WOMEN'S HOCKEY: Yesterday proved to be a fruitful day for Hermes, reports Mary Hannigan. Not only did the Dublin side win promotion for Ireland from the European Hockey Trophy at Grange Road, they also had five players named in the Irish squad for the trip to Korea next month, giving them the largest representation of any club.
The team cruised to a 4-0 victory over Belgian side Royal Leopold in yesterday's promotion play-off, a success that ensures Pegasus, this season's All-Ireland champions, will play in the A division next season.
Goals in the first 10 minutes from Jenny Burke and Mary Logue put Hermes in control, with Linda Caulfield (35th minute) and Aoife Mitchell (60th) adding two more.
Burke and Caulfield are joined by team-mates Caitriona Carey, Fiona Connery and Jill Hodgins in the Irish squad.
The team will compete in a six-nations tournament in Seongnam city, where the hosts, South Korea, China, England and India (with one more nation still to be confirmed) will provide the opposition.
IRISH SQUAD: A Platt, B McKeever, L McVicker (Ballymoney); J McDonough, S Beaney (Belfast Harlequins); D Casey (Church of Ireland); C Carey, F Connery, J Burke, J Hodgins, L Caulfield (Hermes); L O'Neill, N Symmons (Loreto), J Orbinson (Pegasus), M Goode (Pembroke Wanderers), C O'Brien (Railway Union), C Parkhill (Randalstown), E Cregan (Univ of Limerick).
MEN'S HOCKEY: In addition to the achievement of Hermes in women's circles, Instonians also gained a European Championship promotion slot yesterday, if only to the B division, for Lisnagarvey next year, by beating Amsicora of Italy, 2-1, in their C division promotion play-off in Zagreb.
Chris Kirk gave Instonians a first-half lead from a short corner and although the Italians drew level after the break, Gavin Curry set up the decisive goal for Mark Irwin six minutes from the end.
CYCLING: Italy's Alessandro Petacchi won his first sprint of the 2005 Giro d'Italia in Ravenna yesterday to finally end his dry spell without a stage win.
The Fassa Bortolo rider beat compatriot Paolo Bettini and Switzerland's Aurelien Clerc in a mass sprint finish in the centre of Ravenna at the end of the 139 km stage from Florence.
Italy's Danilo Di Luca finished safely in the main field in the same time as Petacchi and retained the overall race lead.
Compatriots Ivan Basso and Paolo Savoldelli are second and third overall at nine and 35 seconds respectively.
"Winning in Ravenna is special because it's close to the home of my team manager Giancarlo Ferretti," Petacchi said. "This is probably the stage I wanted to win the most."
Today is the first rest day, but Petacchi will have a chance to win a second stage tomorrow with the flat 212 km 10th stage from Ravenna to Rossano Veneto near Venice.
CYCLING: Ireland's top professional Mark Scanlon has been forced to withdraw from the Irish national team for next week's FBD Insurance Rás, considerably reducing the chances of a home victory in the eight-day race, reports Shane Scanlon.
The former world junior champion was due to line out alongside Stephen Gallagher, Páidí O'Brien, Conor Murphy and Brian Keane on the team at the race start this coming Sunday, but he has been diagnosed with a virus and instructed to rest.
The Sligoman had struggled with injury earlier this year, but then bounced back to win a stage of the Circuit des Ardennes in April. However, his form dipped again after that victory, with recent tests showing evidence of illness.
Scanlon's place will now be taken by John Dempsey, a Tipperary rider who has been in fine form in domestic races this year.
He won the Rás Mumhan and also the opening stage of the recent Tour of Ulster.
TENNIS: Jack Nicklaus has said he will end his competitive playing career after this year's British Open at St Andrews.
Nicklaus hasn't played the British Open since 2000 when St Andrews was also the host. The storied venue was the site of two of Nicklaus' three British Open titles, in 1970 and 1978.
The 65-year-old legend played his last Masters in April and will lose his exemption to play in the British Open after this year's tournament.
"I expect I'll be just as emotional at St Andrews. I'm a sentimental old fool," he said.
