Recently crowned Munster champions Cork have been dealt a massive blow with the news that Graham Canty has been ruled out for the rest of the season. Canty, one of the outstanding defenders in the country and a crucial part of a Cork defence that has been crucial in their upturn in fortunes this year, underwent exploratory surgery on his right knee yesterday, and it revealed the worst possible scenario for the player and manager Billy Morgan . . . a torn cruciate ligament.

The Bantry Blues clubman sustained the injury 10 minutes from the end of Cork's Munster "nal replay win over Kerry a fortnight ago. Morgan described it as "a big blow" to "lose a player of Graham's calibre", but claimed his players must soldier on and focus on their All Ireland quarter-"nal against either Fermanagh or Donegal on 5 August. The injury means Canty will also sit out the International Rules series between Ireland and Australia in October. He captained the Irish side for the 2003 series.

SPENCER'S HOPES OF TITLE RETENTION FADE

Jamie Spencer's hopes of defending his champion jockey title have taken a massive blow after he was hit by a 16-day suspension. Spencer has been served with the ban . . . three days of which are deferred . . . under the Horseracing Regulatory Authority's totting up procedure.

He was found guilty of careless riding on Garafena at Newmarket last week.

Spencer will now miss this week's King George meeting at Ascot as well as Glorious Goodwood. He is banned from 28 July to 9 August inclusive with the three other days deferred until October.

The matter was referred to the HRA following an adjourned inquiry at Newmarket on Thursday because Spencer, who trails Ryan Moore in the 2006 standings, had been suspended from riding for 20 days for interference within the previous 12 months.

FLINTOFF FACES ASHES FITNESS RACE

Andrew Flintoff has been forced to put his international comeback on hold. The Lancashire player was expected to return to the test arena this week against Pakistan but suffered a reoccurance of an injury while playing for his county. He now faces an operation and 12 more weeks in the sideline.

Meanwhile England captain Michael Vaughan hopes to put his Ashes disappointment behind him by making a comeback early next year. Vaughan underwent a fourth operation on his troublesome knee earlier this month which ruled him out of the Ashes defence in Australia this winter.

But the Yorkshire captain remains hopeful of returning to action for the one-day fixtures against Australia and New Zealand in January and February to prove his "tness for the World Cup which begins in the Caribbean in March.

CLARKE HAD MIND MADE UP ALL ALONG

Darren Clarke has revealed he made the decision several weeks ago to take a total break from golf following the Open championship. The Ryder Cup star's wife Heather is battling cancer and his immediate future is now with her and their family after he missed the halfway cut at Hoylake. Clarke was only three strokes behind fellow Ulsterman Graeme McDowell after his opening 69 on Thursday, but then slumped to a second-round 82.

He made the announcement about his plans on Thursday and yesterday stated: "I made up my mind several weeks ago to play until after my favourite tournament, the Open, and then that would be it for a while. If it had been anything other than the Open coming up I probably wouldn't have continued, but I have managed to get this far and now I'll be taking a break for the foreseeable future.

LONGFORD EASE PAST LOUTH IN RACKARD CUP

Longford cruised into the semifinals of the Nicky Rackard Cup at Pearse Park yesterday when they rallied well in the second half to register a comprehensive 1-19 to 2-7 win over a poor Louth outfit.

Longford built up a one-point advantage at half-time after a close opening 35 minutes. The home side opened the scoring early on through team captain Brendan Burke. However, Louth replied with three unanswered points from Shane Callan and two from Colins Connolly. But a Sean Browne goal brought Longford back into the game. On the restart, Louth opened the scoring with a quick goal from sub Niall McEneaney. However, it was all Longford for the remainder of the half with Gareth Ghee, Eoin Donnellan and Neil Casey closing out the game.

AMEOBI AND MILNER HIT NET FOR NEWCASTLE

Newcastle booked their place in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup thanks to an Intertoto Cup double from Shola Ameobi and a curling late strike from James Milner against Lillestrom in Oslo.

The English side go through 4-1 on aggregate.