Today's other stories in brief
North County's Strydom lights up cold weekend with innings of 170
CRICKET:Ireland international Reinhardt Strydom lit up a cold and wet opening weekend to the Leinster season with a blistering innings of 170 not out as North County hammered Rush by 223 runs in the Dublin Grass Machinery League on Saturday, writes Emmet Riordan.
The South African-born opener took advantage of the tight confines at Kenure Park, scoring 114 of his runs in boundaries, hitting 21 fours and five sixes off the 142 deliveries he faced.
Former Railway Union all-rounder Adrian Murphy chipped in with an unbeaten 53 and Conor Armstrong made 40 as the Irish Senior Cup winners racked up a massive 322 for four off their 45 overs. Faced with such a huge target Rush were never at the races and were eventually bowled out for 99.
The bowling performance of the weekend went to Pembroke's new Australian pro Rick Francis, who finished with figures of six for 17 as his side defeated Munster Reds by 124 runs at Sydney Parade.
Under-19 international Theo Lawson top-scored for the home side with 41 as they posted 191 before Francis went to work to skittle the southerners for just 67.
Munster's weekend in the capital got better yesterday with a 29-run victory over Dublin University in a game reduced to 28 overs per side at College Park. Skipper Mike Martin top-scored with 65 as the Reds made 177 for five.
Ben Dunk slammed 102 for the students but it was to prove in vain as they were bowled out for 148 in the penultimate over.
Yesterday's bad weather put paid to Merrion's clash against Railway Union at Anglesea Road and Clontarf's home tie with Pembroke, while Jeremy Bray made a half-century as The Hills beat YMCA by two wickets in a 30 over clash at Claremont Road.
In Section A on Saturday, former Ireland captain Jason Molins made just 17 on his return to the domestic game with Leinster, but the Rathmines club were still too strong for Old Belvedere.
Keenan survives puncture to win Monaghan Rally
MOTORSPORT:Dessie Keenan and co-driver Enda Sherry survived a final stage puncture to win the Monaghan Rally, round three of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, writes Brian Foley.
After nine special stages, Keenan/Sherry, winners of this event last year, were 35 seconds ahead of new Dunlop Championship leaders and fellow Monaghan crew Niall Maguire and Paul McLaughlin, who also punctured on the final stage.
They held on to the runner-up spot by a mere second from Cavan's Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman.
Seamus Leonard and Kevin Barrett made it Subaru WRC's in the first five. Gary McPhillips/Mark Tierney (Escort) were the top two-wheel drive crew, and also finished sixth in general classification.
Fergal Costello/Shane Gilhooly (Mitsubishi) won Group N.
Michael Barrable retired his Ford Focus WRC at the first stage finish with centre differential failure, whilst Noel Redmond didn't even get that far, his new S12 Subaru failed to start prior to the rally. Glenn Allen (Toyota Corolla WRC) retired on the final loop with engine failure.
Dunlop National Rally Championship (after round three): 1. N. Maguire 56 points: 2. P. Elliott 54; 3. S. Leonard; 4. K. Barrett 27; 5. G. Allen 26. Next championship round: Cavan stages, May 25th.
O'Loughlin wins Shay Elliot Memorial
CYCLING:Irish road race champion David O'Loughlin outsprinted British rider Pete Williams (Pinarello) and Paul Griffin (Giant Asia) to win his second Shay Elliott Memorial yesterday, proving faster in the final rush to the line at Newtownmountkennedy, writes Shane Stokes.
All three were part of a 16-man breakaway group which had gone clear inside the first ten kilometres of the gruelling 145 kilometre race, held each year to commemorate Ireland's first-ever wearer of the Tour de France yellow jersey.
Three Pinarello riders were present in the breakaway and these refused to work when two team-mates, past race victor Malcolm Elliott and Russell Downing, got clear of the main bunch and started chasing behind.
However strong riding by O'Loughlin and his Pezula team got the better of the Pinarello competitors, with only Williams able to go with O'Loughlin, Kieran Page and Griffin.
Page got dropped on the day's final big climb, the steep ascent from Glenmalure up to the Shay Elliott Monument, but the others remained together until the finish.
O'Loughlin contained a surge by Williams just before the one kilometre to go point, then outsprinted both he and Griffin to the line.
Power continues his remarkable comeback
ATHLETICS:Clare's Seamus Power yesterday continued his remarkable comeback to top-class running to win the National 10km road race championships, staged in Athenry, writes Ian O'Riordan.
The Kilmurray-Ibrickane athlete, now 37, clocked 30:27 for a five-second win over local club man Paul McNamara, who claimed silver for Athenry AC in 30.32.
Power now boasts around 20 national titles between track, cross country and road, and is clearly not finished yet. Placing third in 31:14 was Alan O'Shea of Bantry, while Orla O'Mahony of Raheny took the women's title in 35:20.
Further afield, 36-year-old Mark Carroll also proved he's far from retired yet with a fine time of 13:28.09 over 5,000 metres when finishing second at the Mt SAC relays in California. It's not far off the 13:21.50 A-standard for Beijing, and Carroll will next month run the 10,000 metres hoping to secure his third Olympic qualification.
Hylands claim Irish titles
BOXING:Patrick and Edward Hyland are the new Irish featherweight and super featherweight champions after both brothers claimed the vacant Irish belts with thrilling wins at the National Stadium in Dublin on Saturday night.
Patrick laid claim to the featherweight title after stopping fellow Dubliner Paul Griffin on a third round TKO.
Edward, meanwhile, followed Patrick's win up with a 99-96 points verdict over Kevin O'Hara after a see-saw super featherweight decider.
A third Hyland brother, Paul, remains unbeaten after winning all eight rounds of his contest with Ghanaian puncher Ayittey Mettle at the South Circular Road venue.
Jonathan O'Brien, Declan Timlin, Luke Wilton, Gary O'Sullivan and Ian Tims also registered victories on Saturday's undercard.
