The Sporting Year in Pictures

Updated / Monday, 15 Dec 2014 14:16
Diarmuid Connolly and Michael Dara MacAuley prepare to face Carlow in the first round of the O'Byrne Cup in January
Diarmuid Connolly and Michael Dara MacAuley prepare to face Carlow in the first round of the O'Byrne Cup in January
Michael Pisano of France rides over a sand dune during stage seven of the 2012 Dakar Rally
Michael Pisano of France rides over a sand dune during stage seven of the 2012 Dakar Rally
Derrick Martin of the New York Giants makes a video of head coach Tom Coughlin as they celebrate winning the NFC Championship
Derrick Martin of the New York Giants makes a video of head coach Tom Coughlin as they celebrate winning the NFC Championship
Competitors enter the water during the 2012 Cole Classic ocean swim in Sydney in February
Competitors enter the water during the 2012 Cole Classic ocean swim in Sydney in February
Dejection in the dressing room after the NCAA Men's Basketball Midwest Regional Final
Dejection in the dressing room after the NCAA Men's Basketball Midwest Regional Final
A snow boarder soars above the spectators during the Winter X Games
A snow boarder soars above the spectators during the Winter X Games
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady breaks down as he faces the media after losing to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady breaks down as he faces the media after losing to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI
A huge crash during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
A huge crash during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
The White Turf horse racing meeting is held on the frozen Lake St Moritz in Switzerland each February
The White Turf horse racing meeting is held on the frozen Lake St Moritz in Switzerland each February
Sean Lamont of Scotland attacks the Welsh defence during their Six Nations clash
Sean Lamont of Scotland attacks the Welsh defence during their Six Nations clash
Luke Donald plays a shot amid 250ft sand dunes at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship
Luke Donald plays a shot amid 250ft sand dunes at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship
Ireland lock Donnacha Ryan wins a line-out against England at Twickenham
Ireland lock Donnacha Ryan wins a line-out against England at Twickenham
Lavarn Harvell knocks out Tony Pietrantonio in a Light Heavyweight bout in Atlantic City
Lavarn Harvell knocks out Tony Pietrantonio in a Light Heavyweight bout in Atlantic City
LeBron James soars for a slam dunk for Miami Heat against Oklahoma City Thunder
LeBron James soars for a slam dunk for Miami Heat against Oklahoma City Thunder
Studying the form on Day One of the Cheltenham Festival
Studying the form on Day One of the Cheltenham Festival
Arsenal's Manager Arsene Wenger looks on during the Barclay's Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea
Arsenal's Manager Arsene Wenger looks on during the Barclay's Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea
I'll Have Another wins the 138th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in May
I'll Have Another wins the 138th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in May
Leinster's Isa Nacewa is tackled by Stephen Ferris of Ulster in the Heineken Cup final
Leinster's Isa Nacewa is tackled by Stephen Ferris of Ulster in the Heineken Cup final
Former cricketer Ian Botham in a tricky spot at the The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
Former cricketer Ian Botham in a tricky spot at the The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
Jimmie Johnson, driver of the MyLowe's Chevrolet, races during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500
Jimmie Johnson, driver of the MyLowe's Chevrolet, races during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500
The peloton makes its way through the French countryside on stage six of the 2012 Tour de France
The peloton makes its way through the French countryside on stage six of the 2012 Tour de France
Kennedy Baker practices on the beam before the start of competition at the 2012 US Olympic Gymnastics Team Trials
Kennedy Baker practices on the beam before the start of competition at the 2012 US Olympic Gymnastics Team Trials
The Los Angeles Kings discard their helmets and sticks in celebration as they win the Stanley Cup in June
The Los Angeles Kings discard their helmets and sticks in celebration as they win the Stanley Cup in June
Irish fans take Poznan by storm, but the team lose 3-1 to Croatia in their opening game of Euro 2012
Irish fans take Poznan by storm, but the team lose 3-1 to Croatia in their opening game of Euro 2012
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores the opening goal for Sweden against France
