Sports Digest

A roundup of today's other sports news in brief

Ireland have chance of medal

GOLF:Ireland rose four places in the European Nations Championship pecking order in Sotogrande in Spain yesterday to give themselves an outside chance of a medal.

They started the day in 12th spot but returned three excellent cards on the third day to sweep into eighth, nine strokes outside the medal positions.

After three days with three cards counting on each day the Irish are on the 653 mark.

Rathmore’s Alan Dunbar led the revival with a near faultless 68, one of the competition’s lowest scores of the day.

Portstewart’s Paul Cutler also produced some splendid golf to fire a 71 while Limerick’s Irish Close champion Pat Murray weighed in with a 72.

Only Dara Lernihan struggled a little and his card of 74 was the non-counter.

SCORES: 622 England; 641 Italy; 644 Germany,Denmark and France; 653 Spain, Ireland (A Dunbar 68,P Cutler 71,P Murray 72. Non-counting D Lernihan 74), and Belgium; 656 Austria; 657 Finland; 658 Sweden; 660 Holland; 665 Scotland.

Ireland see off Scotland with second half brace

RUGBY: Ireland 15 Scotland 3

Ireland’s women finished their six nations campaign on a high note as they recorded back-to-back wins in Ashbourne last night.

Following on from their win over Wales a week ago, Ireland needed second half tries to see off the challenge of the visiting Scots team with fullback, Nicola Halfpenny, making her 50th appearance in the jersey. The opening exchanges saw little in terms of attacking play but Ireland were nonetheless the dominant team with Mary Louise Reilly and Sinead Ryan very prominent in the lineouts.

The Irish went in front on 37 minutes with drives from Joy Neville and Reilly setting up a penalty for Briggs before Halfpenny responded in kind at the other end to leave it 3-3 at the break.

However the second half was just four minutes old when Norah Stapleton squeezed over in the corner.

And Ireland kept their foot on the gas and following a clean lineout take by Reilly, Tania Rosser popped the ball out to Ryan for Ireland’s second try.

Scorers: Ireland: S Stapleton, S Ryan try each, N Briggs pen, con. Scotland N Halfpenny pen

IRELAND:N Briggs; A Davis, J OSullivan, G Davitt, N Stapleton; H Brosnan, T Rosser; F Coghlan, G Bourke, L Day; K OLoughlin, ML Reilly; O Brennan S Ryan, J Neville. Replacements: L Austin for Day half-time, S Houston for Davitt 60 mins, C Staunton for Brennan 61 mins, C Mahon for OLoughlin 65 mins, L Beamish for Brosnan 68 mins, E Downey for Stapleton 73 mins.

SCOTLAND:N Halfpenny; C Hawthorn, L Millard, V Fitzpatrick, L Douglas; T Griffith, L Dalgliesh; H Lockhart, S L Walker, G McCord, L Moffat, L Wheeler, L Reid, D Kennedy, S Brown.

McCann in sight of victory in Taiwan

CYCLING:DAVID MCCANN has just 60 kilometres to cover today before being crowned winner of the 2010 Tour de Taiwan. Despite being stricken with a chest infection, the Giant Asia pro finished in the main bunch on yesterday's penultimate stage, placing 21st in Shihsanhan, writes Shane Stokes.

He came home as part of a 58 man peloton, crossing the line in the same time as the day’s victor Tomasz Smolen (CCC Polsat Polkowice). The rider seen as a big threat to McCann’s yellow jersey, Takashi Miyazawa (Japan National Team), had hoped to continue reducing his 14 seconds deficit via time bonuses but failed to take any yesterday. He was fourth on the stage, just missing out, and was also outside the top three in each of the sprints.

McCann is eight seconds clear of Philip Gaimon and a further three ahead of William Clarke.

Miyazawa is 14 seconds back, but with a total of 19 seconds available through bonus sprints and the final gallop, it is still mathematically possible that the Japanese sprinter to take the title.

St Andrew’s land treble

HOCKEY:Having already done the Leinster league and cup double earlier this month St Andrew's completed the treble in Galway yesterday, becoming the first Leinster school since Loreto Bray in 2000 to win the All-Ireland Schools Championships.

A 3-1 victory over defending champions Coláiste Iognáid secured the title for the Booterstown school, Harriet Kinsman opening the scoring on 14 minutes from a short corner. The hosts levelled through Tara Melvin four minutes later, but Niamh Atcheler restored Andrew’s lead before the break with Sarah Woodroofe sealing the win 10 minutes from time.

Royal School Armagh, who won the tournament four times in the last eight years, took third place by beating Loreto Kilkenny 5-1, while Munster champions Crescent Comprehensive finished fifth with a 3-0 win over Salerno.

All-Ireland Schools Championship (at Dangan) Final: St Andrew’s 3 (H Kinsman, N Atcheler, S Woodroofe), Coláiste Iognáid 1 (T Melvin).

West Indies 'A' replace New Zealand

CRICKET:Ireland have lined up West Indies 'A' as a replacement for two one-day games after New Zealand 'A' postponed their tour to Britain and Ireland later this summer, writes Emmet Riordan.

Ireland will play West Indies ‘A’ in two 50-over games at Stormont in Belfast on June 23rd and 25th.

Ireland coach Phil Simmons said: “While it’s disappointing that New Zealand are unable to travel, it’s fortunate that the ECB have managed to secure quality opposition in the form of West Indies.

“They will provide a stern challenge for us, but in our conditions we should do well against them. I’m sure the attractive brand of cricket that they play will prove pleasing to the Irish public.”