All Sport Club

O’Sullivan - Northern Ireland Trophy winner.
O’SULLIVAN TAKES BELFAST TITLE

Ronnie O’Sullivan was the toast of Belfast as he was crowned Northern Ireland Trophy champion.

The world champion and number one beat Stoke’s Dave Harold 9-3 at the Waterfront Hall.

It was O’Sullivan’ s 21st ranking title in a glittering career and one which saw him rewrite the record books - the crowd favourite became the first player for four years to win back-to-back ranking titles.

It was he who was the last player to achieve the feat when in 2004 he won the World Championship and Grand Prix.

Harold, the world number 28, can rightly be proud of his progress to this year’s final, but he was well beaten by the tournament favourite.

O’Sullivan won 30,000 as this year’s worthy winner, while Harold claimed 15,000 as runner-up.

It was always going to be difficult for Harold to fight back having trailed 6-1 after the afternoon session.

But the 41-year-old, whose last ranking title came 15 years ago when he won the 1993 Asian Open, gave a spirited display and even had the chance of a memorable maximum 147 break.

However, the Trent Vale player missed a pot on a black whilst on a break of 81 and his hopes of claiming the high-break prize disappeared.

It was Harold who won the opening frame of the match, but O’Sullivan quickly found top gear and raced into a five-frame lead.

And although Harold rallied in the concluding evening session, it was the ‘Rocket’ who won the first ranking event of the new season.

O’Sullivan had match breaks of 68, 103, 84, 76 and 64 to triumph.

(re-opens) O’Sullivan said afterwards: "I played okay in patches and I was decent in patches.

"I got on top of Dave after the first frame, but the first four frames tonight I wasn’t there.

"I wanted to blow away a few cobwebs at this tournament, but to win it is a nice bonus.

"I’m still working on a few things technically, but there’s still a few things I can improve on."

Harold moves up to number 14 in the rankings after his successful run in Belfast.

"I started well, won the first frame and then I could have won the second frame. But I let it slip after that," he said.

"Ronnie’s a class player, he punishes you every time you make a mistake.

"As a pure player and a entertainer, he’s the best ever.

"Hopefully it won’t be another 14 years until my next final."

Federer shows his delight.
FEDERER CRUISES THROUGH

Defending champion Roger Federer wasted little time in progressing to the fourth round of the US Open on Sunday.

The Swiss world number two cruised past Czech Republic’s Radek Stepanek 6-3 6-3 6-2 to clinch his 30th consecutive victory at Flushing Meadows.

Playing in his first major without the world’s top ranking since the 2004 Australian Open, Federer has looked fully focused on adding to his haul of 12 grand slam titles.

The 27-year-old’s win on Sunday improved his career record against Stepanek to 5-2, avenging a loss in the previous meeting in the quarter-finals in Rome in May.

That was one of 12 defeats this season for Federer, who has failed to claim either a grand slam or ATP Masters title en route to losing his top ranking to main rival Rafael Nadal.

In the women’s singles second seed Jelena Jankovic came from a set down to see off Caroline Wozniacki and bag a place in the quarter-finals.

The Serbian made a stuttering start and lost the first set 6-3 but powered back to take the next two sets 6-2 6-1.

Jankovic appeared a bit sluggish early on, but was still able to secure a place in the last eight at the year’s final grand slam for the third straight year.

The 23-year-old will play either Sybille Bammer or Marion Bartoli in the quarter-finals.

Jankovic also recorded her second three-set win in two career meetings with the 18-year-old Wozniacki, beating her in the second round at Wimbledon earlier this year.

Wozniacki was coming off a title at New Haven last week.

Federer shows his delight.
FEDERER CRUISES THROUGH

Defending champion Roger Federer wasted little time in progressing to the fourth round of the US Open on Sunday.

The Swiss world number two cruised past Czech Republic’s Radek Stepanek 6-3 6-3 6-2 to clinch his 30th consecutive victory at Flushing Meadows.

Playing in his first major without the world’s top ranking since the 2004 Australian Open, Federer has looked fully focused on adding to his haul of 12 grand slam titles.

