SPORTS DIGEST

Today's other sports stories in brief

McCann finishes second in China

CYCLING: Irish professional David McCann yesterday finished second overall in the Tour of Hainan in China. The Giant Asia rider raced home in the main peloton, crossing the finish line in the same time as stage winner Boris Shpilevsky (Russian National Team), reports Shane Stokes.

Shpilevsky took the big bunch gallop to the line in Sanya, netting his sixth win out of eight stages. His dominance saw him finish the 2.1-ranked event over a minute clear of McCann, although the bulk of this advantage was down to time bonuses.

"Shplivesky was just in another league to everyone else here this week," said the former Ireland road race champion.

"I put in some good attacks both on stage four and stage seven and rode a good race. Naturally it's disappointing not to win, but I have to be content with my ride. Time bonuses aside, I lost just six seconds to him at the finish of yesterday's stage seven, and six seconds in the prologue."

Mourinho medal sold for €28,820

A PREMIER League winner's medal presented to former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho sold for €25,820 at a sporting memorabilia sale in Chester yesterday.

Mourinho threw his medal and blazer into the stand at Stamford Bridge after his side beat Manchester United 3-0 to win the 2005/06 title.

PORTUGAL legend Paulo Sousa was yesterday confirmed as the new first-team coach of QPR. The 38-year-old, capped 51 times by his country, has signed a two-and-a-half year contract. Sousa becomes Rangers' sixth boss in a little over a year with John Gregory, Luigi De Canio and Iain Dowie, as well as caretaker managers Mick Harford and now Gareth Ainsworth, having all been dispensed with since Flavio Briatore arrived on the scene.

Hull manager Phil Brown has been fined €1,195 and warned over his future conduct by the English FA after admitting a charge of improper conduct during the club's Premier League game away to Wigan on August 30th.

Green Dragon clinging to third as scoring gate looms

SAILING: With just 300 miles to the scoring gate, Green Dragon clings to third place in the Southern Ocean this morning despite the fact the Galway yacht has been sailing under jury-rig for 48 hours, reports David O'Brien.

Last night skipper Ian Walker reported conditions onboard as "difficult" following three knock downs, where the boat was laid on its side in strong winds.

A repair on the boom that broke in a 50-knot squall on Tuesday morning is still under consideration but for now Walker is focused on salvaging points at the Southern Ocean scoring gate later today.

Repairs have begun on other boats in the fleet, including leader Puma, with serious hull damage.

As the most southerly boat, Green Dragon could still make third at the scoring gate if speeds can be maintained. It would be a considerable achievement for the jury-rigged boat in in a 4,000-mile leg that otherwise holds little prospect of success without a boom.

Since breaking the spar, Walker has been sailing by attaching the mainsail directly to the deck. It has been successful to a point but it means they are committed to carrying full sail but without any easy way to ease it in a gust. As a result the boat is vulnerable to being knocked down and now has several leaks, leading Walker to express 'nervousness' at his predicament.

Green Dragon is also dealing with a bout of the flu, half of the crew have headaches and sore throats.

Cullen trying to get visa for Bolt

OLYMPICS: The Minister for Sport, Martin Cullen, said yesterday in the Dáil he was "trying to get a visa for Usain Bolt" (above), the Jamaican world and Olympic record holding sprinter, "to come to the University of Limerick to train", in advance of the 2012 Olympics.

Bolt won three gold medals in Beijing this summer, the 100, 200 and 4x100 metres relay. He is the world record holder in the 100 metres with a time of 9.69 seconds and 200 (19.3 seconds).