D Wednesday, October 28, 2009 METROSPORT 21 SPORTDigest Difficult period: Mickelson Phil now planning to end interesting year on high GOLF: Phil Mickelson is confident of continuing his recent run of form at this weeks Singapore Open as the world No.2 looks to end a turbulent year on a high. After finishing second at Junes US Open, the American took a six- week break after his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer just over a month after his wife received the same news. He returned in August and after struggling through the PGA Championship, improved throughout the FedEx Cup play-offs and claimed the season- ending Tour Championship ahead of Tiger Woods. Mickelson then remained unbeaten as the USA won the Presidents Cup. I have had some interesting things going on in the year that made this year unique, said the 39- year-old. Looking back, having won three times in the US, I feel as though it has been an okay year. I now want to finish the year strongly and carry that play over into Asia. Sea The Stars to stand at Aga Khans Gilltown Stud RACING: Champion racehorse Sea The Stars will breed with fellow Prix de lArc de Triomphe winner Zarkava. The brilliant colt, who won a historic treble of the 2,000 Guineas, Derby and Prix de lArc de Triomphe this year, was officially retired a couple of weeks ago and is potentially the most valuable stallion on the planet after rounding off his three-year career unbeaten in six Group One races. Some estimates put his stud value at around 100million. He will now stand at the Aga Khans Gilltown Stud in Co. Kildare and begin his breeding career as soon as possible. Zarkavas owner, the Aga Khan, said: I look forward to the earliest opportunity to send my unbeaten champion Zarkava to Sea The Stars. I believe the last two Arc winners were made for each other both in terms of ability, temperament and conformation. The best needs to be bred to the best. Glock is ticking for Timo FORMULA ONE: Kamui Kobayashi will again deputise for the injured Timo Glock in the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. Toyotas Glock remains unfit after cracking a vertebra in an accident at the Japanese Grand Prix nearly a month ago. Kobayashi produced a fine debut performance in Brazil when finishing ninth. We feel genuinely sorry for Timo that his season, which has included two impressive podium finishes, is ending in this way, said Toyota Motorsport president John Howett. Another impressive drive could see 23-year-old Kobayashi earn a permanent drive. Dementieva downs Venus RUGBY Jamie Heaslip insists ireland have put last seasons Grand slam success behind them as they get ready to begin a fresh international campaign with games against australia, Fiji and world champions south africa next month, writes Gareth Makim. Heaslip, who was named in Declan Kidneys preliminary squad for the three tests yesterday, added a Heineken Cup winners medal with leinster and three British and irish lions caps to the six Nations triumph, but yesterday claimed he would not be resting on his laurels. The number eight said: The last time we met [with ireland] we talked about the year that we had, the Grand slam year and putting it aside. You had all these people pulling you in different directions you have to put that aside and not rest on your laurels. Deccie [Kidney] lets you know that and coming into the November internationals and the season in general, the reason we are going to australia and New Zealand [next summer] and playing these teams in November is that we want to test ourselves against the best. Thats why we are playing against these big teams. its going to be a very interesting series and i am looking forward to getting my name in there with a chance to stick on the 8 jersey again. u leiNsTer yesterday recalled leo Cullen, Cian Healy, shane Horgan and eoin reddan to the sqaud to face Cardiff in the magners league on saturday. Leinster squad (v Cardiff Blues): L Cullen, J Fogarty, C Healy, J Heaslip, N Hines, B Jackman, S Keogh, R McCormack, K McLaughlin, S OBrien, M OKelly, M Ross, D Ryan, D Toner, CJ van der Linde, S Berne, G DArcy, G Dempsey, L Fitzgerald, S Horgan, C Keane, R Kearney, S Keogh, F McFadden, I Nacewa, B ODriscoll, E Reddan, J Sexton Heaslip wont rest on Grand Slam laurels Nine new faces in Irish panelBy jOHN DONNeLLy High life: Munsters Keith earls is in the squad Picture: Sportsfile Leinster veterans Girvan Dempsey and Malcolm OKelly are the big name omissions from an extended 39-man ireland squad for the autumn internationals. the Leinster duo, who have 82 and 92 caps respectively, were included in this years rBs 6 na- tions