TADHG KENNELLY did yesterday what Ireland’s greatest Aussie Rules exponent Jim Stynes failed to do in his lengthy career — win an AFL Premiership Grand final.

The 24-year-old Kerryman made history by becoming the first Irishman to win a Premiership title as the Sydney Swans held on to defeat the West Coast Eagles 58-54 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Although Dublin-born ruckman Stynes won the coveted Brownlow Medal in 1991, he lost consecutive Grand finals with Melbourne in 1987 and 1988.

An MCG crowd of 91,898 watched the Swans, who relocated to Sydney from south Melbourne in 1982, claim their first ‘flag’ since 1933 and Kennelly, watched by his parents Tim and Nuala, was central to the success. Ever present this season, Kennelly made a 150m sprint to kick a second quarter goal — only his second of the 2005 campaign — to help the Swans establish a 39-19 half-time lead.

Kennelly, who lost the 1999 All-Ireland Under-21 final with Kerry before signing for Sydney, finished with statistics of seven kicks, seven hand possessions, three marks, three tackles and a goal.

‘When I joined the Swans in 1999, I seriously didn’t know any rules of the game or what exactly the AFL was,’ Kennelly said. ‘If someone had said to me ‘you’re going to win a Premiership with the Sydney Swans’, I’d have said ‘who are the Sydney Swans and what’s a Premiership?’ Honestly, it’s a bit surreal, it’s just unbelievable.’

Basketball

IRELAND'S qualification bid for European basketball’s top tier came apart in Aarhus as Denmark scored an 86-70 extra time win to squeeze through 152-150 on aggregate.

The Danes, who dominated the early stages, led 74-60 at the end of normal time as Ireland’s first-leg 14-point lead was chalked out. Minus the Phoenix Suns-tied Pat Burke, the Irish trailed 39-25 at half-time. Drejer (13 points) and the 7ft 3in Chris Christoffersen (14) topped the scoring.

Ireland were reliant on Jay Larranaga (7), Michael Bree (6) and Dan Callahan (6), but in the third quarter, 37-year-old NBA star Marty Conlon managed a three-pointer and lay-up to make it a nine-point game.

With three minutes to go, the Irish remained 11 points down and on course for a spot in Division A thanks to a Jim Moran three-pointer and a Callahan free throw.

The aggregate lead ebbed and flowed but Larranaga had a late chance to send Ireland through. 74-60 down and with seven seconds to go, the Charlotte-born guard, in driving to the basket, was body-checked but no foul was given. Two Christian Drejer three-pointers in overtime helped secured victory for the Danes.

Rugby League

CHALLENGE Cup winners Hull remain on course for a double after beating Warrington 40-6 in the Super League elimination playoff. John Kear's side will now meet Bradford at Odsal in next Saturday's semi-final. Nathan Blacklock shone for Hull with a first-half hat-trick as his side claimed their first-ever win in the playoffs. Although Andrew Johns sparked a Wolves revival, Chris Chester eased the pressure with a 67th minute effort.

Tennis

BRITAIN faces another year in the Europe/ Africa zone after Switzerland took an unassailable 3-0 lead in their Davis Cup playoff in Geneva. Greg Rusedski and Andy Murray were beaten 7-5 2-6 7-6 6-2 by Roger Federer and Yves Allegro.

Rugby Union

GREG LYNCH'S Leinster side scooped the Under-21 Inter-provincial title last night as they defeated their Munster counterparts 21-10 in the final at Dubarry Park. Two tries from Dublin University centre Conor Donohoe and one from UCD No 8 Sean O'Brien saw the Leinster Under-21s add to last week's success for the province's Under-19s.

Keogh said: "It was a hugely satisfying win considering Munster’s recent record at this level in recent years. We got better as the competition went on.

“The pack was strong and aggressive and the backs showed a lot of skill and determination. Eight members of the starting XV from tonight are eligible next year so the future is looking bright." In the 3rd/4th place play-off, last year's champions Ulster edged Connacht 10-8 thanks to a try apiece from Belfast Harlequins scrum-half Paul Marshall and Dungannon centre Jamie McGrugan. Galwegians back row Liam Casserly (try) and Sligo full-back Mark Butler, with a penalty, scored Connacht's points.

Golf

DAVIS LOVE III and Stewart Cink claimed a point as the US level with the Internationals in the President’s Cup. The International Team lost their slim lead after the morning foursomes yesterday at the Robert Trent Jones Club, Virginia. Starting with a 6½-5½ advantage after the first day, the Americans pulled back to level at 8½ points apiece.