The 27-year-old’s win on Sunday improved his career record against Stepanek to 5-2, avenging a loss in the previous meeting in the quarter-finals in Rome in May.

That was one of 12 defeats this season for Federer, who has failed to claim either a grand slam or ATP Masters title en route to losing his top ranking to main rival Rafael Nadal.

In the women’s singles second seed Jelena Jankovic came from a set down to see off Caroline Wozniacki and bag a place in the quarter-finals.

The Serbian made a stuttering start and lost the first set 6-3 but powered back to take the next two sets 6-2 6-1.

Jankovic appeared a bit sluggish early on, but was still able to secure a place in the last eight at the year’s final grand slam for the third straight year.

The 23-year-old will play either Sybille Bammer or Marion Bartoli in the quarter-finals.

Jankovic also recorded her second three-set win in two career meetings with the 18-year-old Wozniacki, beating her in the second round at Wimbledon earlier this year.

Wozniacki was coming off a title at New Haven last week.

Poulter - wild card pick.
FALDO CONFIRMS WILD CARDS

Europe captain Nick Faldo has handed Ryder Cup wild cards to Ian Poulter and Paul Casey.

As a result Colin Montgomerie misses out on the match which could have seen him take over from Faldo as the event’s record points-scorer.

Darren Clarke also misses out, despite his victory in Holland a week ago which made he and Casey the two favourites to be picked.

Casey and Poulter will join Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson, Robert Karlsson, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Graeme McDowell, Justin Rose, Soren Hansen and Oliver Wilson, who all automatically qualified for the event at Valhalla next month.

Faldo revealed Poulter’s attitude was one of the major factors behind his selection.

Faldo said: “I don’t have to reel off all their statistics.

“I’ve been watching these guys through the summer.

“Ian is a very determined guy, I love his attitude and what he did at The Open - that back nine he played with the intention to win and had that emotional feeling.”

Regarding the selection of Casey, Faldo explained: “I’ve been watching Paul play and he has been playing absolutely the best through the summer.

“I was waiting for the putting to turn around.

“That has been very important.

“He has an extremely good record in the Ryder Cup and, going back, the Walker Cup.

“I feel very good about those two picks.”

Poulter chose not to fly back from America for the last qualifying event, this weekend’s Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

A third-place finish at Gleneagles would have taken Poulter into the team by right.

Clarke was hoping for another wild card, having benefited in that manner two years ago.

Ian Woosnam chose him then just three weeks after the Ulsterman’s wife Heather had lost her fight with breast cancer.

Three weeks later, amid emotional scenes at The K Club, Clarke won all his three matches in Europe’s record-equalling nine-point victory.

Casey won his second cap there and, partnering David Howell in the second-day foursomes, became the first player to win a Ryder Cup match with a hole-in-one.

Of all the leading candidates for selection, he and Clarke were the two who showed Faldo the best recent form, with Poulter having failed to follow up his bid for Open glory at Royal Birkdale six weeks ago.

Brilliantly though he played there, it was only his second top-10 finish of the whole year. Casey has had four in his last seven starts.

Europe will go for an unprecedented fourth successive victory over the Americans at Valhalla in Louisville, Kentucky, on September 19-21.

Europe know only eight of the 12 Americans they will face.

Paul Azinger names four wild cards on Tuesday, but unlike the last five US captains he has no Tiger Woods in his line-up, and while Faldo had the headache of who to leave out, Azinger has had no star names crying out for a pick.

Steve Stricker, who just missed out on automatic selection, appears an obvious first choice and Scott Verplank would be a safe second pick, but if he wants to go with youth then Hunter Mahan, DJ Trahan and Brandt Snedeker are stand-out candidates.

The United States have lost five of the last six matches and in the other - in Boston nine years ago - they needed the biggest comeback in cup history and won only after the shameful storming of the 17th green before Olazabal could attempt his putt to keep the match alive.

Montgomerie was heckled that week like no other golfer before or since, but still lost only one of his five games and come 2002, 2004 and 2006 played a starring role.

Europe’s talisman has not been able to convince Faldo, though, that he deserved a ninth cap.

