Keane secures maiden title

RACING

COLIN KEANE secured his maiden Flat jockeys’ crown after moving to the 98 winner mark for the season aboard It’s Two O Clock in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden (Plus 10 Race) at Dundalk yesterday.

The Ger Lyons trained newcomer, owned by his wife Lynne, never gave his connections and backers much cause for concern.

The 4/9 shot might have dwelt at the stalls but It’s Two O Clock went on to beat Khwarizmi (40/1) by twoand-a-half lengths.

“It’s grand to have a winner near the end of the season in Lynne’s colours. Ger loved him in Goresbridge Breeze Ups and did a deal with Jim McCartan from Mullingar,” Shane Lyons said.

CRICKET

PAUL STIRLING, Niall O’Brien and George Dockrell return to a full-strength Ireland squad for the four-times champions’ final InterContinental Cup match against Scotland in the Dubai at the end of this month.

Ireland are unlikely to claim a fifth IC Cup crown as they trail Afghanistan by 12 points but victory over their oldest rivals Scotland would give coach John Bracewell a rousing send-off as well as being a fine way to say farewell to a popular tournament.

Bracewell will hand over the reins to new head coach Graham Ford at the end of a trip to the United Arab Emirates which also includes three one-day internationals against Afghanistan in Sharjah after the four-day clash with Scotland.

BASKETBALL

A MINUTE’S silence will be held at all basketball events this weekend following the untimely passing of Neptune and Irish international Liam Chandler.

Chandler played a huge part in Neptune’s Cup-winning treble earlier this year and most recently representing his country at Under-18 level in Estonia.

Basketball Ireland paid tribute, saying: “(We) would like to extend sincere condolences to Liam’s family, friends, club and teammates”

ATHLETICS

FORMER hockey international Stephen Martin stepped down as CEO of the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI ) to pursue other career interests, it was announced yesterday.

However, Martin will remain the OCI Chef de Mission for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang.