A round up of other sports news in brief
Pacquiao-Mayweather Jr fight edges closer
BOXING: Manny Pacquiao would be willing to take a blood test 14 days prior to a bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr, local media reports said, edging the two men regarded as the world's best pound-for-pound boxers closer to a showdown.
Talks between the fighters’ camps stalled earlier this year over Pacquiao’s refusal to agree to Mayweather’s demands for Olympic-style random drug testing, with the Filipino saying he did not want blood drawn from him too close to a fight.
“Fourteen days is okay with me, as long as (the blood test) isn’t done on the day of the fight, and only the right amount of blood will be drawn from me,” Pacquiao told Filipino media.
Pacquiao has been elected to congress back home and will need to fit his training regime in with parliament sessions after being sworn in on June 30th.
“I will stay in the country during training camp then with two weeks before the fight, I will fly to the US,” he said.
Belletti takes Giro stage
CYCLING: Manuel Belletti gave Italy their second Giro d'Italia stage win in two days with a superb sprint finish in his home region.
Belletti’s struggling Colnago team suffered a blow before stage 13 when their leader Domenico Pozzovivo was among the riders to pull out but were celebrating a shock win at the end.
Australia’s Saxo Bank rider Richie Porte, the surprise package of this Giro, kept the overall lead.
The Cesena/Cesenatico area in north eastern Italy is synonymous with Italian cycling given it was the home of 1998 Giro winner Marco Pantani, whose life was later destroyed by drugs.
Belletti, never a winner on a Grand Tour stage, timed his break to perfection in the home straight when a handful of other riders had looked better placed.
Ireland’s Daniel Martin finished eight minutes 41 seconds back, and ended the day 66th in the overall standings. He is an hour and three minutes behind Porte.
North County look for another win
CRICKET: North County will be looking to continue their fine start to the season when they travel to Anglesea Road to take on Merrion in Division One of the Leinster Senior League this afternoon, writes Emmet Riordan.
County have not one the title since they completed their four-in-a-row in 2006.
But with Ireland internationals Andre Botha and John Mooney on board they got off to a flyer with a 145-run victory away to Malahide.
Botha (94) and Mooney (51) helped them post 272 for eight from their 50 overs before the rattled through Malahide to bowl them out for 127.
The acquisition of opening bowler James Boyland from Perth also looks a shrewd one.
Merrion have also signed an Australian professional for the summer in Greg Clarence and the 23-year-old from Sydney has already made a big contribution with his innings of 103 helping them to a 58-run victory away to Strabane in the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup.
Beckman shoots 61 for early lead
CAMERON BECKMAN stormed into the clubhouse lead at the Byron Nelson Championship with a nine-under-par second-round 61 in Texas yesterday.
The American fired a nine-birdie, no-bogey round at Los Colinas near Dallas to move to 10 under after 36 holes.
He was two shots clear of Australian veteran Steve Elkington mid-way through the delayed second round.
Carlow may still have a way to go
LEINSTER SHC: Carlow v Laois, (Portlaoise, tonight, 7pm): Carlow's improvement has been one of the good news stories in hurling and their victory over Wexford in the league this season is tangible evidence. Unfortunately they meet a Laois side, well drilled by Niall Rigney and at full strength in tonight's preliminary round encounter.
There wasn’t a huge amount between them in the league meeting but Laois were better.
Eddie Nolan wins the fitness battle to take his place in Carlow’s centrefield where he enjoyed a fine NFL campaign.
Full back Shane Kavanagh also had an excellent league and he takes on Laois’s experienced Tommy Fitzgerald.
Laois are justifiable favourites. – Seán Moran
