Irelands domestic four-day competition, the Hanley Energy Inter-Provincial Championship, has been awarded first-class status - and the countrys T20 and 50-over competitions have been elevated to List A - following the ICC board meeting in Cape Town this week.Ireland, who earlier this year launched an ambitious five-year plan aimed at ridding the game of its elitist perceptions and putting it on a par with football, rugby and GAA among Irish sports fans, now have a competition that John Bracewell, the national coach, believes can help to drive the sport to the next level.First-class cricket is the vital link between part-time cricket and the full commitment of the international game, said Bracewell.It is connected to your value in world cricket, historically. This to me is key for Irish-based players willing to make the sacrifices necessary to reach the standards required to compete at the pinnacle of our sport.Over the last two seasons watching domestic cricket in Ireland I have seen consistent performances from top quality cricketers who deserve to have these recognised. The standard of play is not only highly competitive but also first class in its output.Cricket Ireland CEO Warren Deutrom, who was in South Africa when the decision was announced, outlined the importance of the decision to award first-class status to the Irish domestic game.Its important as firstly, it elevates the perception of the competition, and places the inter-pros statistically and status-wise at the same level of all first-class cricket around the world in established Test nations.At the moment, the matches, while hard-fought, are no more than friendlies, so even monumental performances such as Nick Larkins 247 not out and Adam Dennisons 206 [both for the Northern Knights] count for nothing in the games statistical records.Bestowing first-class status places these achievements in the games official records and allows players to start accumulating career statistics, and puts them in the shop-window for opportunities overseas. These same opportunities can also now apply to the officials standing in these matches.The competition, which has been running in its current form for four seasons, involves three teams - Northern Knights, North West Warriors and Leinster Lightning - and Deutrom outlined the significance of the decision as Ireland push for higher recognition in the sport.Playing first-class domestic cricket is a significant milestone on our long-stated journey to become a Test nation and is what the full members do - if we want to be considered among the front rank of nations, then so must we.John Anderson, the captain of Leinster Lightning who completed a domestic treble this year, was clearly delighted at the competitons elevation.Its great news and indicative of the standard of cricket that is on show in the competition. The games provide a shop window for all players to show-case their skills and has provided me with a stepping stone to play international cricket.David Richardson, the ICC chief executive, said: Cricket Irelands Inter-Provincial Championship is well structured and provides a clear pathway for players from under-age through to inter-provincial to the national team.The Championship is professionally run, played mainly in international standard venues and some games are live streamed and Id like to commend Cricket Ireland on the work they have done to achieve first class domestic status. Nike Free Clearance . Cuban testified Thursday that he was upset when the companys CEO told him news that would reduce the value of his shares, for which hed paid $7.5 million. But he said he did nothing improper when he sold those shares over the next two days. Nike Free Clearance Sale .C. -- Al Jefferson joked that he feels he can score from anywhere on the court. http://www.nikefreediscount.com/ . Now that hes hitting streaking teammates with pin-point passes for easy layups, Love is asserting himself as one of the true superstars in the league. Nike Free Outlet Store . Vaives lawyer Trevor Whiffen claims the former 50-goal man wasnt provided with a copy of the claim beforehand and that he would not have agreed to the allegations made against the NHL had he been asked to review its contents. Nike Free Discount . -- Ryan Blaney provided more evidence that Penske Racings No. The NFL declined to fine anybody involved in the Harry Douglas-Aqib Talib sideline skirmish last weekend.The Broncos cornerback tussled with the Titans receiver one play after Douglas low block on cornerback Chris Harris Jr. that reverberated throughout the league.The scrum happened on the Tennessee sideline but hardly anyone joined in. Talib ripped his helmet off and dared the Titans players to fight him. Some Titans were telling him he was about to get ejected. Finally, Titans linebacker Avery Williamson tossed Talib aside as officials tried to break it up.After the game, Talib threatened to beat up Douglas the next time he sees him in Atlanta. The two have the same agent.Douglas defended his block on Harris and his reputation after the game, pointing out that the hit was allowable and insisting hes not a dirty player.Douglas wasnt flagged for the low block, which is technically legal but which the Broncos argued was unnecessary because the two were nowhere near the pile.Harris suffered a cut on his right knee but avoided serious injury by picking up his foot at the moment Douglas dived at his knees while both players were throttling down on a run play on the opposite side of the field.There aint no point in cut-blocking a guy when the runs way over on the opposite side and I dont have no impact on the play, Harris said in arguing for a hefty fine for Douglas from the NFL, which has made player safety a priority.dddddddddddd.The only player fined from the Titans 13-10 win was Broncos receiver Emmanuel Sanders, who was docked $12,154 for mimicking a baseball pitcher in a stretch and throwing the football at the wall after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter.Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas, who is friends with Douglas, took some heat after swapping jerseys with him and posing for a picture after the game. Thomas said this week he didnt realize at the time that Harris was the one who had taken out Harris and sparked Talibs ire.Two Seattle Seahawks defenders drew hefty fines this week for unnecessary roughness infractions at Green Bay: linebacker K.J. Wright ($48,620) and Richard Sherman ($18,231).Raiders defensive lineman Jihad Ward was fined $9,115 for a face mask penalty in a game against the Chiefs.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton Cheap Throwback Baseball Detroit Tigers Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Colorado Rockies Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Houston Astros Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Kansas City Royals Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Los Angeles Angels Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Los Angeles Dodgers Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Miami Marlins Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Milwaukee Brewers Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Minnesota Twins Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball New York Mets Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball New York Yankees Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Oakland Athletics Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Philadelphia Phillies Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Pittsburgh Pirates Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball San Diego Padres Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball San Francisco Giants Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Seattle Mariners Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball St. Louis Cardinals Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Tampa Bay Rays Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Texas Rangers Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Toronto Blue Jays Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Washington Nationals Jerseys ' ' '