Sports digest

Today's other stories in brief

Majority of players ready to back Hearn shake-up

SNOOKER:Barry Hearn's plans to shake up the sport look set to get the go-ahead following a player meeting in Sheffield.

A large turn-out included World Championship runner-up Graeme Dott, Steve Davis, Mark Williams, Mark Selby, Shaun Murphy and Ken Doherty.

The players are due to go to a vote, with mid-June the likely time, following a proposal by World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association chairman Hearn to take control.

Hearn, who has turned darts into a big box-office sport, is promising more tournaments and higher prize money, claiming players have been effectively part-time in recent years.

He also intends to take a 51 per cent stake in World Snooker, the commercial arm of the WPBSA, and make it an independent business, with players and other stakeholders in the sport owning the remainder.

The ownership aspect is the sticking point for some players, with Peter Ebdon among them.

Roche injury puts Tour ride in doubt

CYCLING: Nicolas Roche's preparation for this year's Tour de France is in doubt following the news yesterday that he has torn a hamstring, writes Shane Stokes.

The problem flared up after Friday’s time trial stage of the Tour of Romandie and Roche withdrew from the event. He underwent a MRI in Nice yesterday and was told to take at least a fortnight off the bike.

The news will interfere with his build-up to the Dauphiné Libéré, a selection race for his Ag2r la Mondiale team for the Tour de France.

“After a MRI scan I have been advised by my doctor that I have a torn muscle and will need to take a minimum of two weeks off the bike, possibly three,” the 25-year-old said yesterday afternoon. “They will do another scan in two weeks to see how the injury is healing, and I am hoping to be allowed back on the bike then.”

He has been one of the team’s best performers this season.

Plan for New Jersey GP opposed

FORMULA ONE: New Jersey appears to have turned its back on Formula One. Plans to stage a race at Liberty State Park in Jersey City swiftly ran into opposition.

Jersey City mayor Jerramiah T Healy listened to the comments of local protest groups and has now denounced the idea.

In a statement he said: “After a review of the draft proposal prepared by the city’s tourism office, I have come to the same conclusion . . . that this type of event is not suited for Liberty State Park.

“While we work to attract national and international events to our city, we must ensure they are appropriate and will have the least impact upon the quality of life of our residents and community.”

The plans for a grand prix to run for five years from 2012 had been aired by Destination Jersey City, an organisation funded by the city’s economic development corporation.

Serena continues return to form

TENNIS:Serena Williams continued her return to action by advancing to the quarter-finals of the Rome Masters with a three-set victory over Andrea Petkovic.

The world number one is playing her first tournament since winning the Australian Open in January, having missed the last three months with a knee injury.

Williams looked more like her old self in taking the first set 6-2 against her German opponent.

But a string of unforced errors allowed Petkovic to get back into the match as she took the second set 6-3 to force a decider, only for Williams to keep her composure and cruise to a 6-0 win in the third.

Her sister Venus, the fourth seed, also booked her place in the last eight to leave the siblings on course to meet in the last four.

Federer finally wins on clay

TENNIS: Roger Federer enjoyed his first clay-court win of the year with a 6-3 6-4 triumph over Germany's Bjorn Phau at the Estoril Open in Portugal.

The top seed had a first-round bye and faces Arnaud Clement in the last eight after he beat Alejandro Falla 6-4 6-3.

Federer won the Estoril tournament on his one previous appearance in 2008, beating Nikolay Davydenko in the final.

Kelly point has Clare in semi-final

GAELIC GAMES: Clare earned a Munster Minor Hurling semi-final spot the hard way with one point to spare, 0-17 to 1-13, over Tipperary last evening at Cusack Park, Ennis.

Clare, with 14 men for the last 10 minutes – wing back Enda Boyce was sent off on a second yellow card – had dominated for most of the game but had to rely on a Tony Kelly point on the hour to achieve victory.

Leading by four points with five minutes remaining, Clare were rocked by a goal from Liam McGrath two minutes from time. But a tenacious performance yielded the all-important point at the death.

CLARE: R Taaffe; P Flanagan (capt), N Purcell, S Morey; E Boyce (0-1), K Lynch, S O’Halloran; T Kelly (0-2), C Galvin; A Cunningham, P Collins (0-4), J Shanahan (0-1); C O’Connell, N Arthur (0-7, 4f), D O’Halloran (0-2). Subs: H Vaughan for Purcell (18), A Mulready for O’Connell (39).

TIPPERARY: D Reddan; C Barrett, A Ryan, J O’Dwyer; L Treacy, B Stapleton, J Meagher; J Forde (0-1), D Flynn (0-1); D Butler (0-1), N O’Meara, L McGrath (1-3, 3f); M O’Brien (0-2), A McCormack (0-2), C Horan (0-1). Subs: T Heffernan (0-1) for Forde (18), J Cahill (0-1) for Butler (half-time), D McCormack for Horan (45), P Dalton for Heffernan (51).

Referee: D O’Driscoll (Limerick).