Today's other stories in brief
Allen stages remarkable fightback
SNOOKER:Northern Ireland's Mark Allen came from 4-2 down yesterday to beat Stephen Hendry 5-4 and set up a semi-final with fellow young gun Ding Junhui at the China Open in Beijing today.
Seven-time world champion Hendry looked set for a place in the semi-finals after the Scot used all his experience to move to within a frame of victory over his 24-year-old opponent in a generally scrappy affair.
However, left-hander Allen hit back to win three frames in succession, sealing victory with a break of 77 in the decider, his highest of the match. “At 4-2 down I still believed I could win, and I held myself together well to win the last three frames,” Allen said.
In the afternoon’s quarter-finals, Mark Williams and Ali Carter progressed with comfortable 5-1 victories against Marco Fu and Mark King respectively.
Marshall declares interest in playing for Ireland
CRICKET: Former New Zealand international Hamish Marshall has declared his interest in taking up a playing and coaching role with Ireland once his stand-down period elapses in April of next year, writes Emmet Riordan.
Marshall, who holds an Irish passport through his paternal grandfather, last played for New Zealand against Ireland during the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean and is presently a team-mate of Ireland captain William Porterfield at Gloucestershire.
The 31-year-old intends to continue his playing career with the county but believes his considerable experience can help Ireland progress both on and off the pitch.
“I miss international cricket, and being an Irish passport holder, there’s hopefully an opportunity to combine both with Ireland,” said Marshall.
“There’s the added attraction of getting involved on the coaching side of things which is important as I look to my future.”
Cricket Ireland coach Phil Simmons, whose side start a three-day game against Jamaica in Kingston today, welcomed the news.
“It would be a great boost for Irish cricket to have a player of the calibre of Hamish Marshall available,” said Simmons.
“We would intend to make use of his talent not just on the field, but within all our coaching structures. It’s our plan to have Hamish involved with our youth, women’s and elite squads, and that can only be good for Irish cricket.”
Maguires march on in France
GOLF:Leona Maguire continued the defence of her French under-21 title at St Cloud yesterday in the most sensational fashion – by leading the qualifiers into the knock-out stages.
The 15-year-old, who plays off plus two, fired an excellent 70 to add to her 72 of the previous day for a 142 total to be one stroke clear of French girl Celine Boutier.
Leona’s twin sister Lisa also made it through quite comfortably, posting a 70 as well yesterday for a 145 aggregate to be seven strokes inside the qualifying mark. She qualified in sixth place.
Lisa’s highlight was an eagle two at the the 12th and she followed that up with a birdie two at the next hole canning an excellent putt.
Sarah Cunningham carded a 78 to add to her 74 from Thursday, which put her in a play-off for the final places in the match-play draw. After a play-off with seven others, the Ennis girl fell by the wayside.
Carlow’s Aedin Murphy crashed out of the championship after a second round 82 for a total of 161.
Haye keen to make 'big statement'
BOXING: David Haye is determined to issue an explosive reminder of his all-action style by making a "big statement" against John Ruiz tonight.
Haye defends the WBA world heavyweight title he captured from Nikolai Valuev in Nuremberg last November for the first time when he meets Ruiz at the MEN Arena.
It was a case of needs must against Valuev with Haye outmanoeuvring the 7ft 2in Russian to secure a majority points decision over 12 lifeless rounds.
Though widely feted for an intelligent and disciplined performance, it was not the style favoured by the 29-year-old Londoner, who has amassed 21 knockouts in 23 victories.
Normal service will resume in Manchester, however, with Haye planning to produce a thrilling spectacle which will ignite the heavyweight division.
Roddick through to Miami decider
TENNIS:Rafael Nadals 11- month title drought continues after Andy Roddick beat the Spaniard 4-6 6-3 6-3 last night to reach the Sony Ericsson Open final. Sixth seed Roddick will face Czech Tomas Berdych or Swede Robin Soderling in tomorrow's decider after a fine comeback in front of a packed stadium at Key Biscayne.
In the women’s final, Kim Clijsters – who won a dramatic semi-final battle of the Belgians against Justin Henin, 6-2 6-7 7-6 – will meet Venus Williams.
Barnes to miss Turkey trip
BOXING: Irish light flyweight Paddy Barnes is out of the Irish squad for next week's Prime Ministry Cup in Ankara, Turkey and has been booked in for a hernia operation.
Barnes, a bronze medal winner at the Beijing Olympics, was due to take his place amongst an Irish squad which includes Olympic silver medalist Ken Egan and world champions Katie Taylor and Ray Moylette.
However, Irish head coach Billy Walsh confirmed that the Holy Family Belfast clubman, whose is officially ranked ninth in the world, is out of the tournament which starts next Tuesday.
Walsh added that he was optimistic that Barnes would be fit in time for June’s European Senior Championships in Moscow following his operation on April 9th.
The Irish squad depart for Turkey on Monday ahead of a multi-nations tournament which Walsh says will play a big part in Ireland’s preparations for Moscow.
