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Senior Cup centre stage

CRICKET:The first big weekend of the cricketing summer unfolds over 16 venues in the second round of the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup, writes Emmet Riordan. It does so with news that Cricket Ireland have reached an agreement with Hope Kerr to continue sponsorship for another three years of a competition renamed in honour of her late husband, a former president and chairman of the organisation.

Defending champions Leinster lead a 13-strong contingent from the province in the second round, while Cork County will represent Munster in a tough assignment at Stormont against Civil Service North. There’s also a welcome return to the competition for former winners St Johnston, with the Donegal side taking part for the first time since 1993 when they host Malahide at The Boathole this morning.

There are two Leinster Cricket Union derbies with Leinster taking on Terenure at Rathmines and Railway Union hosting Rush.

Dott severs his links with Mooney

SNOOKER: World Championship runner-up Graeme Dott has parted company with Pat Mooney following allegations of match-fixing against his manager.

A report in Sunday’s News of the World alleged that Mooney and three-time world champion John Higgins, who Mooney also represents through his FSTC Management business, had been prepared to fix frames at high-profile tournaments, claims that both men have denied.

Mooney has since stood down from his seat on the board of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, while Higgins has been suspended from playing pending a WPBSA investigation into the claims.

Dott, the 2006 world champion, said in a statement: “Further to the press reports last week involving Mr Pat Mooney, I have terminated my representation contract with Pat Mooney and FSTC Management with immediate effect.”

Warner sets example for Australia

CRICKET: Australia crushed India by 49 runs on Friday in the strongest sign yet that they have got to grips with the special demands of Twenty20 cricket.

Australia’s opening pair of David Warner (72 from 42 balls) and Shane Watson (54 from 32) hammered India’s bowling attack, their 104 run partnership setting up a total of 184 for five in their Super Eight game at a sun-drenched Kensington Oval.

Michael Clarkes side struck more than half of their runs from sixes – smashing 16 in total – before the Australian pace attack, relishing the fast and bouncy track, ripped through the Indian top order.

Dirk Nannes and Shaun Tait, who took three wickets each, helped Australia reduce India to 50 for seven after 10.3 overs.

Splaine selects five-strong squad

EQUESTRIAN:This year's Meydan FEI nations' cup series starts at La Baule next Friday and yesterday Robert Splaine, Horse Sport Ireland's show jumping team manager, announced the squad for the French round of the eight-leg series which concludes at the Dublin Horse Show in August.

In alphabetical order, the riders who have been selected are Shane Breen (Carmena Z), Cameron Hanley (Southwind VDL), Darragh Kenny (Obelix), Shane Sweetnam (Zamiro 16) and Niall Talbot (Techi D’I).

The Meydan league is currently limited to the top 10 nations in the world but next year the number of teams is being reduced to eight.

Elsewhere, Bandon’s Patricia Ryan has announced she will be defending her title in the World Cup qualifier at this month’s Tattersalls international horse trials.

Niland extends impressive run to secure final place

TENNIS: Ireland's Conor Niland yesterday extended his stunning run in the ATP Challenger Israel Open by nailing down a place in the final of the $100,000 outdoor hardcourt event, at Ramat Hasharon.

Niland clinched a showdown today with Brazil’s No 4 seed Thiago Alves by executing a two-set demolition job on Germany’s Denis Gremelmayr, prevailing 7-5, 6-1 after one hour and 27 minutes.

As a result of his march to the final, the 222-ranked Limerick native has picked up 60 ranking points, and he is set to break into the world top 200, becoming the second highest ranked player in the history of Irish tennis after Matt Doyle.

The unseeded Niland made the crucial move in the opener when he broke his opponent at 6-5, and he repeated the feat when he was leading 2-1 and 4-1 in the second set. In the last game of the contest, Niland fell love-30 behind on his own serve, but won the next four points to ensure victory.