Sports digest

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

McDowell a major presence

GOLF: Graeme McDowell will be the only major champion present when the 2011 PGA Tour kicks-off at next week's Hyundai Tournament of Champions at the Plantation Course in Kapalua, Hawaii.

The 31-year-old US Open champion, who has opted to take up his PGA Tour card in the non-Ryder Cup year, is the only major champion from the 2010 quartet including; Martin Kaymer, Louis Oosthuizen and Phil Mickelson to be lining up.

Death of former umpire O'Connor

HOCKEY: The death of former player and international umpire Jimmy O'Connor this week will have caused sadness but also sparked off waves of anecdotes. O'Connor had built something of a cult status during his long and selfless service in Monkstown HC and as an official.

The stories are apocryphal, but a favourite is when, after a heavy tackle, O’Connor reached to his pocket and pulled out all of his cards – green, yellow and red. He shows the cards to the player and says, “Pick a colour”. Obviously the player opts for the green as it’s just a warning. “Okay,” growled O’Connor. “Next time I get to pick.”

He was popular not just in Irish circles but also in the FIH and EHF. He always had a twinkle in his eye.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret, and daughter, Jane. His funeral follows 10am Mass today at The Church of the Holy Family, Kill O’ The Grange.

May he rest in peace. – JW

Kuerten records second win in week in Belgium

EQUESTRIAN:Jessica Kuerten saw out 2010 in style by winning yesterday's FEI World Cup qualifier at Mechelen in Belgium.

Riding Lady Georgina Forbes’s Selle Francais mare Castle Forbes Myrtille Paulois, Kuerten was one of just four riders to go clear in round one from a start of 38. Third to go in the jump-off, the 41-year-old displayed her customary flair against the clock with the 10-year-old to shave half a second off the time set by Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet.

She then had an agonising wait while last man in, former World Champion Jos Lansink, delivered a speedy round which ended in failure when Casper van Spieveld took off the top plank on the final obstacle.

This costly error relegated the local combination to third place, handing the first prize of €13,000 and a Land Rover to Kurten.

“It was a very special win today,” she said. “I feel quite emotional. Winning this and the Queen’s Cup on Tuesday made it a fairytale weekend.”

Niall wins battle of the Fitzgeralds

TENNIS: The intriguing men's singles semi-final between the Fitzgerald brothers provided a real humdinger of a contest at David Lloyd Riverview last night.

Twenty-year-old Niall went into the novel battle between the Greystones pair as a strong favourite against 18-year-old Ciarán, with his experience of matchplay on the extremely competitive US collegiate circuit being perceived as a huge plus for him.

But the younger Fitzgerald put up a tremendous battle against the University of Notre Dame tennis scholarship student, and went close to upsetting the odds.

In fact, it’s a telling indication of the outstanding nature of Ciarán’s play that Niall had to remain on court for a marathon three hours before prevailing 4-6 7-6 (7/5) 6-4.

But an upset materialised in the second semi-final when Georgia native Lazare Kukhalashvili overcame number two seed John Morrissey 7-5 6-1 after two hours and one minute.

Kukhalashvili finished runner-up to Barry King in last year’s final.

Morrissey, number 30 in the ITF Under-18 world rankings this year, pushed the Georgian close in the opener, but Kukhalashvili never looked back after an early break in the second set.

In the women’s semi-finals, defending champion Rachael Dillon had to pull out all the stops before getting the better of her Fed Cup team-mate Jenny Claffey on a 6-4 0-6 7-6 (9/7) scoreline. She will face number two seed Sinead Lohan, who defeated Naas’s Gráinne O’Neill 6-3 6-1 after one hour 39 minutes.