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Sport

FAI Backs New National League with Financial Commitment as Amateur Football Gets Pyramid

The FAI has confirmed it will financially support the new National League through to 2029, giving 15 founding amateur clubs a clear pathway toward League of Ireland promotion. The inaugural season begins this autumn with clubs from all four provinces competing in a format that will see the champions face the bottom League of Ireland First Division club in a promotion play-off from 2027.

Conor Brennan26 Aug 2026👁 4

Sport

Ulster Rugby Sign Daniel Hawkshaw and Martin Moloney Ahead of New URC Season

Ulster Rugby have bolstered their squad ahead of the 2026-27 United Rugby Championship season with the signings of centre Daniel Hawkshaw from Connacht and back row Martin Moloney from Exeter Chiefs, as the province prepares to open their campaign against Edinburgh at Kingspan Stadium on September 25.

Conor Brennan

5 min read26 Aug 2026

Sport

Celtic Crash Out of Champions League as LASK Complete Stunning 5-4 Aggregate Comeback

Celtic have been eliminated from the UEFA Champions League after suffering one of the most dramatic collapses in the competition's recent history, surrendering a 3-0 first-leg lead to lose 5-1 to LASK in Linz and exit 5-4 on aggregate. Manager Martin O'Neill described it as the most disappointing night he had experienced in a long time.

Conor Brennan

5 min read26 Aug 2026

Sport

Aaron McKenna Defends IBF Middleweight Title as Irish Boxing Eyes World Stage

Aaron McKenna is preparing to make his first defence of the IBF middleweight world title he won at the 3Arena in Dublin earlier this month, as Irish boxing enjoys a period of unprecedented success at world level with the Monaghan fighter joined by Jono Carroll as a reigning world champion.

Conor Brennan

5 min read26 Aug 2026

Sport

Dylan Browne McMonagle Expected to Make Full Recovery After Bellewstown Fall

Irish champion jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle is expected to make a full recovery after being hospitalised following a fall at Bellewstown Racecourse on Tuesday, though he faces several weeks on the sidelines. The incident led to the abandonment of the race meeting after two further falls in the second race highlighted unsafe track conditions.

Conor Brennan

5 min read26 Aug 2026

Sport

Down's Adam McCann-Gibbs Ready for College Football Debut at the Aviva with UNC Under Belichick

Adam McCann-Gibbs, an 18-year-old punter from the Glenn parish in County Down, is set to make his college football debut at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on 29 August when the University of North Carolina Tar Heels face TCU in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. McCann-Gibbs, coached by NFL legend Bill Belichick at UNC, followed in the footsteps of fellow Down man Charlie Smyth.

Conor Brennan

6 min read25 Aug 2026

Sport

Anna Foster Eyes First Professional Win at KPMG Women's Irish Open as K Club Beckons

Dublin golfer Anna Foster enters the KPMG Women's Irish Open at the K Club in Kildare in strong form after a career-best runner-up finish at the Swiss Ladies Open, with the 24-year-old targeting her first professional victory on home soil. Foster, who qualified for the AIG Women's Open at Royal Lytham in July, is part of a promising generation of Irish women in professional golf.

Conor Brennan

5 min read25 Aug 2026

Sport

Waterford Hurling Opens Doors to All-Comers as Molumphy Calls for 'Warriors' in November Trials

New Waterford senior hurling manager Stephen Molumphy has announced open trials for November 2026, inviting club secretaries to nominate players with the character and work ethic to compete at inter-county level. Molumphy, appointed on a three-year term in July, is seeking 'competitors, fighters, and warriors' as he aims to build a winning culture in the Déise.

Conor Brennan

5 min read25 Aug 2026

Sport

Troy Parrott Set for La Liga Debut with Real Betis as Pellegrini Confirms Striker is 'Ready to Play'

Republic of Ireland striker Troy Parrott is set to make his La Liga debut for Real Betis against Valencia at the Mestalla on Tuesday, with manager Manuel Pellegrini confirming the 24-year-old is 'ready to play' after joining from AZ Alkmaar for €20 million. Parrott would become the 11th Irish player to feature in La Liga.

Conor Brennan

5 min read25 Aug 2026

Sport

Sophia Young and Ireland's New Quad Crew Make World Rowing Championships Debut in Amsterdam

Nineteen-year-old Belfast rower Sophia Young is making her senior international debut at the World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam this week as part of Ireland's new women's quadruple sculls crew. Young, who won silver at the World Under-23 Championships in Duisburg earlier this summer, is part of a nine-crew Irish squad competing at the championships from 24 to 30 August.

Conor Brennan

5 min read25 Aug 2026

Sport

Leinster Women Rout Ulster 75-5 to Book Interprovincial Final Date with Munster in Galway

Leinster Women produced a dominant display to defeat Ulster 75-5 at the Affidea Stadium on Saturday, booking their place in the Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship final against defending champions Munster in Galway on 29 August. Robyn O'Connor scored five tries and Katie Whelan claimed a hat-trick in a stunning performance.

Conor Brennan

4 min read24 Aug 2026

Sport

ILCA 7 Sailing World Championships Open in Dún Laoghaire as Finn Lynch Leads Six-Strong Irish Team

The 2026 ILCA 7 Men's World Championship has opened in Dún Laoghaire, with over 140 sailors from 46 nations competing on Dublin Bay in the first Olympic-class sailing World Championship held in Ireland in 25 years. Finn Lynch leads a six-strong Irish team that also includes Ewan McMahon and Fiachra McDonnell.

Conor Brennan

5 min read24 Aug 2026