SPORTS DIGEST

Other sports news in brief

Harrington tied with Furyk for lead in Bermuda

GOLF:Padraig Harrington took a positive first step in avenging his play-off loss in the Grand Slam of Golf last year, when he shot an opening two-under-par 68 yesterday to share the lead with Jim Furyk.

Harrington birdied three of the last five holes at a breezy Mid Ocean Club in Bermuda. South Africa's Retief Goosen carded an even-par 70, while countryman Trevor Immelman struggled to a 76.

Severiano Ballesteros was last night resting in a Madrid hospital after doctors performed a biopsy on the brain tumour detected last week. The procedure will determine whether the tumour is benign or malignant, but no result has so far been made public. Ballesteros has spent the past 10 days having tests following a fainting fit.

Easy return for Murray

TENNIS:Fourth seed Andy Murray eased into the third round of the Madrid Masters after Italian Simone Bolelli retired injured yesterday. The Briton, playing for the first time since losing to Roger Federer in the US Open final five weeks ago, was leading 6-0, 2-1 when Bolelli quit. The Italian injured a shoulder when attempting a smash.

Armstrong may not contest Tour

CYCLING:Seven-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong has said he is not yet sure if he will ride in next year's race as part of his comeback. The 37-year-old American, who retired in 2005, announced on Monday he would race in May's Giro d'Italia.

"There is the possibility that the Giro is the only three-week stage race that I will run. Still today, there are doubts over the Tour," Armstrong was quoted as saying yesterday.

"Everybody knows its importance but the problems I have with the organisers, journalists and fans could be distracting for my mission - to focus world attention on the battle against cancer."

Kelleher faces citing hearing

RUGBY:Toulouse scrumhalf Byron Kelleher and Sale's Kristian Ormsby and Rudi Keil have been cited for incidents in last weekend's Heineken Cup matches, tournament organisers said yesterday.

Former All Black Kelleher was charged with allegedly stamping Bath's South African outhalf Butch James in his side's 18-16 win on Saturday.

Sale replacement centre Keil was cited for an alleged dangerous tackle on centre Benoit Baby during Saturday's opening 32-15 win at Clermont Auvergne while lock Ormsby is in trouble for alleged punching of another lock Julien Pierre.

All three will appear before an independent disciplinary committee in Dublin tomorrow. Sale centre Lee Thomas has been ruled out for three months after suffering a severe dislocation of his shoulder in the bonus-point victory.

O'Brien fined over conduct

CRICKET:Cricket Ireland announced last night that it has fined and severely reprimanded Niall O'Brien for misconduct during the recent victory over Namibia in Windhoek, writes Emmet Riordan.

Cricket Ireland acted after the ICC was unable to do so when a delay in the reporting process meant the player could no longer be charged under their Code of Conduct.

Ireland have been drawn in Group A of next season's Friends Provident Trophy along with Hampshire, Nottinghamshire, Worcestershire and Leicestershire.

IRELAND WOMEN (Winter Training Squad):E Beamish (Merrion), J Carroll (Clontarf), N Coffey (Pembroke), J Day (Pembroke), V Gee (Leinster), M Herbert (Malahide), C Joyce (Merrion), I Joyce (Merrion), A Kenealy (Leinster), S Kenealy (Leinster), C McGuire (Rush), J McKinley (Larne and Leinster), C Metcalfe (Pembroke), E Richardson (Leinster), M Scott-Hayward (Leinster), C Shillington (Malahide), J Whelan (Merrion).