He did finish second in the French Open at the end of June, but the 45-year-old has tailed off badly since then and, for all he has done in the past and for all the support he got from Harrington and others, it was Faldo’s opinion that mattered.

After last year’s Seve Trophy, Faldo - not in private, but in conversation with a reporter - said: “Monty’s a tough one. He was the only one whose emotions I had to deal with.

“He only came to two of the five team meetings, so that was disappointing. Then he had to be teased out on to the 18th green to support his team - the bottom line was he hadn’t won a point.”

Even back then Montgomerie was asked how he would feel if he missed out on next month’s match.

“I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it - I’d just make sure I qualified in 2010,” he said. He hoped it would not come to that, but it has.

Stenson approved of the selection to the team of Poulter and Casey, saying: “It was going to be among four or five guys getting the two spots.

“I think we are going to have a great team and both Ian and Paul are going to be good selections to the players that are already in.

“I am very confident. It is going to be a team effort.”

Clarke said in a statement: “Nick rang me after my last round at Gleneagles to say that I wasn’t going to be one of his picks and I simply wished him all the best.

“Obviously I am disappointed that I wasn’t selected, but I have dealt with much worse and it will make me all the more determined to make the team that will play in Wales next time.

“There was a qualifying period and I didn’t make it automatically, so you will not hear any sour grapes from me.

“I couldn’t have tried any harder and I devoted myself to the European Tour to give myself the best possible chance, but although I have won twice this year it obviously wasn’t enough.

“I fully respect the captain’s decision and I would like to wish him and his team all the very best for Valhalla.

“I will be supporting them from wherever I am.”

Poulter said: “Maybe I should have gone to play Gleneagles, but I stuck by my word.

“Looking back at the time I made the right decision for me, but it was so difficult to choose the right thing to do and it’s obviously been a very difficult decision to try to get across.”

Asked what he thought he brought to the team he added: “I think I will bring my best game, excitement, flair and the passion that I always play golf with.

“I think I will be a strong asset to the team.

“I’ve been looking at the (points) list every single week since The Open and I thought the only scenario that would put a spanner in the works was Darren playing well.”

Montgomerie also issued a statement, commenting: “I wish the team the very best of luck.

“Although I am, of course, very disappointed not to have played my way into the team or into contention for a pick, I am delighted at the obvious strength and depth of the European team.

“The European Tour should very proud at the quantity and quality of potential Ryder Cup players that it can now offer up for selection - more so than at any time in my 20 years plus on tour.

“Our line-up is fantastic, headed up by Padraig (Harrington) who is playing the best golf in the world right now and I am utterly confident the team will triumph again this year.

“I wish Nick and the team the very best of luck and while I shall certainly feel sad not to be playing a part, as I sit glued to the TV I know the overwhelming emotion I will be feeling is pride.”

Europe’s Ryder Cup Team:

Padraig Harrington

Sergio Garcia

Lee Westwood

Henrik Stenson

Robert Karlsson

Miguel Angel Jiminez

Graeme McDowell

Justin Rose

Soren Hansen

Oliver Wilson

Ian Poulter

Paul Casey

Bullard - surprise pick.
BULLARD IN ENGLAND SQUAD

Jimmy Bullard has been handed a shock England World Cup call-up as coach Fabio Capello looks to begin the road to South Africa by beating Andorra and Croatia.

The 29-year-old has barely earned a mention as a potential candidate for Capello’s squad, even after the loss of Steven Gerrard, who accompanied Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick onto the injured list.

But Bullard has found favour following an excellent start to the season, following his influential role in keeping the Cottagers up last term.

Capello is presumably banking on Bullard’s experience helping him overcome any nerves at his first call-up and the Londoner’s chirpy character should certainly help in the England dressing room.

It is also a reward for Bullard’s decision not to chase a place in the Germany squad by taking advantage of his grandmother’s birthplace.

Having been out of the game for 15 months following cruciate ligament surgery in September 2006, it is a testament to Bullard’s strength of character that he not only returned to action but produced performances good enough to attract Capello’s attention.

