John Kenny

Sport Reporter

Danny Grant celebrates with Shamrock Rovers team-mate Victor Ozhianvuna, centre, and Rory Gaffney, right, after scoring his side's second goal

Rovers ease past Spartans to bow out with victory

Shamrock Rovers enjoyed their first win of the UEFA Conference League with goals from Graham Burke, Danny Grant and substitute John McGovern giving the Hoops victory over Maltese champions Hamrun Spartans.

Soccer • 18 Dec

Irish driver Josh McErlean and Irish co-driver Eoin Treacy compete in their Ford Puma Rally 1 car during day three of the FIA World Rally Championship WRC Central European Rally

McErlean keeps place for 2026 World Rally Championship

Ireland's Josh McErlean will return to the FIA World Rally Championship next year after securing a second consecutive season with the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team, driving a Ford Puma Rally1.

Motorsport • 16 Dec

14 December 2025; John Shortt celebrates after winning the Men's 50m freestyle final during day three of the Irish Winter Swimming Championships 2025 at the National Aquatic Centre on the Sport Ireland Campus in Dublin. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Shortt sets new junior record to win fourth gold medal

John Shortt, the 200 Backstroke European champion, won his fourth gold medal of the three-day meet, winning the ultra-fast men's 50 metres freestyle in 21.89 seconds, a new junior Irish record on the final day of competition at the Irish Winter Nationals at the National Aquatic Centre (NAC).

Swimming • 14 Dec

12 December 2025; Ellen Walshe of Templeogue SC after competing in the women's 100m freestyle A final during day one of the Irish Winter Swimming Championships 2025 at the National Aquatic Centre on the Sport Ireland Campus in Dublin. Photo by Tyler Mille

Walshe smashes 200m freestyle record at Winter meet

Ellen Walshe broke the 200m freestyle Irish senior record twice on day two of the Irish Winter swimming championships at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin.

Swimming • 13 Dec

John Shortt of Bluefin Swim Team competes in the men's 200m individual medley final during day one of the Irish Winter Swimming Championships 2025 at the National Aquatic Centre on the Sport Ireland Campus in Dublin.

In-form Shortt sets new record at Irish Winter meet

John Shortt, one of three Irish gold medallists at the recent European Short Course championships in Poland, showed that he had lost none of that form as he set yet another national record on day one of the Irish Winter Swimming Championships meet at the NAC in Dublin.

Swimming • 12 Dec

8 December 2025; Team Ireland swimmers, from left, Daniel Wiffen, Ellen Walshe, John Shortt and Evan Bailey with their medals at Dublin Airport on return from the European Short Course Swimming Championships at Lublin in Poland. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach

Irish swimming in uncharted waters after Lublin success

Irish swimmers are in uncharted territory after collecting a staggering three gold, a silver and three bronze medals at the European Short Course Championships, writes John Kenny.

Swimming • 09 Dec

Race winner Alexander Dunne of Ireland and Rodin Motorsport (17) is interviewed during the Round 9 Spa-Francorchamps Feature race of the Formula 2 Championship at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on July 27, 2025 in Spa, Belgium.

Dunne scoops award amid talks with Alpine F1

Alex Dunne has been awarded the Manley Memorial Trophy for the Irish International Driver of the Year which was presented at the 2025 Motorsport Ireland Champions of Irish Motorsport Awards.

Motorsport • 03 Dec

Yehor Nazaryna of Shakhtar Donetsk (29) after scoring his side's second goal against Shamrock Rovers, Europa League, November 2025

Classy Shakhtar prove too good for Hoops in Tallaght

Shamrock Rovers will now need to win their last two games to progress to the knockout stages of this season's Conference League after going down by the odd goal in three to Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk in front of a crowd of over 9,000 at Tallaght Stadium.

Soccer • 28 Nov

21 September 2025; Ireland batter Harry Tector during match three of the T20 International Series between Ireland and England at Malahide Cricket Ground in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Tector positive as Ireland prepare for Bangladesh Tests

After a frustrating year for the Ireland, batter Harry Tector is backing the side to respond as they take on Bangladesh in the first of two Test matches ahead of three T20 internationals later in the year.

Cricket • 10 Nov

Drita players celebrate Alamir Ajzeraj's goal against Shelbourne

10-man Shels go down fighting as knockout hopes fade

Ten-man Shelbourne fell to their second defeat of the UEFA Conference League group stages, losing to a deflected 57th-minute goal from Kosovo side FC Drita which landed a killer blow to their hopes of reaching the knockout phase.

Soccer • 07 Nov