A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Egan marches on but Wall ends Moylette's dream
BOXING: Ken Egan is within two wins of claiming his 11th title in 12 seasons after stopping fellow Dubliner Michael Frayne in the Elite Championships quarter-finals at Dublin's National Stadium on Saturday night.
But Ray Moylette’s Olympic dream is over after he slipped to a shock defeat to Martin Wall of the Crumlin BC. Moylette, the current European light-welterweight champion, is ranked eighth in the world by AIBA
But Wall stunned the 2008 AIBA World Youth gold medallist to win 15-11 less that two months out from the final Olympic qualifier for European male boxers in Turkey.
Egan, meanwhile, forced Frayne into two standing counts in the first round and the fight was stopped 12 seconds from the final bell when Frayne took a third standing count with Egan 24-9 ahead.
The 10-time Elite champion will now meet Moylette’s St Anne’s team-mate Eamon Walsh, who beat Cork’s light-heavyweight Pa O’Shea.
Robertson wins Masters final
SNOOKER: Neil Robertson was crowned 2012 BGC Masters champion after defeating Shaun Murphy 10-6 in last night's final at Alexandra Palace. The Cambridge-based Australian (29) was in magnificent form during a dominant second session, winning four successive frames to establish an unassailable position. And the Melbourne man grew in confidence as the match progressed to complete his seventh victory in the seven rankings finals he has contested.
Kuerten wins Grand Prix in Amsterdam
EQUESTRIAN: Antrim-born Jessica Kuerten recorded her first major Grand Prix victory in over a year when landing yesterday's 1.60m class in Amsterdam.
Winning €24,750 for her efforts, Kuerten took the class on board Stal Poels and James Paterson Robinsons Vicente, a 10-year-old gelding by Oklund. The Irish rider was three-hundredths of a second faster than her closest challenger, The Netherlands’ Gerco Schroder and the grey mare Eurocommerce California.
Afterwards Kurten said: “Vincente has been improving in recent months and he just gets better and better. It was a very fast jump-off and I decided to take more of a risk at the second last jump than the other riders, and it paid off. Im really delighted.
Loeb off to a flyer in Monte Carlo
RALLYING:Citroen's Sebastien Loeb started his hunt for a ninth successive world championship with a commanding victory in the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally yesterday.
The Frenchman beat Spaniard Dani Sordo, in a Mini, by two minutes and 45 seconds to celebrate his sixth career victory in the most glamourous event on the calendar.
Sordo’s podium was Mini’s best result in Monte Carlo since Finlands Rauno Aaltonen won in 1967.
Norway’s former world champion Petter Solberg, whose Finnish team mate Jari-Matti Latvala crashed out on day one, finished third on his return to the Ford team after an absence of more than 10 years.
Finland’s Mikko Hirvonen, last years overall runner-up with Ford, finished fourth on his Citroen debut.
Ireland’s Craig Breen claimed victory in the Super 2000 Championship category in his Ford Fiesta S2000. Breen (21) claimed victory after completing the final stage on the marathon five-day event on Saturday.
Sangakkara stars in Sri Lanka's win
CRICKET: Kumar Sangakkara compiled a well-paced century to help Sri Lanka to a two-wicket win over South Africa off the penultimate ball in the fifth one-day international at the Wanderers yesterday.
Sangakkara scored 102 from 97 balls as Sri Lanka, chasing South Africas 312 for four, reached 307 for five with only six runs needed off seven balls.
But they contrived to lose three wickets in the space of four deliveries before Sachithra Senanayake struck left-arm spinner Robin Peterson high over mid-wicket for six.
South Africa, who won the series 3-2, owed their total to captain Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers who each scored 125. Sangakkara anchored Sri Lanka’s run chase, reaching his 50 off 54 balls before posting his 12th one-day international.
Wilson maintains his pole position
GOLF: American Mark Wilson maintained his three-shot lead over his nearest rivals at the Humana Challenge in La Quinta, California, when the delayed third round was completed yesterday.
Wilson, who had three holes of his third round left to complete when play was suspended on Saturday because of strong winds, completed his round with three pars. He signed for a 67 and a total of 21-under-par at La Quinta Country Club, one of three venues hosting the pro-am celebrity event. Four players; Zach Johnson, Robert Garrigus, Ben Crane and Brandy Snedeker, were tied for second at 18-under while David Toms and John Mallinger were a further two shots adrift.
The players made the most of the improved conditions on Sunday with some enterprising plan and super low-scoring. Garrigues made the biggest move, carding a 61 on the Nicklaus course, featuring seven birdies between the 10th and 17th holes.
Former penn State coach Paterno dies
AMERICAN FOOTBALL: Joe Paterno, who set records for longevity and on-field success as Penn State University's football coach before being fired because of his handling of a child-sex abuse scandal involving a former assistant, has died.
He was 85. Surrounded by family, Paterno died from lung cancer at Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College, Pennsylvania, the hospital said in a statement. Paterno was diagnosed in November, a few days after his dismissal. Paterno coached the Nittany Lions to 409 wins, a record for college footballs highest level.
The victories include two national championships and a record 24 bowl victories in 46 seasons as head coach at one of college footballs most prestigious programs. He was fired on November 9th after being criticised for failing to contact police when told of a case involving former defensive co-ordinator Jerry Sandusky.
