Sports Digest

Dergvale plaque to honour Cusack

GAELIC GAMES:The importance of the Dergvale Hotel in Dublin in GAA lore will be officially recognised this evening with the unveiling of a plaque honouring Michael Cusack.

Cusack founded his Academy at 4 Gardiner Place, and the inscription on the plaque details the key developments that preceded the foundation of the GAA.

These include the official beginning of the Gaelic Union on January 28th, 1882, and the first issue of the Gaelic Journal that November.

Other notable developments included the foundation of the Metropolitan Hurling Club in December 1883, and the letter convening a meeting for Thurles on November 1st, 1884, was drafted there and signed by Cusack and Maurice Davin.

Tonight’s ceremony (8pm) pays tribute to the building’s previous incarnation and the plaque will be unveiled by Br Seán McNamara, a noted authority on Cusack’s legacy, from the Christian Brothers Monastery in Ennis.

Irish trio go in European finals

SWIMMING:Gráinne Murphy, Melanie Nocher and Aisling Cooney carry Irish hopes in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, for the European Short Course Championships, which take place over the next four days at the Pieter van den Hoogenband Stadium.

Gráinne Murphy returns to the pool after her successful Europeans in Budapest last summer where she picked up silver in the 1,500 metres freestyle.

Death of Schools great  Joe Delany (79)

ATHLETICS:Joe Delany, who has died in Calgary, Canada, at the age of 79, will be recalled as one of the great schoolboy prodigies in Irish athletics.

Four years older than his brother, Ronnie, he was regarded by many as the sibling with the greater natural talent after embarking on an unprecedented train of success in the colours of O’Connell’s School, North Richmond Street, Dublin.

Often seen as half a team in himself, he would frequently compete in three or four events on the same day, ranging from the sprints to the 440 yards, with long- and occasionally high-jumping exploits thrown in for good measure.

So successful was he, authorities introduced a local rule limiting his participation to two events.

In his final years at O’Connell’s, he supplemented his successes in schools competition by winning the All-Ireland National Senior Long Jump Championship, just 90 minutes after securing the youths title, which appeared to herald a big international career in the making.

As it transpired, however, that remarkable versatility would prevent him delivering in full on his budding talent.

Unwilling, it seemed to specialise, he never quite made the transition to the next level.

Apart from his athletic achievements, Joe Delany played hockey and tennis for Railway Union before emigrating to Canada where he enjoyed a successful banking career. – Peter Byrne

Egan helps Miami to victory

BOXING:Ken Egan won the fourth bout of the evening to help Miami Gallos bounce back from what was a two-bout deficit at one stage and seal a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Matadors in the World Series of Boxing (WSB) in Miami on Tuesday night.

However, a clash of heads in the fourth round en route to a unanimous decision over former Golden Gloves champion Dorian Anthony left the 10-time Irish senior champ requiring stitches to a cut over his right eye from both sides’ opening bout in the WSB.

Miami will meet Memphis Force away on Friday night, but Egan won’t be in the side because of the statutory 13-day rest period.

However, he will be available for selection for the visit of Mexico City Guerreros on December 9th.

The Matadors opened a 2-0 lead following wins for Fernando Martinez and Eric Fowler over Meza Ochoa and Adrian Martinez Medina.

But straight wins for William Williams, Egan and Trent Rawlins sealed victory for the hosts.

Aussie heavyweight Rawlins – with the match tied at 2-2 – beat David Imoesiri to secure the points.

Egan earned a unanimous (49-46, 49-47, 48-47) verdict over Dorian, and the Dublin southpaw reckoned the Californian wasn’t exactly observing the Marquess of Queensberry rules in the 85kg five-rounder.

“If there was another 10 seconds in it I would have finished him off as he was out on his feet – the bell saved his ass. He was using his head a lot and I had to be careful in there,” said Egan.

O'Donoghue to partner Joshua Tree

RACING:Aidan O'Brien's decision to entrust Colm O'Donoghue with the ride on Joshua Tree in Sunday's Japan Cup is being interpreted by some bookmakers as a sign he will be the jockey-of-choice for the Ballydoyle squad in 2011, writes Brian O'Connor.

O’Donoghue is also set to be on board Joshua Tree in next month’s Hong Kong Vase, and will team up with Beethoven in the Mile at the big international festival as the fallout from Johnny Murtagh’s resignation as Coolmore number one continues.

Paddy Power have stopped betting on a successor to Murtagh as they are convinced O’Brien will use a “best available” policy next year. However, they are betting on who will ride the champion trainer’s next Group One winner in Britain and Ireland, and O’Donoghue is their 5 to 4 favourite.

“I think Japan is an early indication that O’Donoghue will be their jockey of choice,” Paddy Power said yesterday.

Ul-Haq leads rearguard resistance

CRICKET:Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq shared a top-class rearguard partnership with Azhar Alias to help salvage a draw against South Africa in the second Test as the series ended in stalemate in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

Pakistan had slipped to a shaky 66 for three straight after lunch at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium thanks to a devastating burst of three wickets for no runs in seven balls by spinners Paul Harris and Johan Botha.

However, Misbah and Azhar survived for the next 45.2 overs and added 87 for the fourth wicket to ensure the series ended 0-0 after the first Test was drawn in Dubai.

Misbah provided strong late resistance with his defiant 58 not out off 140 balls, while Azhar was obstinance personified with a stubborn 28 not out from 135 deliveries.