squad but have since dropped out of contention. Leicester full-back Geordan Murphy, out until Christmas with a shoulder injury, is another big- name absentee alongside Lein- sters suspended openside shane Jennings. With Murphy out and Bob Ca- sey unable to force his way into the reckoning at second row, re- called northampton flanker neil Best is the solitary representative from the Guinness Premiership. Hooker Jerry Flannery, who is battling to recover from his calf injury in time to face Australia on november 15, is included, while uncapped pair sean Cronin and John Fogarty edge out Bernard Jackman as back-ups. there are seven other new caps Cian Healy, Chris Henry, Fer- gus McFadden, sean OBrien, Jonathan sexton, Devin toner and Brett Wilkinson. sexton edged Ulsters ian Hum- phreys in the race to deputise for ronan OGara, with Paddy Wal- lace also available at fly-half. Head coach Declan Kidney ex- pects the depth of his squad to be tested fully next month, with A games against a tonga XV and Argentina A also scheduled. We had an opportunity to work with most of the players selected in this squad over our three camps during the summer, he said. those sessions were about giv- ing chances to as many players as possible following last year. After a third of the season gone so far, this squad gives the major- ity of those players a chance to put their cases forward for selection. november represents a chal- lenge on several fronts with three full internationals and two A games against quality opposition, so it will mean that the strength of our resources will be tested. Gaa More honours: Walsh Walsh unruffled by dirty play claims KiLKennys tommy Walsh says consistent claims about his on the edge brand of hurling do not bother him one bit. the Hurler of theyear picked up yet another personal plaudit yesterday when he was confirmed as the Opel GPA Player of the Month for september. yet the seven time Allstars excellent season was somewhat tainted by constant claims during the Championship about his overly physical style of play. the inspirational half-back accepted the jibes started after his robust display in the Leinster semi-final win over Galway. But while the discussion continued right up until the All- ireland final, when DJ Carey subtly suggested Walsh was the one who actually needed protection on the field from referees, the player himself insisted it did not worry him. it never bothered me at all and i dont say that lightly, said Walsh. every hurler gets criticism and im hurling now 26 years and ive got criticism before. you just learn from it and try to get on with it but it definitely didnt affect me. everyone is entitled to their opinions and the job of the sunday Game analysts is to analyse it and whats what they did. mIke mac battles oN IN clare MIKe McNAMARA is staying on as Clare hurling manager, for another fortnight at least, after receiving the support of delegates at last nights county board meeting. McNamara addressed the ennis gathering amid huge speculation that a player heave would force his departure. He will deliver an end of season report in a fortnights time at the November board meeting. Delegates were generally supportive and there were no moves to remove McNamara, who still has a year left on his contract. ireland squad for november internationals T Bowe (Ospreys), N Best (Northampton), T Buckley (Munster), D Cave, T Court (Ulster), S Cronin (Connacht), L Cullen, G DArcy (Leinster), G Duffy (Connacht), K Earls (Munster), S Ferris (Ulster), L Fitzgerald (Leinster), J Fogarty (Leinster), J Flannery, J Hayes (Munster), C Healy, J Heaslip (Leinster), C Henry (Ulster), M Horan (Munster), S Horgan, R Kearney, F McFadden (Leinster), D Leamy, D OCallaghan, P OConnell (Munster), B ODriscoll (capt, Leinster), R OGara, T OLeary (Munster), S OBrien, E Reddan, M Ross, J Sexton (Leinster), D Ryan, P Stringer (Munster), D Toner (Leinster), A Trimble, P Wallace (Ulster), D Wallace (Munster), B Wilkinson (Connacht). TeNNIS: elena Dementieva lit up the WTA Championships on yesterday with a sensational comeback to beat holder Venus Williams 3-6, 7-6, 6-2 on the opening day of group matches. The tenacious Russian (pictured) looked down and out when she twice trailed by a break in the second set but blazed back in Doha to leave the American reeling. In the end I was very emotional, Dementieva said. When you play against a player like Venus you cant put pressure on yourself but you have to fight or every point. In the other group, former world No.1 jelena jankovic lost 6-2, 6-3 to Victoria Azarenka. DV1 index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html