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores the opening goal for Sweden against France
Mario Balotelli teases Shay Given as Ireland slump to a third defeat
Mario Balotelli teases Shay Given as Ireland slump to a third defeat
Kostas Katsouranis of Greece lies on the turf after the Czech Republic score
Kostas Katsouranis of Greece lies on the turf after the Czech Republic score
Germany take the lead against Denmark in Lviv thanks to a Lukas Podolski goal
Germany take the lead against Denmark in Lviv thanks to a Lukas Podolski goal
A dejected Mario Balotelli can't watch as Spain celebrate winning the Euro 2012 final against Italy
A dejected Mario Balotelli can't watch as Spain celebrate winning the Euro 2012 final against Italy
Tennis fans stay in their spots during a torrential downpour on the final day at Wimbledon in July
Tennis fans stay in their spots during a torrential downpour on the final day at Wimbledon in July
Tipperary's Brian O'Meara takes the ball past Kevin Moran of Waterford in the Munster final
Tipperary's Brian O'Meara takes the ball past Kevin Moran of Waterford in the Munster final
Abingdon School fans seen during the Henley Royal Regatta
Abingdon School fans seen during the Henley Royal Regatta
A spectacular Opening Ceremony got London 2012 off to a fine start in late July
A spectacular Opening Ceremony got London 2012 off to a fine start in late July
Ashraf Aliyev of Azerbaijan in an awkward position during the wrestling event
Ashraf Aliyev of Azerbaijan in an awkward position during the wrestling event
Action from the men's pole vault, with Bjorn Otto competing
Action from the men's pole vault, with Bjorn Otto competing
With the weight of a nation on her shoulders, Katie Taylor delivered and took home gold for Ireland in boxing
With the weight of a nation on her shoulders, Katie Taylor delivered and took home gold for Ireland in boxing
A superb performance at London 2012 saw the UK take Jessica Ennis to its heart
A superb performance at London 2012 saw the UK take Jessica Ennis to its heart
The thanks you get..Mary Whipple is thrown into the water by her crew after winning the women's eight final
The thanks you get..Mary Whipple is thrown into the water by her crew after winning the women's eight final
Ireland's Eoin Rheinisch of Ireland was inconsolable following his canoe slalom run
Ireland's Eoin Rheinisch of Ireland was inconsolable following his canoe slalom run
A tilt-shift view of Yasuhiro Ueyama in the men's trampoline
A tilt-shift view of Yasuhiro Ueyama in the men's trampoline
A heart-shaped splash as Christina Loukas of the US competes in the women's 3m springboard diving at London 2012
A heart-shaped splash as Christina Loukas of the US competes in the women's 3m springboard diving at London 2012
Morgan Uceny of the US is distraught after falling during the women's 1500m final
Morgan Uceny of the US is distraught after falling during the women's 1500m final
Chloe Magee from Donegal was defeated in her badminton match with Hongyan Pi
Chloe Magee from Donegal was defeated in her badminton match with Hongyan Pi
Usain Bolt retained his Olympic 100m sprint title
Usain Bolt retained his Olympic 100m sprint title
Tuvshinbayar Naidan of Mongolia has had better days - seen here after his men's 100kg judo bout
Tuvshinbayar Naidan of Mongolia has had better days - seen here after his men's 100kg judo bout
A quiet moment for Katie Taylor as she flies home from London 2012
A quiet moment for Katie Taylor as she flies home from London 2012
Serena Williams won the US Open title in September
Serena Williams won the US Open title in September
At the Paralympics, Jiri Jezek of the Czech Republic reacts to winning the C4 men's individual time-trial
At the Paralympics, Jiri Jezek of the Czech Republic reacts to winning the C4 men's individual time-trial
Double Paralympic gold medal winner Mark Rohan is 'congratulated' by his manager Gerry Begs
Double Paralympic gold medal winner Mark Rohan is 'congratulated' by his manager Gerry Begs
Sam Chik Tam of Hong Kong fences during his men's epee category B quarter-final match
Sam Chik Tam of Hong Kong fences during his men's epee category B quarter-final match
Jason Smyth, Mark Rohan and Michael McKillop show off their medals as the Irish team returns to Dublin
Jason Smyth, Mark Rohan and Michael McKillop show off their medals as the Irish team returns to Dublin
Diarmuid Connolly in action during Dublin's defeat to Mayo in the All-Ireland football semi-final
Diarmuid Connolly in action during Dublin's defeat to Mayo in the All-Ireland football semi-final
Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell turn on the style for the opening ceremony of the 39th Ryder Cup at Medinah
Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell turn on the style for the opening ceremony of the 39th Ryder Cup at Medinah
Paul Lawrie plays a shot from the trees during day two
Paul Lawrie plays a shot from the trees during day two
Bubba Watson tees off for the US on the final day, with the home team enjoying a commanding lead
Bubba Watson tees off for the US on the final day, with the home team enjoying a commanding lead
Sergio Garcia celebrates the dramatic 14.5 - 13.5 win for Europe after an amazing comeback
Sergio Garcia celebrates the dramatic 14.5 - 13.5 win for Europe after an amazing comeback
Fire breaks out at the back of the Williams team garage as they celebrate winning the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix
Fire breaks out at the back of the Williams team garage as they celebrate winning the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix
Joe Canning scores the point that takes the All-Ireland hurling final to a replay for the first time since 1959
Joe Canning scores the point that takes the All-Ireland hurling final to a replay for the first time since 1959
A shot from skating practice in the 'Beach Bowl' during the skating event at the 2012 Australian Surfing Open
A shot from skating practice in the 'Beach Bowl' during the skating event at the 2012 Australian Surfing Open
A historic day for Kilkenny as Henry Shefflin becomes the first man to win nine All-Ireland titles on the field of play
A historic day for Kilkenny as Henry Shefflin becomes the first man to win nine All-Ireland titles on the field of play
Participants pose for photographs during the Tough Mudder event at Raceway Park in the UK
Participants pose for photographs during the Tough Mudder event at Raceway Park in the UK
Coco Crisp of the Oakland Athletics is soaked after hitting a game-winning single to beat the Detroit Tigers in October
Coco Crisp of the Oakland Athletics is soaked after hitting a game-winning single to beat the Detroit Tigers in October
Fredrik Andersson Hed of Sweden splits the fairway - and the sky - at the Portugal Masters
Fredrik Andersson Hed of Sweden splits the fairway - and the sky - at the Portugal Masters
Javier Lopez pitches through the rain for the San Francisco Giants - the Giants went on to win the World Series
Javier Lopez pitches through the rain for the San Francisco Giants - the Giants went on to win the World Series
Sligo's Iarfhlaith Davoren seen disguised as John Terry as Rovers win the Airtricity League Premier Division
Sligo's Iarfhlaith Davoren seen disguised as John Terry as Rovers win the Airtricity League Premier Division
The legenday Kauto Star is retired in October after a glittering career
The legenday Kauto Star is retired in October after a glittering career
Discarded clothes litter the streets after the Dublin Marathon
Discarded clothes litter the streets after the Dublin Marathon
UCI President Pat McQuaid faces the media as the Lance Armstrong doping scandal escalates
UCI President Pat McQuaid faces the media as the Lance Armstrong doping scandal escalates
Ireland's Mike McCarthy and Eben Etzebeth of South Africa compete in a lineout in Dublin
Ireland's Mike McCarthy and Eben Etzebeth of South Africa compete in a lineout in Dublin
In a special match on the USS Midway, Michael Carter-Williams of Syracuse Orange scores against San Diego State Aztecs
In a special match on the USS Midway, Michael Carter-Williams of Syracuse Orange scores against San Diego State Aztecs
Roma fans play their part during the hotly contested Rome derby against Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico
Roma fans play their part during the hotly contested Rome derby against Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico
Steam rises from the pack during the Amiln Challenge Cup match between London Wasps and Newport-Gwent Dragons
Steam rises from the pack during the Amiln Challenge Cup match between London Wasps and Newport-Gwent Dragons
Finnuala Britton wins gold at the European Cross Country Championships in Hungary
Finnuala Britton wins gold at the European Cross Country Championships in Hungary
The Oracle Team USA skippered by James Spithill flips over during a fleet race in the America's Cup World Series
The Oracle Team USA skippered by James Spithill flips over during a fleet race in the America's Cup World Series
Manny Pacquiao is knocked out in the sixth round of his fight with Juan Manuel Marquez
Manny Pacquiao is knocked out in the sixth round of his fight with Juan Manuel Marquez
Winner of eight All-Irelands as a player, and two more as a manager, Páidí Ó Sé is laid to rest in Kerry
Winner of eight All-Irelands as a player, and two more as a manager, Páidí Ó Sé is laid to rest in Kerry

More stories on