D Friday, September 25, 2009 METROSPORT 21 SPORT Digest Controversy: Semenya SA chief survives in Semenya row Athletics: south African athletics president leonard chuene will keep his job despite government calls for him to be fired for lying about gender tests made on runner caster semenya, it was reported yesterday. the athletics federations board had decided to keep chuene in his post after a meeting to discuss the controversy surrounding whether gender tests were conducted on semenya before her world championship 800 metres victory last month. the meeting unanimously expressed confidence in the current AsA leadership, the federation was quoted as saying. chuene said last week that semenya had undergone tests before the world championships in Berlin, something he had previously denied. Cancellara wins world time trial CyCling: Olympic champion Fabian Cancellara destroyed the field to win the time trial at the road world cycling championships for the third time yesterday. Cheered on by more than 23,000 home fans who lined the circuit, the Swiss finished the 49.8km course in 57 minutes 55 seconds, one minute 27 seconds ahead of Swedens gustav larsson. germanys Tony Martin was third, 2:30 back. Cancellara, 28, who won the title in 2006 and 2007, said: it was a perfect race. it was fantastic motivation to race at home. Mentally, i am stronger than before and more confident. My legs were ready but so was my head. England up for tilt at Trophy cRicKet: coach Andy Flower says england are far from demoralised after their recent one-day woes and are excited by the prospect of starting the champions trophy today. Despite arriving on the back of a gruelling summer schedule, which concluded with a 6-1 one-day series drubbing by Australia, england head into their opening Group B fixture against sri lanka thankful for a change of scene. We have had a long, hard summer back home, so getting out here and playing in this tournament, with the best players in the world is very exciting for everyone, said Flower. We are looking forward to that challenge. there is no trouble at all getting the players up for this tournament. Manager Mick ODwyer believes Wicklow deserve to at least double their allStar tally. The garden Countys Champion- ship breakthrough season has been rewarded with Vodafone allStar nom- inations for captain Leighton glynn and Ciaran Hyland. all-Ireland finalists Kerry and Cork dominate the selection with 22 of the 45 nominations. Meaths nigel Crawford and Cian Ward and Cork duo Donncha OConnor and Colm Oneill miss out while galway and Derry have been completely overlooked. But the most intriguing tale is Wick- lows search for just a second ever allStar.LegendarymanagerODwyer led them to wins over Longford, Cav- an, Fermanagh and Down in a thrill- ing campaign. and he believes corner-back Hyland and wing-forward glynn should join current selector Kevin OBrien on Wicklows tiny allStar roll of honour. Id be expecting a couple of them [allStars] anyway, said ODwyer. The best forward on every team we played, who did we put on him? Ci- aran Hyland. I thought he had an out- standing year. and Leighton glynn, what a footballer he showed he is. ODwyers concern is that their form may be forgotten given the pro- file that teams in the all-Ireland semi- finals and final received. normally theyll select most of the allStars out of the all-Ireland final which is totally wrong, added Micko. I think they should be done all AllStar nod is deserved, says Micko through the year, pick your players as you go along. You get so many points for games you play in as you go along. Thats the best way. Its the fairest way. a fella goes into the all-Ireland fi- nal and is outstanding on the day and a guy who is consistent all year is not selected. Thats wrong. Just four of Dublins Leinster win- ners are included; Stephen Cluxton, Barry Cahill and the Brogan brothers. Kildares Dermot earley, an allStar in 1998, is nominated at midfield and looks set for a second award. The Player of theYear nominees are Kerry duo Paul galvin and Tomas S and Corks graham Canty. Corks Colm Oneill, Donegal full- forward Michael Murphy and Mayos aidan OShea are Young Player of the Year contenders. By paul keane glynn with a shout: Wicklow skipper leighton on allStar shortlist Dublin stars Ciaran Whelan, Paul Griffin and Jason Sherlock have called on the countys fanatic fans to get behind the ladies on Sunday. The men failed in their bid to win an All-ireland senior title this decade but Dublins ladies can claim one if they beat Cork on Sunday. Gerry McGills team are aiming for a first ever All-ireland title having failed in the 2003 decider against Mayo. but they have a stiff task at Croke Park as opponents Cork are bidding for five-in-a-row. Whelan claimed it would be a massive morale booster if a huge crowd turned out, sentiments echoed by captain Griffin and All-ireland winner Sherlock. Tickets are available all week and on the day so there is no excuse for not playing your part, said Sherlock. football allstar nominations goalkeepers: D Murphy (Kerry), A Quirke (Cork), S Cluxton (Dublin). Full-backs: A Lynch, M Shields (Cork), K Lacey (Donegal), J McCarthy (Limerick), C Hyland (Wicklow), T OSullivan, T Griffin, M O Se (Kerry), Justin McMahon (Tyrone). Half-backs: G Canty, J Miskella (Cork), M McCarthy, T O Se (Kerry), B Cahill (Dublin), D Harte, R McMenamin (Tyrone), A Moran (Mayo), J Davey (Sligo). Midfielders: D Earley (Kildare), S Scanlon (Kerry), A OConnor, N Murphy (Cork), K Hughes (Tyrone), J Galvin (Limerick). Half-forwards: P ONeill, P Kelly (Cork), J Kavanagh (Kildare), J Sheridan (Meath), P Galvin, T Kennelly (Kerry), A Brogan (Dublin), L Glynn (Wicklow), T Mortimer (Mayo). Full-forwards: D Goulding (Cork), M Murphy (Donegal), S ONeill (Tyrone), C Cooper, Declan OSullivan, T Walsh (Kerry), B Brogan (Dublin), M McCann (Antrim), A Smith (Kildare). Dublin stars backing capitals ladies Picture:Sportsfile DOWnS Martin Clarke has quit aussie rules in an attempt to emulate all-Ireland winner Tadhg Kennelly. Clarke, 22 in november, yesterday penned an open letter to Collingwood fans confirming his decision to return home after three seasons. The 2005 all-Ireland winning minor captain made his aFL debut in 2007 and played 46 games, scoring 16 goals. His form dipped this season but he claimed that was partly due to uncertainty about his future. The former centre-forward said he is returning to Ireland because I simply miss my home and the people close to me too much. Kennelly enjoyed nearly a decade with the Sydney Swans before quitting last winter to win league and all-Ireland titles with Kerry. Clarke is keen to make a similar impact with Down and believes he has a lot to offer. I strongly believe the best moments of my sporting life are ahead of me at this stage and I want to show them on the gaa stage, said Clarke. Meanwhile, Brendan Murphy, who recently quit the Sydney Swans to return to Carlow, has declared he wants to play for the county seniors in 2010. It is great news for Carlow who hope the Walsh brothers, Thomas and Patrick, will also return after spells away. Clarke quits AFL to return home Coming home: Clarke GAA tennis Quality over quantity in Clijsters 2010 plans uS OPen champion Kim Clijsters will be counting on quality rather than quantity as she tries to work her way back into the top ten of the world rankings following her two- year maternity break. The belgian, who triumphed in new York 11 days ago in only her third tournament back on the tour, has employed an intense training regime as she tries to balance being a mother with her tennis career. She became the first mother to win a grand slam singles title since evonne Goolagong triumphed at Wimbledon in 1980 and has been hailed as a model for working mothers around the world. Clijsters plans to compete in 12 tournaments in four continents next year, including all four grand slams, but could add another three to four events to her schedule at a later date. i try to spread out my trips abroad. The most important thing is that it remains doable as a family, Clijsters said. it takes a lot more planning than a few years ago. For a tennis player i dont think its that busy. ive taken out a lot of tournaments i used to play when i wasnt a mother. index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html