D Wednesday, September 16, 2009 METROSPORT 21 Boxing: Manny Pacquiao is plotting a showdown with fellow ring legend Floyd Mayweather Jnr, but says he first faces the toughest test of his career so far against Puerto Rican warrior Miguel Cotto in november. Mayweather is coming out of retirement after a 16-month break to face Mexicos WBA/WBo lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez at a catchweight of 144 lbs in Las Vegas on Saturday. Pacquiao knows a clash against unbeaten American star Mayweather would be a massive draw. And he revealed: Talks are on. We have a tough fight ahead of us. Well take care of this one and then hopefully negotiations will happen. When me and Mayweather prevail, then itll be us. CRICKET: Eoin Morgan scored his first half-century for England, but Ricky Pontings masterful ton gave Australia yet another victory in the one-day series between the sides. Former Ireland star Morgan smashed 58 off just 41 deliveries, including three sixes, to help the hosts post their highest score of the series, 299 for nine, but Aussie skipper Ponting, aided by 52 from vice- captain Michael Clarke, was in the mood to give England victory despite his side already holding an insurmountable 4-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Ponting was at his destructive best, scoring 126 from 109 balls to keep the tourists hopes of a series whitewash alive. FoRMULA onE: Sir Stirling Moss has welcomed the return of Lotus to the sport. The British motor racing legend drove a Lotus for two years in the early 1960s and he believes the Lotus name, which was always synonymous with daredevil racing while competing in F1 from 1958 to 1994, will only enhance the sport. its good news, said Moss. Theyve got the heritage, theyve got the name and its a good thing for the sport. Weve got a batch of new cars coming in next year and Lotus good name can only add to that. Motor sports governing body, the FiA, yesterday granted Lotus the 13th slot on next seasons grid. Although the team is based in England, its funding will come from a Malaysian consortium. RUGBY: Argentina will take time to adapt to a Four Nations tournament but will then be able to beat the Sanzar teams, Pumas captain Felipe Contepomi said. The Pumas, third in the 2007 World Cup in France, have been invited to join Australia, New Zealand and world champions South Africa in an expanded southern hemisphere tournament from 2012. In the beginning, its going to be hard to get results, because well have to adapt to the [Tri-Nations] game and speed, Contepomi said. But as matches go by, the Pumas are going to be able to beat the Springboks, the All Blacks and the Wallabies, said the former Leinster fly-half who now plays for Toulon in France. SPORTDigest Half-century: Morgan Lip service: Del Potro after his final win One Del of a night as Juan holds court US Open champion Juan Martin del potro will not be complacent in his search for future grand-slam glory, despite landing his first title with a defeat of Roger Federer. The 20-year-old scored one of the upsets of the year at Flushing Meadows when he beat world no.1 and five-times defending champion Federer in five sets in new York to claim the mens singles title in his first grand-slam final. The 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 success was Del potros first victory against Federer in seven attempts, denying the Swiss a 16th major title and preventing him from becoming the first man since Bill Tilden in the 1920s to win six US Open titles in a row. Furthermore, the 6ft 6in Argentine became the first man to beat both Federer and Rafael nadal en route to one of the sports major titles. I just want to live this moment, he said. Of course I will be in the history of this tournament, thats amazing for me. If I beat nadal, Federer and many good players, maybe I can do it one more time. But, of course, it will be difficult, because I was so close to losing. For Federer, it was his sixth grand-slam final defeat but the first time he had lost a final to someone other than nadal. no problem, the outgoing champion said. He deserved it, he played well. Five [straight US Open titles] was great. Six would have been a dream, too cant have them all. Federer this year completed his grand-slam collection by winning the French Open in paris before overhauling pete Samprass record of 14 mens major titles with victory at Wimbledon. This one is easy to get over just because Ive had the most amazing summer and a great run, added the Swiss legend. tennis us openGAA Morgan: Captain Canty gives Cork a vital edgeBY PAUL KEANE Friendly rivalry: Morgan, left, and Kerry legend Mick ODwyer discuss this weekends All-Ireland final yesterday Picture: Sportsfile Former soccer star Shane Supple has indicated he wants to challenge Stephen Cluxton for the Dublin goalkeepers jersey. Supple, 22, has returned to his GAA club, St Brigids, after quitting a professional soccer contract with roy Keanes Ipswich Town. The republic of Ireland Under-21 keeper is keen to settle here again, become a Garda in the future and play for the Dublin footballers. Id like to think I can play at a high level, said Supple (pictured). If the opportunity came around to play for Dublin, jaysus, who wouldnt want to play in front of 80,000 on a Sunday at Croke Park? Soccer star Supple plans Cluxton challenge FORMeR boss Billy Morgan be- lieves Cork have already overcome Kerry in one key All-Ireland final battle, the battle of the captains. Kerry still operate the policy of allowing their club champions, cur- rently Mid Kerry, to pick the county captain. It has meant that Mid Kerrys Darran OSullivan has had to bal- ance being captain with simply try- ing to earn a starting place. Cork did away with the tradition years ago and manager Conor Counihan was allowed to pick Gra- ham Canty as captain, and the de- fender has responded with some brilliant displays. In fact, Canty is a contender for player of the Year while some be- lieve OSullivan will be dropped to make way for Tommy Walsh. Counihan described the system in Kerry as crazy really and said if he was Kingdom manager he would have chosen to appoint Darragh S as captain. With all due respect to Darran OSullivan, who is a lovely young fella, I think that if Jack OConnor was picking I dont think Darran would be his captain, said Morgan, at a Vodafone promotion ahead of Sundays final. Cork have the ideal captain in Graham Canty and the county should appoint their captain just as a club appoints its captain. Morgan won All-Irelands with Cork as a player in 1973 and as manager in 1989 and 1990. His last stint as Cork manager ended with him suffering defeat by Kerry in the 2007 decider. He admitted their title bid was overcome by nerves back then and reckons that is the biggest obstacle for them to cross again. Cork havent beaten Kerry in Croke park, he noted. Weve lost five times since 2002 but done very well against Kerry in Munster. Its about getting over that hurdle and it probably is a psychological one more than anything. But from what I believe there is no fear in the Cork camp. They have to go and show no fear. Forget that its Kerry, go out and play and impose their own game. Kerry will come at them all guns blazing and look for an early lead to put doubts in Corks minds again. Cork just have to believe in themselves and go for it. CorK hurling skipper John Gardiner believes his pals on the football team deserve to win the All-Ireland title. The Leeside hurlers and footballers have been united in protests against the county board over management issues in each of the last two winters. I obviously might be biased but I think they deserve an All- Ireland, said Gardiner. They certainly deserve to be in the final as the only unbeaten team left in the Championship and having gone straight through. The way they performed against Tyrone put any question marks to bed. Theyre back on the big stage and Im sure theyll be thinking about the last time they played Kerry in the [2007] final. Theyll want to put that one behind them. FORMeR Meath manager Sen Boylan insists he has no interest in taking over Armagh. Boylan is the man the Armagh players want to succeed peter McDonnell after favourite paul Grimley snubbed them by taking up a coaching role with Monaghan. But the four- times All-Ireland winner has set the record straight by revealing it isnt something Id consider. International Rules boss Boylan said: Its the first I heard of it, to be honest, but it isnt something Id consider. Armagh is a great football county and its very flattering to be talked about in connection with the job. But a position like that is almost a full- time job these days and I simply havent time to commit to it. A new committee is expected to be formed after the one charged with replacing McDonnell quit. Hurling skipper Gardiner backs Rebel footballers Boylan out of running to lead Orchard men index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html