SPORTS DIGEST:NFL: The New England Patriots and Tom Brady pulverized the New York Jets 45-3 to take command of the AFC East and brand themselves as a Super Bowl favourite by improving to 10-2.
New England turned the highly-anticipated clash of 9-2 teams into a rout by scoring the first four times they had the ball on their way to a 24-3 half-time lead and had no second-half let-up against the NFLs third-ranked defense. "It was a really great effort by our players. I'm really proud of them," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "That was the best 60 minutes of football we played all year."
Brady, throwing with pinpoint accuracy, tossed four touchdown passes and set an NFL record by winning his 26th consecutive regular-season start at home, breaking a tie with Brett Favre, who won 25 successive games with Green Bay from 1995-98.
The Patriots joined the NFC's Atlanta Falcons as the only teams with 10-2 records.
Cooke is manager of the month
SOCCER: Paul Cooke, has been named Philips Sports Manager of the Month for November.
Last month Cooke’s Sligo Rovers side defeated Shamrock Rovers in the FAI Cup final in front of 36,000 spectators at the Aviva Stadium. They also claimed the League Cup with victory over Monaghan United last September.
Comeback by Higgins still on track
SNOOKER: John Higgins continued his fine comeback after a six-month ban by moving into the quarter-finals of the UK Championship with a final frame victory over Graeme Dott.
Higgins hit back from behind to scrape a 9-8 win with breaks of 56 and 24 to seal victory and a last eight meeting with fellow Scot Stephen Maguire, who rounded off a 9-7 win over Mark Selby with a break of 135.
“It’s good to be back and I’m motivated full-stop for the second chapter,” said Higgins. “I just came here to try to win games and tough games are what you want because you know you’ll have to play well to win them.”
New event added to Tattersalls Horse Trials
EQUESTRIAN: There will be two days of top cross-country action at Tattersalls International Horse Trials next May following yesterday's confirmation that a CIC*** competition has been added to the programme, writes Margie McLoone.
The 2011 event will see seven classes in total with competitors in the CCI ***, CCI **, under 25 class, CCI *, as well as the Junior and CCN** pony classes taking on the Ian Stark-designed cross-country track in Co Meath on Saturday, May 28th while those in the new class will tackle the course on Sunday.
“Our ambition has always been to run a CCI *** at the International Horse Trials,” said Tattersalls Ireland’s managing director, George Mernagh.
“By running this class in 2011 we are giving our Irish riders as well as our large contingent of international competitors every possibility to achieve the qualifications needed for the 2012 Olympics.
“We had some hard decisions to make on hearing that the FEI had lost the prestigious HSBC sponsorship of the World Cup class.
“However, we hope that these high profile international classes will provide wonderful opportunities sponsors who wish to be associated with this growing event.”
McDowell and Kaymer share award
GOLF: GRAEME McDowell and Martin Kaymer have been voted joint winners of the 2010 European Tour Golfer of the Year award – the first time the prize has been shared in its 26-year history.
Both players won their first major titles – McDowell at the US Open, Kaymer at the US PGA – both won four times and both were members of the victorious Ryder Cup side. It was the 25-year-old German who took the “Race to Dubai” money list title, but against that McDowell was, of course, the match-winning hero against the Americans at Celtic Manor in October.
A judging panel of writers and commentators debated the many merits of the pair, but when it came to the vote the result was split right down the middle.
McDowell said: “It is an honour to share this award with a player of Martin’s calibre.”
Fairyhouse ‘needs a bit of luck’
RACING: The chances of Grade One action at Fairyhouse and Navan this weekend weren't helped by yesterday's snowfall in the east of the country but hopes that racing will go ahead haven't died yet, writes Brian O'Connor.
Fairyhouse’s triple-Grade One “winter festival” card has been postponed three times already and more snow fell on the Ratoath track yesterday. “We will need a bit of luck but we are still fighting the fight,” the course manager Peter Roe said yesterday. The forecast isn’t too bad either.”
Navan got even more snow ahead of Sunday’s Novice Hurdle card but a spokesman said: “We are going to give it every chance as temperatures are to rise from Thursday. But we’re touch and go at the moment.”
Gowran Park is set to host an 8.00 inspection tomorrow morning ahead of Friday’s card after snow fell on the track on Monday night.
