Today's other sport's stories in brief
O'Driscoll, Ferris and Bowe on Irupa award short-list
RUGBY: Three of Ireland's 14 Lions have made what must have been one of the most competitive short-lists for the Bord Gáis Energy Irupa Players' Player of the Year 2009: Tommy Bowe, Stephen Ferris and Brian O'Driscoll. Given the season that's in it, that is an achievement in itself for the trio, writes Gerry Thornley.
For starters, they have beaten off the challenges of all eight of Munster’s Lions, including new captain Paul O’Connell, not to mention Ronan O’Gara, David Wallace (who is having a vintage season) and the ever-overlooked John Hayes, not to mention O’Driscoll’s three Lions team-mates from Leinster, Jamie Heaslip, Luke Fitzgerald and Rob Kearney.
Last season’s winner, Tommy Bowe, also received a nomination in the Tyrone Crystal Try of the Year category for his stunning effort against Wales in the Six Nations Championship decider.
On hearing the news of double nomination, Bowe said: “It’s a tremendous honour to be nominated by my peers for these awards and to be nominated in two categories is a great honour for me and my family. This has been an unbelievable season for me and for Irish rugby and to be nominated alongside the outstanding names on this list is a privilege.”
The award is one of six which will be announced at the Bord Gáis Energy Irupa Awards on Wednesday, May 6th, at Dublin’s Burlington Hotel. These are the only awards voted for by the players themselves and votes are cast from across all four provinces.
IRUPA 2009 AWARDS NOMINATIONS
PLAYERS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Stephen Ferris (Ulster), Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster).
CLUB UNSUNG HERO OF THE YEAR: Rory Best (Ulster), John Hayes (Munster), Stan Wright (Leinster).
YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Darren Cave (Ulster), Keith Earls (Munster), Cian Healy (Leinster).
TRY OF YEAR:Tommy Bowe – Wales v Ireland; Jamie Heaslip – Ireland v France; Brian O’Driscoll – Leinster v Wasps.
Pelous to quit professional game at end of the season
RUGBY:France's most capped player, Fabien Pelous, will quit professional rugby at the end of the season, the lock said yesterday.
“After careful thought, I felt it was time for me to go,” the 35-year-old Stade Toulousain forward told a news conference.
“I know hard times are coming and that the desire of playing will not disappear right away. But it is wise to know when it is time to go. It is the right time.”
Pelous started his professional career at Dax in 1995, joining Toulouse in 1997. He earned a record 118 caps for France between 1995 and 2007, ending his international career after the World Cup. He captained his country 42 times.
Pelous won four Five or Six Nations grand slams in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2004, and the Heineken Cup with Toulouse in 2003 and 2005.
“This is the Mr Rugby of the past 15 years who is leaving the pitch,” said Toulouse coach Guy Noves. “I take the years I spent alongside Fabien as a chance, a rare privilege.”
Bowtell runs Finn No 2 close
TENNIS: After a rain-delayed day in Malta, Ireland's Amy Bowtell lost 5-7 4-6 to the Finnish number two, Piia Soumalainen, in the third match of their Federation Cup tournament. Ireland finally lost the match 2-1, writes Johnny Watterson.
The 15-year-old will be disappointed not to have taken the match to three sets after having three set points in the first set, before the Finn capitalised on a Bowtell double fault during her second set point.
That brought the game to deuce before the Finn broke the Greystones girl’s serve to tie at 5-5.
Bowtell also played well in the second set but a break of serve proved decisive.
Finland then moved into an unbeatable lead as Emma Laine proved too strong for Dubliner Rachael Dillon. Laine enjoyed a comfortable 6-1, 6-0 victory. Jenny Claffey and Lynsey McCullough won their doubles match 6-2 6-3.
Ireland will face the host nation tomorrow, in what is likely to be the battle for third spot in the pool.
Nadal still on course for five in a row
TENNIS: World number one Rafael Nadal went through to the last four of the Barcelona Open yesterday, and stayed on course for a fifth straight title, after Argentine David Nalbandian was forced to withdraw from their quarter-final clash through injury. Nadal thrashed Belgian Christophe Rochus 6-2 6-0 to advance.
He was due to play Nalbandian, who reached the last eight with a 6-3 6-4 victory over Spanish 10th seed Nicolas Almagro. But Nalbandian was then forced to pull out with a hip injury.
Czech Radek Stepanek beat Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland to set up a clash with Russian Nikolay Davydenko who beat Spain’s Feliciano Lopez. David Ferrer and Tommy Robredo will meet after beating Italy’s Potito Starace and Russian Igor Andreev respectively.
Bernard sets 100m record
SWIMMING: France's Alain Bernard clocked a world record 46.94 seconds for the 100 metres freestyle in the semi-finals of the French championships yesterday.
Olympic champion Bernard became the first man to break the 47-second barrier for the blue-riband event.
He beat the previous record of 47.05 seconds set by Australian Eamon Sullivan in the semi-finals at last year’s Beijing Games.
