24 METROSPORT Friday, November 13, 2009 D today CRICKEt twenty20 Match: South Africa v England (Johannesburg) HoRSE RaCING Cheltenham, Lingfield, Newcastle, Wolverhampton, Dundalk RUGBy UNIoN International Matches: France v South Africa (7.45), Wales v Samoa (7.30) SatURday SoCCER (3.00 unless stated) FIFa World Cup European Qualifying Play-offs First Leg Greece v Ukraine....................... 7.00 Portugal v Bosnia-Herzegovina. 7.00 Rep of Ireland v France ............. 8.00 Russia v Slovenia ...................... 4.00 FIFa World Cup asia/oceania Play-off Second Leg New Zealand v Bahrain ............. 7.00 International Matches Brazil v England......................... 5.00 Italy v Holland............................ 7.00 Northern Ireland v Serbia .......... 5.30 Spain v Argentina ...................... 9.00 Wales v Scotland.............................. European Under-21 Championship Qualifying Group two Armenia v Estonia ................... 11.00 Georgia v Rep of Ireland ......... 11.00 Turkey v Switzerland......................... Coca-Cola Football League one Brentford v Millwall........................... Bristol Rovers v Carlisle ................... Charlton v Milton Keynes Dons........ Colchester v Exeter.......................... Gillingham v Oldham........................ Hartlepool v Leyton Orient ............... Huddersfield v Wycombe........ 12.05 Norwich v Tranmere.......................... Walsall v Stockport........................... Yeovil v Southend............................. Coca-Cola Football League two Accrington Stanley v Dag & Red...... Aldershot v Macclesfield .................. Barnet v Hereford............................. Bradford v Bournemouth.................. Bury v Notts County......................... Crewe v Morecambe ........................ Darlington v Burton Albion ............... Lincoln City v Cheltenham ............... Northampton v Grimsby................... Port Vale v Rotherham...................... Rochdale v Chesterfield ................... Shrewsbury v Torquay...................... HoRSE RaCING Cheltenham, Uttoxeter, Wetherby, Wolverhampton, Great Leighs, Punchestown RUGBy UNIoN International Matches: England v Argentina (2.30), Italy v New Zealand (2.00), Scotland v Fiji (2.30) a I B League division one (2.30) Section a: Blackrock College v Shannon, Cork Constitution v Clontarf, Garryowen v Dolphin, UL Bohemians v St Marys College Section B: Ballynahinch v UCC, Dungannon v Buccaneers, Galwegians v Old Belvedere, Young Munster v Ballymena SUNday SoCCER (3.00 unless stated) FIFa World Cup CoNCaCaF/ South america Play-off First Leg Costa Rica v Uruguay................ 2.00 Coca-Cola Football League one Southampton v Brighton ........... 4.30 CRICKEt twenty20 Match: South Africa v England (Centurion Park) HoRSE RaCING Cheltenham, Fontwell Park, Market Rasen, Punchestown RUGBy UNIoN International Match: Ireland v Australia (3.00) weekend fixtures Kennellys return to Australia confirmedBy PaUL KEaNE Mission accomplished: Kennelly has rejoined Sydney Swans having achieved his goal of an all-Ireland medal Picture: Sportsfile Tadhg Kennelly has offi- cially quit Kerry and signed a two-year deal with former aFl club the Sydney Swans. Swans boss Paul Roos de- scribed the return of the 2005 Premiership winner as an early Christmas present. But the listowel mans depar- ture is yet another major blow to Kerrys hopes of retaining the all-Ireland in 2010. The 28-year old made a big im- pression in 2009 after quitting the Swans, winning an all- Ireland medal and an allStar. Since Septembers win over Cork, Kerry have lost Tommy Walsh and, potentially, david Moran to St Kilda while Kennelly has now rejoined the Swans. Kennellys return is hardly sur- prising as he fulfilled his dream of emulating his late father, Tim, by winning an all-Ireland. We finalised everything today, said Roos yesterday. We had a feeling he might have been going to come back but until we heard for definite, you never know. Roos claimed Kennelly left the Swans in late 2008 partly because he had lost faith in his injury- ridden body. But Roos believes the season with Kerry will stand to the experienced player. he looked really good when I saw him in Ireland, said Roos. he didnt have any tape on so theres no question its done him the world of good. Roos rubbed it in for the King- dom by spelling out the magni- tude of Kennellys latest move. Its great for us, its very hard to get a Tadhg Kennelly, claimed Roos. They dont grow on trees. Ironically, Walsh and Kennelly were seen as a future midfield pairing for Kerry despite playing in attack last season. But boss Jack OConnor remains optimis- tic Kerry can replace them. Just look back at other years, If you said that we would win the all-Ireland in 2004 without dar- ragh S and Seamus Moynihan starting in the final, you would say thats