SPORTS DIGEST:AMATEUR BOXING: Irish welterweight Jason Quigley won a gold medal at the European Youth Championships in Szczecin, Poland on Saturday.
A 6-1 decision over Emil Ahmadov of Azerbaijan ensured the orthodox- punching Finn Valley clubman, the owner of seven Irish titles up to intermediate level, finished on top of the welterweight podium.
He also won the tournament’s best technical boxer award.
The Donegal teenager was 1-0 up at the end of the first round, 2-0 ahead in the second and added another four points in the final two frames en route to the 69kg gold.
Speaking after his win, Quigley said: “It was a tough week and I had to keep my concentration in all my bouts.
“It was a very proud moment for me to hear the Irish national anthem being played and to see our flag being raised was really special.”
Reputation of rugby 'damaged'
RUGBY: The reputation of rugby has been damaged in the wake of the Harlequins "bloodgate" scandal, the chairman of the Rugby Football Union in England said yesterday.
Martyn Thomas said the sport could have “done without” the bad publicity, but vowed that measures will be put in place in an attempt to stamp out further incidents. Former Harlequins physiotherapist Steph Brennan yesterday resigned from his role with the Rugby Football Union, after being banned for two years by European Cup disciplinary chiefs following his role in “bloodgate”.
Rugby union is still reeling from the fall-out of last season’s Heineken Cup quarter-final between Quins and Leinster, and the damaging fake blood scandal that saw Brennan, former Harlequins rugby director Dean Richards and player Tom Williams all banned.
Thomas said yesterday : “The sport could have done without it. It’s clearly damaged the reputation of rugby.”
Imperious Federer proves the master in Cincinnati
TENNIS: World number one Roger Federer warmed up for the defence of his US Open title in perfect fashion as he beat fourth seed Novak Djokovic 6-1 7-5 to win the Cincinnati Masters yesterday.
The 15-times grand-slam champion ripped through the first set and then came from 3-0 down to win the second and clinch his fourth title of the year.
“A good start always helps and that was the case today,” Federer said at the trophy presentation. “I played awesome yesterday (against Andy Murray) as well and the whole week’s been great for me.”
Serb Djokovic had beaten former world number one Rafa Nadal in the semi-finals on Saturday but after a quick turnaround he looked sluggish early on.
A 13-minute second game proved crucial as Federer broke for 2-0 and another break two games later helped him to take the opening set.
After holding for 5-5 in the second set, Federer broke Djokovic again and served out comfortably to clinch his 16th Masters Series title.
Lee eyes Duddy after another win
BOXING: Irish middleweight Andy Lee reckons that a fight with John Duddy would sell out any venue in Ireland or the USA.
The Limerick southpaw chalked up the 19th win of his career after dropping and stopping US puncher Anthony Shuler in the eighth round at the sold out Horseshoe Casino in Indiana on Friday night.
Indiana born Shuler was down in the second and fourth rounds and hit the canvas three times in the eighth before the referee stopped the fight
Lee, 25, has been linked with Duddy and Matthew Macklin. He said: “I would be willing to meet any of them, just name the venue. These would be the type of fights that would sell out any venue in Limerick, Dublin or New York.
Hills go top of Leinster League
CRICKET: Defending champions The Hills went top of Section A of the Leinster Senior League with a comprehensive 109-run victory over Railway Union at Park Avenue on Saturday, writes Emmet Riordan.
They dislodged Merrion from the top spot after they failed to beat Pembroke for a second straight day, going down by two wickets at Sydney Parade.
It wasn’t enough to take Pembroke away from the relegation spot after North County completed a 66-run win over Leinster at Balrothery.
YMCA will be playing top-flight cricket next summer after they confirmed their promotion from Section B with a nine-wicket victory over CYM at Claremont Road.
Ireland player Reinhardt Strydom proved the hero, taking six wickets for 16 runs as CY were skittled for 65.
