A round-up of today's sports news in brief
Cole brothers seal cup for Andrew's
HOCKEY:Extra-time goals from brothers Lee and David Cole saw St Andrew's take home the Leinster Schoolboys' Junior Cup title from Grange Road, ending Wesley's two-year reign as champions.
They did it the hard way, recovering from a goal deficit, after Andrew Malcolm’s drag-flick broke the deadlock midway through the second half. Jamie Bourne, though, struck twice from close range to swap the lead and put Andrew’s on the cusp of victory with four minutes remaining. But Wesley earned a stroke within a minute, converted by skipper Jonathan Lewis to force extra-time. The Cole brothers, however, struck to give St Andrew’s a 4-2 win.
Meanwhile, Eamon Walshe struck the vital blow for Kilkenny as they claimed their first senior hockey title since 2000, settling an epic Senior Trophy final with High School at Grange Road on the seventh round of penalty strokes. The match ended 2-2 at the end of normal time.
Rankin expects to be fit for World Twenty20 campaign
CRICKET:Opening bowler Boyd Rankin expects to play a full part in Ireland's World Twenty20 campaign after easing worries over the foot injury that ruled him out of the qualifying event in the UAE last month, writes Emmet Riordan.
The 6ft 8in Warwickshire player missed the event with a stress reaction in his right foot but is expected to join the county on their upcoming pre-season trip to South Africa. Rankin will then join up with his Ireland colleagues for the tour to Jamaica where they will play the hosts in a three-day, 50-over and T20 game.
Ireland coach Phil Simmons will also get a chance to pit his wits against his former team when Ireland play the West Indies in a One-Day International at Sabina Park on April 15th. Ireland meet the West Indies in Group D of the World Twenty20 at Providence Stadium in Guyana on April 30th.
Meanwhile, Dublin left-hander Eoin Morgan has been awarded an incremental England contract for 2009/10.
IRELAND (Tour to Jamaica). April 3rd-5th: Three-day match v Jamaica, Chedwin Park; April 7th: 50-over game v Jamaica, venue tbc; April 11th: T20 v Jamaica, Trelawny; April 11th: T20 v West Indies XI, Trelawny; April 15th: ODI v West Indies, Sabina Park; April 17th: T20 v West Indies XI, Sabina Park; April 18th: T20 v West Indies XI, Sabina Park.
Taylor invited to the White House
BOXING:World, European, European Union and soon to be crowned Irish lightweight champion Katie Taylor has been invited to the White House for St Patrick's Day. The 2008 AIBA World female boxer of the year will be a guest of US President Barack Obama on March 17th.
The Bray woman and her Irish team-mate Sineád Kavanagh meet Ukrainian opponents Julia Tsyplakova and Tetyana Ivashenko respectively in special bouts on the Elite National Senior Finals night at the National Stadium in Dublin tomorrow.
Irishman Tyson Fury resumes his assault on the heavyweight scene tomorrow on the undercard of Gary Sykes versus Andy Morris, who battle in Huddersfield for the British super-featherweight title.
Fury – whose opponent has yet to be named – beat Czech Republic’s Tomas Mrazek on points in Dublin last September.
O'Brien returns to Limerick squad
GAA:Limerick hurling boss Justin McCarthy is hopeful James O'Brien's return to his squad will entice more players back. Under-fire McCarthy has received a big boost with the Bruree man returning to training with Limerick this week.
O’Brien’s was one of 24 names on a hard-hitting statement issued by members of Limerick’s 2009 panel last January, but his U-turn offers hope to McCarthy.
Puncture mishap for McCann
CYCLING:Irish professional David McCann suffered a puncture in the closing moments of yesterday's third stage of the Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia and slipped down the general classification, writes Shane Stokes.
While the Giant Asia rider was not deducted any time as the incident happened inside the final three kilometres, he nevertheless went from 30th to 45th overall. He remains three minutes and 15 seconds behind the overall leader, Tobias Erler. Michael Matthews clocked up his second win in three days when he thundered home in the 145.6 kilometre stage from Pekan to Mersing.