However, anyone who has seen Bullard rise from total obscurity at Gravesend and Northfleet would have no doubt about his determination and dedication, even if his major claim to fame in his career so far is the role he played in Wigan’s rise from League One to the Premier League.

Bullard’s joy will contrast sharply with the dejection of Michael Owen, who has been left out despite making his first full appearance of the season for Newcastle at Arsenal on Saturday.

With Capello in attendance at the Emirates Stadium, it was felt Owen would be part of the Italian’s 23-man squad, particularly as he had scored match-winning goals against Bolton and Coventry in the previous week.

However, Capello gave an indication Owen would miss out.

“Owen is a good player and always scores a lot of goals for England,” Capello said on Wednesday before adding: “But he has not played and at this moment, we need fit players.”

Whether Capello can afford to be without Owen, one of only four players to score 40 goals for England, is a debatable point, if not for the meeting with Andorra in Barcelona on Saturday, then certainly for the crunch clash against Croatia in Zagreb four days later.

Instead, Capello has stuck with the four strikers from the squad that earned mixed reviews for their performance in the draw against the Czech Republic at Wembley on August 20.

Once again, Peter Crouch has been left out despite scoring for Portsmouth at Everton on Saturday, although the performance of another Pompey man at Goodison Park, Jermain Defoe, suggests he will be the man asked to partner Wayne Rooney at the Olympic Stadium at Montjuic next weekend.

Capello will be hoping to avoid the kind of abuse Steve McClaren endured at the same venue 18 months ago, when Gerrard’s double and a late David Nugent effort staved off total humiliation against the part-timers after a goalless first-half.

That embarrassment provided the trigger for David Beckham’s return and the former England skipper has retained his place in Capello’s squad even though his punishing schedule - he followed the England game with a trip to Beijing for the Olympics handover - and lack of worthwhile match practice with Los Angeles Galaxy as the reasons behind an apparent decline in performance.

With Manchester City keeper Joe Hart returning to England Under-21 duty and Jonathan Woodgate injured, Robert Green and Joleon Lescott have been recalled, while Glen Johnson will provide cover for Wes Brown at right-back as Gary Neville, like Owen, is deemed not fit enough and Micah Richards picked up a knock in City’s win at Sunderland.

England squad for World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Croatia on September 6 and September 10: Robinson (Blackburn), James (Portsmouth), Green (West Ham); Lescott (Everton), Bridge (Chelsea), A Cole (Chelsea), Terry (Chelsea), Brown (Manchester United), Ferdinand (Manchester United), Johnson (Portsmouth), Upson (West Ham); Barry (Aston Villa), J Cole (Chelsea), Lampard (Chelsea), Bullard (Fulham), Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Downing (Middlesbrough), Bentley (Tottenham), Jenas (Tottenham); Walcott (Arsenal), Rooney (Manchester United), Defoe (Portsmouth), Heskey (Wigan).

Inler - staying put.
INLER STAYS IN ITALY

Arsenal target Gokhan Inler has snubbed any potential transfer bid from Arsene Wenger by extending his Udinese contract until 2013.

The Swiss midfielder was one of the Arsenal manager’s summer targets and rumoured to have a price tag in the region of 8million.

But Inler never had any doubts about securing his future for a further five years at the Italian club since he first arrived from FC Zurich in 2007.

“I never had any doubts, and from the first day I always said I was sure of staying at Udine,” the 24-year-old told the club’s official website.

“I want to go all the way with this club and play a great season.

“Our objective is to improve upon last year and I feel the team is stronger, while we are certainly not lacking enthusiasm.”

With Italian striker Antonio Di Natale also refusing offers from the likes of Roma and Fiorentina, the Serie A club’s director general Pietro Leonardi is happy to be heading in the right direction.

He added: “Inler has chosen to continue his part in the Udinese project and, as he is not the only one, this makes us think we are on the right track.”

Inler - staying put.
INLER STAYS IN ITALY

Arsenal target Gokhan Inler has snubbed any potential transfer bid from Arsene Wenger by extending his Udinese contract until 2013.

The Swiss midfielder was one of the Arsenal manager’s summer targets and rumoured to have a price tag in the region of 8million.

