Sports Digest

A round-up of today's other stories in brief...

O’Neill lands monthly award

SOCCER: MICHAEL O’Neill (above) was yesterday named Philips Sports Manager of the Month for October.

On the last day of the month, O’Neill’s Shamrock Rovers side drew 2-2 with Bray Wanderers to clinch the League of Ireland Premier Division title.

And this weekend the Dublin side will attempt a double when the face Sligo Rovers in the FAI Cup final. Should they win, it would be Shamrock Rovers’ first double for 23 years.

Button already looking to next year

MOTOR SPORT: OUTGOING Formula One world champion Jenson Button is already burning with hunger to reclaim the title next year. Button effectively relinquished his crown on Sunday in Brazil when he could finish no higher than fifth, with the other four remaining contenders all ahead of him on the track.

It means for the final time this season in Abu Dhabi on Sunday Button will sport the number one on his McLaren following a debut year with the team he has largely enjoyed, even if he feels he has let himself down on occasion.

“This has been a good season and a lot of stuff we’ve done this year we’ll gain a lot of experience for next season,” said Button.

“The car is a good car, but there are areas where we still need to improve, we know that, and it’s about making sure we do improve those areas for next year.”

UCD retain David Faiers trophy

SOCCER: Played in memory of Evening Herald reporter David Faiers, UCD retained the annual colours trophy at College Park yesterday after drawing 2-2 with Dublin University.

The home side took the lead against the run of play through Graham Conway on 22 minutes, but a lovely solo run down the left saw UCD’s Mark Langtry equalise soon after. However, on the stroke of half-time, Trinity’s Shane Massey turned the ball into his own net after a good cross from Frank Wilson on the right. A brilliant save by Niall O’Carroll from a Robbie Creavy bicycle kick proved crucial as Lawlor bundled home late on.

DUBLIN UNIVERSITY:N O'Carroll, S Massey (C Molloy, 64), J Connolly, D Burke, C O'Shaughnessy, E O'Reilly (C Hynes, 83), D O'Cuffaigh, T Wylie, C Lawlor, F Wilson, G Conway.

UCD:C McGrugarty, D Fulham, D O'Connor, C O Brochlainn, M Leahy, J Timmins, B McCabe (L Glancy, 80), R Creavy, S Belhout (T McNellis, 75), S Doyle (B O'Brochhlain, 75), M Langtry.

Referee: B Bajrami.

Higgins returns from six-month ban in Germany

SNOOKER: WORLD number four John Higgins is set to return from his six-month ban today when he competes in the Euro Players Tour Championship in Hamm, Germany.

The three-time world champion will face Joe Jogia in the first round of the competition.

The 35-year-old was cleared of match-fixing in September but fined £75,000 after admitting breaching rules around betting following an investigation into allegations of frame-throwing made by the News of the World.

The Scot’s suspension began when the allegations surfaced in May, but now he is poised to resume competition for the first time since the World Championship where he suffered a shock defeat by Steve Davis in the second round.

Earlier this week Higgins admitted he was anxious as to what kind of reception he will receive from his fellow professionals in Germany, describing the prospect as “like going to the dentist” and acknowledged the stigma may always live with him.

PCB suspend Haider contract  

CRICKET: PAKISTAN’S Cricket Board has suspended the contract of wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider after failing to make contact with him in the wake of his departure to England where he is seeking asylum.

“The contract of Zulqarnain Haider has been suspended for violating its terms and conditions,” the PCB said yesterday.

The statement also said that the PCB had so far failed in its efforts to contact the player. The International Cricket Council (ICC) said they had met the wicketkeeper and would help the PCB in a probe into his sudden exit from Dubai where Pakistan were playing South Africa.

Zulqarnain (24) flew to London this week and said on Tuesday he was seeking asylum because he feared for his safety after being ordered to cooperate with match-fixers.

He also announced his international retirement after saying he was approached by a person who asked him to fix the recent fourth and fifth one-day internationals against South Africa.

Niland comes storming through

TENNIS: CONOR Niland stormed back from a set down yesterday to clinch a second round place in the ATP Challenger Tour event in Loughborough, England.

In a tightly-contested opener, unseeded Briton Jamie Baker had the upperhand thanks to one break of serve.

But the Irish number one upped the tempo, and his increasingly aggressive and enterprising play was ultimately rewarded with a 5-7 6-4 6-2 victory.

One service break proved sufficient for the Limerick native to level at one set all, and putting additional pressure on Baker’s serve, he broke his opponent twice in the deciding set.

Today, Niland takes on British wild card Joshua Milton with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.

Meanwhile, Amy Bowtell today faces Germany’s Mara Nawak in the first round of the main draw in the ITF Women’s Circuit event, also in Loughborough.