher; S Maher, C Carroll, J Bourke; P Dunne, D Maher, J Meagher; C Barrett, G O’Connell; P Looby, A McCormack (0-3, 2f), T Doyle (1-0); M O’Brien (0-4, 3f), A Stakelum (1-0), P Ralph. Subs: C Hammersly (0-1) for O’Connell (h-t); D Corbett for Dunne; A Power for McCormack; J Bergin for Ralph (all 60 mins).
Referee: B Gavin (Offaly).
