A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Ireland eye possible clash with Britain
TENNIS: The Irish Davis Cup team have again been drawn just one match away from a meeting with Britain in the Europe/African zone group II of next year's competition. Ireland face Luxembourg in the first round of the 2011 event while Britain play Tunisia. If both teams win or lose their opening games they will meet in the second round.
The World number four Andy Murray has not played with the British Davis Cup side for some time but in anticipation of increased crowds for the possible meeting, Tennis Ireland last year explored the idea of moving from Fitzwilliam, where Davis Cup matches are normally played, and taking it to a bigger venue.
The first round ties will be played in March. Ireland will play Luxembourg in Dublin while Britain are also the home team in their match against Tunisia.
O'Sullivan ends Hendry's hopes of an overdue title
SNOOKER: Ronnie O'Sullivan sent Stephen Hendry tumbling out of the 12bet.com World Open but admitted he might not have the hunger to last the distance in Glasgow.
Seven-time former world champion Hendry has not won a ranking title for five years, and the wait goes on after he failed to punish O’Sullivan for some occasional careless play.
O’Sullivan is now at the quarter-final stage after his 3-1 win, but he acknowledged: “Stephen of old would have trounced me today. “I’m just hacking it around a bit.”
O’Sullivan fired in a break of 93 to take the opening frame, and Hendry replied with 95 in the next.
But they traded misses in the next frame, which O’Sullivan edged, and then Hendry presented his opponent with a perfect chance to take control of the fourth by running into the blue from his break-off shot. Last night’s draw handed him a last-eight clash with Hendry’s fellow Scot Stephen Maguire.
Trott in Pakistan board's sights
CRICKET: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering legal action against England batsman Jonathan Trott after his clash with Pakistani bowler Wahab Riaz before the fourth one-day international at Lord's, a board source said yesterday.
PCB chairman Ijaz Butt had conferred with his legal team over the possibility of filing legal action against Trott for allegedly calling Riaz “a match fixer” while the two teams were warming up in the nets, the source said.
The two players scuffled and had to appear before the match referee over the incident, with Trott apologising to Riaz.
“There is a strong likelihood that the PCB, in a tit-for-tat response to the threat by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to sue Butt over his remarks against English players, will go after Trott,” the source said.
On Thursday, the ECB demanded a “full and unreserved apology” from Butt for his allegations that England players had engaged in match-fixing.
Steyn puts club before country
RUGBY: South African fullback Francois Steyn is willing to put his international career on hold to focus on his French club duties, he said yesterday.
Steyn, a key member of the 2007 World Cup-winning side, hit out at South Africa coach Peter de Villiers for skipping a meeting they were supposed to have last week.
“He was supposed to come to Paris on Sept 18. He cancelled the meeting. It’s not the first time he has done that. It’s a lack of respect for Racing Metro, a lack of respect for me,” Steyn told French rugby paper Midi Olympique.
“I don’t expect anything from the Springboks anymore. I have moved on.”
Steyn was left out of the Springboks’ squad for the Tri-Nations but was recalled for the home leg of the tournament and he featured at fullback in the 44-31 victory over Australia on Aug. 28.
Steyn, however, has not ruled out participating in the 2011 World Cup.
Doctor issues warning to Nadal
TENNIS:Rafa Nadal will have to learn how to listen to his body if he is to dominate the world of tennis like Roger Federer, his knee doctor said yesterday.
The 24-year-old Spaniard added the US Open to his list of Australian, French and Wimbledon crowns earlier this month, only the seventh person to have won all four grand slams.
“He has to learn how to take care of himself to be able to carry on for many years,” said surgeon Mikel Sanchez.
The world number one turned to the orthopaedic specialist after the Australian Open last year, when he suffered nagging pain.
It was incredible he was able to keep on playing with his knees the way they were, Sanchez said.
The doctor treated Nadals knees with a series of enriched plasma injections to help rebuild his tendons.
Walsh leads after first round in Cork
SAILING: Nick Walsh of the host club led the first round of the IIA All Ireland Sailing Championships at the Royal Cork Yacht Club yesterday with a fourth and two race wins in the near-perfect conditions, reports David Branigan.
But the National 18 champion was put under pressure by Niall Henry, the GP14 class champion from Sligo YC who was one point behind in the eight boat flight. Both progress to tomorrow’s final round along while third-placed Garrett May, the Puppeteer national champion from Howth YC must await the outcome of today’s racing to see if he will progress.
The day’s opening race was won by Simon Mitton from the Royal St. George YC in Dun Laoghaire but the promising start for the Beneteau 31.7 class nominee was followed by two fifth places.
Today’s two flights will include some of Ireland’s heavyweights of yacht racing including the defending champion Nicholas O’Leary (RCYC) who is aiming for a third consecutive title win.
St Brigid's take the initiative
GAELIC GAMES:St Brigid's won out against against a 14-man UCD by 0-9 to 0-8 in last night's Dublin senior football championship quarter-final at Parnell Park.
Kevin Bonner had sent over two early points for St Brigid’s with Philip Ryan and Paddy Andrews bringing the gap to four.
A point from half forward Kevin McGourty cut the arrears and, the Blanchardstown men needed late scores from Ken Darcy and Bonner to ensure victory.
ST BRIGID’S: S Supple, A Daly, Martin Cahill, G Norton, C Moran, S Murray, G Kane, B Cahill, C Mullins, Mark Cahill (0-2. one free), K Kilmurray, K Bonner (0-3), P Ryan (0-1), K Darcy (0-2, two frees), Paddy Andrews (0-1). Subs: Peadar Andrews for Kane (30 mins), D O’Connor for Ryan (52 mins), C Kilmurray for Moran (59 mins), C Carr for Mullins (60 mins).
UCD: R Farrell; P Kelly, C Forde, J Hayes; D Curran, S Redmond, J Fitzpatrick; S Brennan, J Heslin (0-3, 2f); J O’Loughlin (0-2), M McGowan, K McGourty (0-1); T Warburton, D St Leger, C Kelly (0-1). Subs: D Larkin (0-1) for Warburton (25 mins), P Brady for Hayes (half-time), S O’Nearnaigh for Curray (35 mins), R Mallon for Brady (45 mins).
Referee: K Tighe (St Anne’s)
