D Wednesday, November 25, 2009 METROSPORT 25 Back in action: McIlroy golf world cup u Former ryder Cup star Paul mcGinley has had a sixth operation on his troublesome left knee and hopes to be back playing in January. The problem is a legacy of an injury Dubliner mcGinley suffered playing Gaelic football in his younger days. McIlroy on Mission to finish year on a high RoRy McIlRoy is desperate to put last weeks disappointment in Dubai behind him with victory in the Mission Hills World Cup in China representing Ireland with Ryder Cup star Graeme McDowell. The 20-year-old missed out on the inaugural Race to Dubai last weekend as lee Westwood was in unstoppable form to win the season-ending Dubai World Championship to top the order of Merit despite McIlroys best efforts of four sub-70 rounds. But the new world No.10 has a chance to end the year by coming out on top of a field including defending champions Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson of Sweden, Spain led by Sergio Garcia and a strong England pairing of Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher after four days of alternating foursomes and fourballs. It is very easy to stay motivated at the end of the year, said McIlroy. I want to play the best I can for my partner, I dont want to let him down. obviously, we are playing for our country, which is a huge honour. Its a new challenge for me. Graeme has played at Mission Hills before and Im really looking forward to it. Its my first taste of the World Cup. Im going to go out there and give it my best shot and it would be a great title to win. McDowell, who finished 16th last year with Paul McGinley, added: Theres a lot of good teams this week, but we know we are one of the favourites coming in. It says a lot about Rory, to be able to get himself up for this week. Hes obviously disappointed from last week, but I know well get on well this week. We are both playing great golf, so its just a matter of going out there and doing it and keeping the energy levels going. It is very easy to stay motivated at the end of the year GAA: Monaghan manager Seamus McEnaney has promised a winter shake-up of his football panel. The long-serving Farney boss expects quite a few changes to his panel ahead of the 2010 season. Trials took place in October, with several players likely to leave the panel to accommodate fresh talent. McEnaney has already beefed up his backroom team by bringing in Armagh man Paul Grimley as his coach. I would predict quite a few changes, said McEnaney. Well be freshening it up with around ten players coming in. u TENNIS: Juan Martin del Potro boosted his hopes of qualifying for the semi- finals of the ATP World Tour Finals at Londons O2 Arena with a nervy 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-1) victory against Fernando Verdasco. With both players having lost their opening matches in Group A Del Potro to Andy Murray and Verdasco to Roger Federer they knew this contest could make or break their chances. And, despite failing to serve out the victory, it was the US Open champion who eventually came out on top. u RUGBY: Wales boss Warren Gatland does not expect his players to be overawed when they host Australia at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday. Wales are favourites after the Wallabies shock 9-8 loss to Scotland and Gatland said: One of the challenges for us is possibly accepting what might be a tag of favourites. The next progression for the side is going in, handling that expectation and developing as a team. Gatland has made just one change to the team that beat Argentina, recalling Sale scrum-half Dwayne Peel. u FORMULA ONE: Former Renault team boss Flavio Briatore has asked a Paris court to overturn his life ban from Formula One, saying he had been denied his right to a free and fair defence. The court said it expected to reach a verdict on January 5. The Italian also asked for 1million in compensation from the FIA, the sports governing body, for moral prejudice. Briatore was handed a life ban by the FIA in September for his role in a race-fixing scandal at last years Singapore Grand Prix. u SPORTDigest Staying alive: Del Potro Former Limerick chairman Denis Holmes is the first local official to publicly question Justin mcCarthys controversial cull of players. mcCarthy has lost eight of his best hurlers after they quit following the managers decision to axe a string of regulars from his pre-season panel. The Limerick board are backing mcCarthy and met last night to consider possible peace talks in early December. But in the first sign that not everyone is behind mcCarthy, ex- chairman Holmes revealed his doubts about the wisdom of mcCarthys move. He described the present situation as approaching a crisis, with just four players who started the All-Ireland semi-final still available. Have we so many good players that we can afford to make such radical adjustments? asked Holmes. While I have doubts, if the management are confident they can produce [new players] then brilliant. However, if they do not then where do we go? I hope in the future, time will be allowed for a discussion on the matter. If the gamble by selectors does not work I feel that clubs and the county board will suffer. Holmes also questioned the decision to drop established players such as Stephen Lucey, Niall moran and mike oBrien without informing them personally. Ex-Treaty chief has doubts over cull gAA rugby INTERNATIONAL Springbok selection sees Sexton step up in classBy JOhN DONNELLyIreLAND coach Declan Kidney yes- terday revealed Jonathan Sextons Testdebutofferedcompellinggrounds to axe ronan oGara for the first time since 2003. Sextons outstanding display against Fiji last weekend has enabled him to seize the No.10 jersey for Saturdays clash with world champions South Africa at Croke Park. It is a bold selection that significant- ly weakens oGaras grip on a posi- tion he has dominated for six years. The last time a different outside-half was preferred against another major nation was when David Humphreys faced Argentina at the 2003 World Cup. oGara has started every single rBS 6 Nations match since 30 games in total and has only been overlooked by Ireland when on Lions duty or be- ing rested against minor opposition. Sextons promotion reflects the ur- gency with which Kidney must un- cover an alternative in a position that has been cursed by a lack of depth. The Springboks will offer a clearer picture of whether Sexton is the solu- tion and Kidney admitted he needed to see the 24-year-old from Leinster truly tested. I know we have a world-class out- side half in ronan but we have to find out things about ourselves, he said. Jonathan had a good game last week but, with respect, Fiji were short of a few so it was difficult to read. I need to find out more. I worked with Jonathan last year and gave him the nod for the A team and that answered a lot of questions. I know we still have ronan availa- ble. Hes disappointed hes not play- ing but I cant pick everybody all of the time. ronan is disappointed but is the perfect pro. Hes taken it on the chin, has continued training and has con- tributed to the team exactly as he would normally. It was a difficult call but that doesnt really matter. my job is to pick the Ireland team and thats what Ive done. Sexton is one of two changes to the side that drew 20-20 with Australia two weeks ago, with Keith earls re- placing injured wing Luke Fitzgerald, as he did against the Wallabies. Testing times: Coach Declan Kidney is keen to see Jonathan Sexton against the Springboks Picture: Sportsfile irelAnd teAm v south AfricA 15. R Kearney (Leinster) 14. T Bowe (Ospreys) 13. B ODriscoll (c) (Leinster) 12. P Wallace (Ulster) 11. K Earls (Munster) 10. J Sexton (Leinster) 9. T OLeary (Munster) 1. C Healy (Leinster) 2. J Flannery (Munster) 3. J Hayes (Munster) 4. D OCallaghan (Munster) 5. P OConnell (Munster) 6. S Ferris (Ulster) 7. D Wallace (Munster) 8. J Heaslip (Leinster). Replacements: S Cronin (Connacht), T Buckley (Munster), L Cullen (Leinster), D Leamy (Munster), P Stringer (Munster), R OGara (Munster), G DArcy (Leinster). 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