mad, claimed OConnor. BaLLyBodEN boss Liam Hogan insists Sundays clash with club hurling kingpins Ballyhale should not the labelled the real Leinster final. the three-in-a-row dublin champions travel to Nowlan Park to face four- in-a-row Kilkenny winners Ballyhale for a place in the November 29 provincial decider. Boden reached the 2007 final while Ballyhale possess the last three all- Ireland winning captains so the winner will be in great shape for a title tilt. In the other semi-final are Westmeath outfit Clonkill and tullamore, who recently claimed a first offaly title in 45 years. I wouldnt call it that [the real final], Id never underestimate any of the teams left, insisted Hogan. all Im concerned about is Sundays game. Its a huge challenge. Were probably facing a team with the best hurler of all time [Henry Shefflin]. But if we want to be the best weve got to beat the best. Boden could welcome back dublin skipper Stephen Hiney after a serious knee injury. GAA boxinG French test: Lee Manny PaCQUIaO aims to cement his place in the upper echelons of boxings all-time greats by claiming Miguel Cottos WBO welterweight title tomorrow night, writes Danny Griffiths. Oscar de la hoya is the only fighter in the sports rich history to win titles at six different weight divisions but Pacquiao is on the brink of matching that achievement. Its a chance of a lifetime, said Pacquiao of the fight which he hopes will lead to a showdown for the crown as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world with Floyd Mayweather Jr next March. Beating Cotto, 29, is no foregone conclusion and Pacquiao, who turns 31 next month and has not lost in his last ten contests with a record of 49 victories, three losses and two draws, said: Im prepared for anything Cotto has to offer. I feel like I know him like I know myself. Itll be a great fight between two great fighters but Im stronger at this weight and Cotto should be worried. Pacquiao sizing up his place among the greats French middleweight champion Affif Belghecham arrived in Limerick yesterday confident of playing his part in a French sporting double against the Irish this weekend. Tomorrow night, the Lyon fighter will look to derail Andy Lees World and european title ambitions when they clash in Limerick. And with Irelands World cup soccer play-off against France being shown live on a big screen at the University Sports Arena, Belghecham believes that those in attendance will be in for double disappointment. The Irish people have proven that they are warriors over the years, he said. You only have to look at their spirited performances on the rugby and football pitches and of course in the boxing ring, but sport is about levels and I believe that, unfortunately for the Irish, both myself and the French footballers are on a different level to our opponents this weekend. Affif predicts Lee will follow footballers to French defeat Level pegging: McIlroy McIlroy keeps pace with Race rival Westwood Lee WeSTWoodS battle with rory McIlroy to finish the year as europes no.1 was upstaged by Thailands Udorn duangdecha after a superb opening 62 gave him the lead at the hong Kong open. despite battling a fever, Udorn, 39, only missed out on equalling the course record after finishing with a second bogey of the day, putting him one shot clear of hollands robert-Jan derksen at eight under. race to dubai leader Westwood and nearest challenger McIlroy sit together at four-under in a 13-man pack which also features Irelands Peter Lawrie. Westwood leads McIlroy by just over 52,000 at the top of the european money list, with hong Kong representing the last event ahead of the season-ending dubai World championship. I am happy with 66. I could have let it get away from me on the front nine, my back nine, but its okay, said last years runner-up McIlroy. I am in a good position but there is still a lot of golf left to play so it was nice to get off to a good start. Graeme Mcdowell is also in contention after a three-under 67, while darren clarke is also in red figures following a 69. GoLf honG konG open Tiger thrills fans TIgeR WOOdS gave australian golf fans a taste of what they have been missing by shooting a six- under-par 66 for a share of the first-round lead at the australian Masters. Woods, playing in australia for the first time in 11 years, thrilled galleries packed six-deep in Melbourne, notching seven birdies for a one-stroke lead alongside South africas Branden grace and australian James nitties. I felt pretty good today, I hit the ball pretty decent, the world no.1 said. I bogeyed the last hole and missed two shots for birdie but other than that it was a pretty good day. Meanwhile, Irelands gary Murphy, desperate for a good finish to keep his Tour card, lies one under after a 71. 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.html28.html29.html30.html31.html