A roundup of the day's other sporting news in brief
Dublin's Carroll overcomes Ward
BOXING: Dublin's Stephen Carroll produced one of the upsets of the National Intermediate Championships after he eliminated Galway welterweight Patrick J Ward at the quarter-final stage at the National Stadium in Dublin on Saturday night, writes Bernard O'Neill.
In the semi-finals, Holy Trinity ace Ruairi Dalton advanced from his clash with Liam McGuinness. Ciarán O’Neill progressed to the flyweight final with an 8-4 verdict over Paul McGrath of the Ballincarrow BC.
Meanwhile, Don O’Leary, Michael Frayne, Mark Carlyle, Brian Fitzpatrick and Seán Allen triumphed in the first five quarter final bouts, while Patrick O’Shea won his cruiserweight clash with Seán McHale.
The Championships resume next Friday night with semi finals in most weight categories. The finals will be held on Friday, December 11th.
Rossi brings his flair to four-wheel rally
MOTOR SPORT: MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi displayed his passion for four wheels by finishing second in the Monza rally in Italy yesterday.
The 30-year-old, who won the non-world championship event in 2006 and 2007, drove well in his Ford Focus but was beaten by last year’s champion Rinaldo Capello in a Citroën.
Rossi, third in his class in a touring car race last weekend, has considered moving into rallying when his Yamaha MotoGP contract runs out at the end of next year. He is poised to test a Ferrari F1 car in January.
Demons take down DCU Saints
BASKETBALL: UCC Demons produced a magnificent display to overcome DCU Saints 102-73 yesterday, in the latest series of Nivea For Men's SuperLeague fixtures, writes Shane Whelan.
Moycullen ensured Ulster Elks’ wait for a win continues, while UL Eagles remain perched at the top of the Southern Conference courtesy of an emphatic 105-77 win away to Belfast Star.
Neptune remain in third place in the Southern Conference after their 84-77 win at the expense of Hoops.
Meanwhile, in the IrishSport.TV Women’s SuperLeague, UL emerged from a titanic tussle away to Killester, while DCU Mercy secured their fourth consecutive win away to Tolka Rovers.
Yesterday, Team Montenotte Hotel made it five wins from five courtesy of a 91-50 away to Meteors.
Khan v Hatton 'could happen'
BOXING:Amir Khan yesterday admitted a British superfight against Ricky Hatton was a possibility as he prepared to defend his WBA light-welterweight title.
Khan, who takes on mandatory challenger Dmitriy Salita in Newcastle next Saturday night, said: “It is not nonsense. It is a fight that could happen because we are both at the same weights . . . Ricky has come back into the game and he wants another shot at a world title. . . We are good friends. But business is business and sometimes you have to fight your friends,” he said.
Brady and Kinane are honoured
SPORTS AWARDS: World handball champion Paul Brady and flat racing jockey Michael Kinane scooped the top awards at the Canon Hayes National Sports Awards in Tipperary at the weekend.
Brady took the national award ahead of race-walker Olive Loughnane and cyclists Catherine Walsh and Caroline Ryan, while Kinane was honoured with the outstanding achievement award in recognition of his many successes, which, in 2009, included victory in the 2,000 Guineas, the Derby and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Players see red in Kerry and Wicklow
GAELIC GAMES: An enthralling Munster junior football semi- final between Castlegregory and Glanworth was marred by a half-time brawl. It threatened to get very ugly after a spectator climbed up on the wire at the Austin Stack Park, Tralee and was seen to throw punches.
When the players lined up for the second half, the referee red carded Colm O’Connor and Micheal O’Shea (Castlegregory) along with Tommy Pierce and Seán O’Keeffe (Glanworth). The Kerry team won 1-10 to 1-6.
In Roundwood, Wicklow, eight players were sent off in the Dunne Cup senior football league final where Newtown beat Carnew, 1-9 to 0-6. Six were from Newtown, two from Carnew.
Anderson sets up England win
CRICKET: James Anderson took a career-best five for 23 to set up an overwhelming England win against South Africa yesterday, putting the tourists 2-1 up in the series with one to play.
Anderson’s devastating performance helped England bowl South Africa out for just 119 and inspired a seven-wicket victory in the fourth one-day international.
South Africa's total of 119 was their lowest in a home one-day international.
They will attempt to level the series in the final match in Durban on Friday.
