Cycling: After losing over 17 minutes in Monday's rainswept second stage of the Tour of Italy, Ciaran Power showed tremendous reserves of courage to fight back on yesterday's 177km leg from Paestum to Scalea. The 24-year-old posted the best Irish result in a major cycling tour since 1993, when he took on the world's best sprinters in the frenzied dash for the line to finish fifth on the stage.
With Mario Cipollini's Saeco team paving the way for their flamboyant fastman, Power shadowed the multiple Tour de France and Tour of Italy stage winner in the run-in to the finish, launching his sprint with 200 metres to go. Cipollini was first across the line to take what should have been his 30th Giro stage victory, but was later disqualified for obstructing Czech Jan Svorada in the final metres. Svorada was promoted to first, with Guido Trenti, Miguel Perdiguerro, Matteo Tosatto and Power next over the line.
A mere five months after he begun a professional career with the Linda McCartney team, the Waterford rider was understandably elated: s biggest cycling race after the Tour de France. "I have never found myself in that position before", he said about the surge to the finish. "I didn't really have the confidence I needed in the sprint, but the next time I am in that position, I will win", he vowed.
Meanwhile, With three days to go to the start of the FBD Milk Ras, it has been announced that a Scandinavian team will replace the previously confirmed Latvian squad, who were forced to withdraw due to financial difficulties.
Tennis: The summer schedule has been successfully rearranged by Tennis Ireland to accommodate the change of date for the Davis Cup tie against Croatia at the Fitzwilliam club in July.
The Davis Cup fixture was originally fixed in error by the ITF with no provision made for an ATP Tour series in Croatia at the same time (July 21st-23rd). The new dates for the Euro-African Group II tie are July 14th, 15th and 16th. The Irish Close Championships at Donnybrook will now be staged from July 1st-8th.
Basketball: The Irish senior men's squad face a demanding schedule over the next five days with the start of the European 2003 Championship qualifiers in Vejle, Denmark. First up this afternoon is Romania - one of the favourites to win the five-team pool.
On paper, however, this is one of the strongest Irish sides to assemble in recent years. Professionals Ken Lacey, John O'Connell and John Burke (all 7 ft 1 in of him) have joined the squad from their respective European leagues and will add obvious quality to home-based players such as Belfast's Gareth Maguire and Neptune captain Stephen McCarthy.
Boxing: Michael Carruth may well have boxed his last professional fight when he was stopped by England's Adrian Stone in London last month and now says he will not step into the ring again unless a big name opponent is agreed.
Under embarrassing circumstances in Carruth's acceptance of the London contest at 18 days' notice, he failed to make the weight before retiring after the fifth round, dehydrated.
Carruth now admits that only a big purse will lure him back into the ring as a professional. "It will take Trinidad (Felix) or someone like that to get me interested. I'm going to sit down and talk to Brian (Peters, his manager) about it but it will have to be a lucrative offer, otherwise I won't take it."
Badminton: Irish champion Sonya McGinn faces an agonising wait before learning whether or not she has qualified for the Olympic Games after receiving confirmation that she is second in reserve for the singles' tournament in Sydney.
While the International Badminton Federation said yesterday that the definitive list of qualifiers will not be issued until July 28th, McGinn's prospects look good. Two Canadian players are above her in the list, including Kara Solmundson who the Dubliner beat three times recently, but their Olympic Association only sends players ranked in the world's top 24 to the Games, and neither player has met that target.
Athletics: Gary Ryan, the national 200 metres record holder, will have his first major test of the season when he competes in the "Road to Sydney" meeting at Bedford on June 3rd.
He will be joined in an Ireland selection by two other established international competitors, David Matthews and Gareth Turnbull, who run in the 800 and 1,500 metres events respectively.
Included in the team for the European walk championships in Germany on June 17th and 18th is Gillian O'Sullivan of University College Cork. O'Sullivan has already achieved an `A' qualifying standard for Sydney.
Ireland Squad (for Road to Sydney meet at Bedford) - Men: 100m: J McAdorney (Ballymena/Antrim); 200m: G Ryan (Nenagh); 400m: P McKee (Beechmount) 800m; D Matthews (UCD); 1,500m: G Turnbull (St Malachy's); 110m hurdles: T McGlynn (DCH). Shot: J Leahy(limerick). Women: 100m: E Maher (Kilkenny); 200m: S Reilly (unattached); 400m: J McKenna (Metro/St Bridget's); 800m: M Prenderville (Riocht). 1,500m: M Lynch (DSD); 440m hurdles: M Monaghan (unattached); High Jump: S Foley (Lifford); Pole Vault: J Claffey (Borrisokane). Javelin: A Moffitt (North Down); Hammer: O Kelleher (Farranfore).
European Walk Squad - Men: J Costin (West Waterford), R Heffernan (Togher), J Cassin (Finn Valley). Women: O Loughnane (Loughrea), G O'Sullivan (UCC), G Tuohy (Tullamore).
Sailing: After two races in the Star class in the world championship on Chesapeake Bay in the United States, potential Irish Olympians Mark Mansfield and David O'Brien are holding ninth overall in a fleet of almost 140 boats.
