Soccer: In quite a turnaround, RT╔ yesterday announced that they would be showing premiership soccer this season from the opening day on August 18th, writes Johnny Watterson.

Last week, the national broadcaster announced they would not be screening English soccer on Saturdays, as it was no longer commercially viable because of the simultaneous broadcast by ITV.

However, new terms from the FA premiership league have proven much more attractive to RT╔, who have now agreed to broadcast a soccer programme at 6.55 p.m. on Saturday evening with a repeat on Sundays.

Details of the format for the programme will be announced next week. The decision last week of RTE to walk away from the premiership was criticised.

Cycling: Paudi O'Brien yesterday took the second Irish stage victory in the 2001 NCBI Stena Line Junior Tour, showing his sprinting speed at the end of the 4th leg of the race into Dunboyne.

The Ireland team rider was part of a eight-8 man breakaway which went clear 15 miles from the finish, establishing a maximum lead of 45 seconds on the run in towards the finish.

Women's Hockey: Ireland play Wales in Cardiff in two full internationals and one practice match over the next three days as part of their build-up to next month's World Cup qualifier in France.

Internationals (at Cardiff) -- Tomorrow: Wales v Ireland, 2.0. Monday: Wales v Ireland, 4.0. Tuesday: Wales v Ireland, 10.0.