But Inler never had any doubts about securing his future for a further five years at the Italian club since he first arrived from FC Zurich in 2007.

“I never had any doubts, and from the first day I always said I was sure of staying at Udine,” the 24-year-old told the club’s official website.

“I want to go all the way with this club and play a great season.

“Our objective is to improve upon last year and I feel the team is stronger, while we are certainly not lacking enthusiasm.”

With Italian striker Antonio Di Natale also refusing offers from the likes of Roma and Fiorentina, the Serie A club’s director general Pietro Leonardi is happy to be heading in the right direction.

He added: “Inler has chosen to continue his part in the Udinese project and, as he is not the only one, this makes us think we are on the right track.”

Parry - rows over.
PARRY - ROWS ARE OVER

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry says the infighting that threatened to derail the club is now over and that everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet.

The Reds found themselves in the headlines for the wrong reasons last season due to the ongoing row between American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

The American duo were involved in a public slanging match last season, but Parry insists the problems have been resolved and stability has returned to Anfield.

Parry has also found himself at loggerheads with Reds boss Rafa Benitez over transfer targets, but the chief executive insists everyone is working together to bring success to the club.

“Everyone is working together,” said Parry.

“Everything was relatively calm during the close season compared to the publicity at other clubs and now we just want to focus on winning games.

“There is a dialogue between the two owners on a regular basis. And they have been supportive throughout the last six months, especially in the transfer market.

“People forget that we have bought Robbie Keane and paid a huge fee for Javier Mascherano. So the commitment has still been there. They have been supportive through this transfer window and, at the moment, it is stable.”

Parry also insists he has no plans to quit his role at Liverpool despite being linked with replacing Brian Barwick as chief executive of the Football Association.

“I’m still here but it’s not about me. The story should always be the players,” he said.

Robinho - Chelsea interest.
CHELSEA DEFEND ROBINHO INTEREST

Chelsea have ‘refuted’ Real Madrid’s criticism regarding their conduct in the bid to sign Robinho.

Brazilian striker Robinho held a press conference on Sunday to reiterate his desire to join Chelsea before the transfer window closed.

Real responded by issuing a statement which hit out at Chelsea’s behaviour, particularly an incident which saw shirts bearing Robinho’s name go on sale on the club’s website.

But the Blues have now defended their interest in Robinho, having made a formal offer, and say the shirt incident was ‘a regrettable accident’.

“There is nothing wrong with publicly confirming our interest in a player when the club involved is well aware of it, has been in receipt of two bids and is negotiating to sell the player,” read Chelsea’s statement.

“So we completely refute any criticism from Real Madrid.

“As for the issue regarding the website, Real are well aware this was a regrettable accident by an external supplier which was rectified as soon as it was brought to our attention and not a single shirt was sold.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari admits he is uncertain if Robinho will be part of his squad for the rest of the season.

Scolari has expressed a wish to work with his compatriot, but is leaving the transfer negotiations in the hands of Blues chief executive Peter Kenyon.

“About Robinho, it is not my business,” said Scolari. “I don’t know nothing. You know what I know - zero!

“Ask Peter Kenyon or (Real Madrid president Ramon) Calderon. I didn’t think about Robinho in the last few days because I needed to train my players.

“He is not my player. When one player is my player I will say something.”

Johnson - to sign new deal.
JOHNSON SET FOR NEW CITY DEAL

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is expecting Michael Johnson to sign a new contract.

Johnson has been locked in talks with City for some time regarding an extension to his present deal.

The England Under 21 international had rejected an offer from the club and discussions appeared to have been stalled.

However, negotiations resumed earlier this month and the midfielder is now ready to pledge his future to City.

“Michael will put pen-to-paper over the next 24 hours,” said Hughes in the Sunday Mirror.

“We are delighted because he has a fantastic future and his decision to commit his future to this club is another example of the progress we are now making.”

A string of Premier League clubs, including Arsenal and Liverpool, had been linked with bids for Johnson, but he is now set to agree a five-year deal to stay at the City of Manchester Stadium.