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The 25 best sporting images of 2025

Updated / Thursday, 25 Dec 2025 08:00

Irish Examiner photographer Eddie O'Hare put down his camera after 47 years following the hurling semi-final between Cork and Dublin

Following another spectacular year of Irish sport, we share some of the best work from our friends over at Sportsfile.

22 November 2025; Trainer Willie Mullins gets a nip from Lossiemouth after winning the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle during day one of the Punchestown Premiere Weekend at Punchestown Racecourse in Kildare. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile — Gizza kiss: Lossiemouth gives Willie Mullins a nip

9 March 2025; Sarah Healy of Ireland celebrates winning gold in the women's 3000m final on day four of the European Athletics Indoor Championships 2025 at the Omnisport Apeldoorn in Apeldoorn, Netherlands. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile — Jump for joy: Sarah Healy after winning 3000m at European Athletics Indoor Championships

22 November 2025; Malcolm Marx of South Africa drinks a Guinness after the Quilter Nations Series 2025 match between Ireland and South Africa at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile — Thirsty work: Malcolm Marx downs a pint after South Africa's win over Ireland in November

20 April 2025; Aaron Gillane of Limerick tussles with Michael Breen of Tipperary during the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 1 match between Tipperary and Limerick at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile — All go down together: Mikey Breen of Tipperary and Limerick's Aaron Gillane tussle in Munster SHC clash

28 October 2025; Republic of Ireland head coach Carla Ward celebrates after the UEFA Women's Nations League A/B promotion/relegation play-off second leg match between Belgium and Republic of Ireland at The King Power At Den Dreef Stadium in Leuven, Belgium. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile — Belgian blond: Carla Ward celebrates Ireland's promotion-relegation play-off triumph over Belgium

4 September 2025; Runners and riders during the Tote, Never Beaten Handicap at Laytown Strand in Laytown, Meath. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile — Life's a beach: Runners and riders at Laytown Races

27 January 2025; A general view of the University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome, in Bekan, Mayo, which was destroyed during Storm Éowyn. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile — In tatters: An aerial shot of Connacht GAA's air dome after it was destroyed in Storm Eowyn

23 February 2025; David Clifford of Kerry celebrates after the Allianz Football League Division 1 match between Tyrone and Kerry at Pomeroy Plunkett's GAA Club in Pomeroy, Tyrone. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile — Hold the bus! David Clifford working his way through the usual gaggle of fans after Kerry's league win in Tyrone

26 July 2025; Hugo Keenan of British & Irish Lions celebrates with his father Paul after the second test match between Australia and the British & Irish Lions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile — That's my boy: Hugo Keenan celebrates the Lions' victory with his dad Paul

19 September 2025; Kate O'Connor of Ireland celebrates a clearance of 1.86m, a personal best, in the Women's Heptathlon High Jump event during day seven of the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025 at Japan National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile — Everybody scream! Kate O'Connor reacts to yet another personal best during the heptathlon final at World Championships in Tokyo

25 January 2025; Cavan goalkeeper Gary O'Rourke ducks underneath the orange flag after retrieving the ball after a two-point score during the Allianz Football League Division 2 match between Cavan and Monaghan at Kingspan Breffni in Cavan. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile — Orange warning: Cavan goalkeeper Gary O'Rourke attempts to dodge the umpire's flag

16 May 2025; Shelbourne manager Damien Duff during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Bohemians and Shelbourne at Dalymount Park in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile — The masked man: Damien Duff on the grassy hill behind the goal in Dalymount during Shelbourne's visit to Bohemians

11 October 2025; Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher celebrates after saving the penalty of Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F qualifying match between Portugal and Republic of Ireland at Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo by Stephen McCar — Ronaldo Triptych 1: Caoimhín Kelleher jumps for joy after saving Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty in Lisbon

12 November 2025; Cristiano Ronaldo during a Portugal media conference at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile — Ronaldo Triptych 2: The Portugal superstar waits to enter the press conference room at Aviva Stadium

13 November 2025; (EDITOR'S NOTE; Image contains profanity) Republic of Ireland supporters taunt Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match between Republic of Ireland and Portugal at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile — Ronaldo Triptych 3: CR7 gestures to fans after being sent off at Lansdowne Road

21 June 2025; Eddie Raicevic of St Augustine's, representing Munster, loses his spike whilst competing in the boys 100m hurdles during the 123.ie Irish Schools Athletics Association Tailteann Games at SETU Campus in Carlow. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile — Footloose: Eddie Raicevic of St Augustine's is unshod during the Irish Schools Athletics Association Tailteann Games

7 June 2025; Cian Lynch of Limerick and Tommy O'Connell of Cork look on as referee Thomas Walsh is attended to by Adam English of Limerick during the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship final match between Limerick and Cork at TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile — That's a stretch: Referee Thomas Walsh, suffering with cramp, is attended to by Adam English of Limerick

2 August 2025; Madison Gibson of Athlone Town in action against Mateja Bulut of Agram during the UEFA Women's Champions League First Qualifying Round final match between Agram and Athlone Town at Athlone Town Stadium in Westmeath. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile — Another orange warning: Madison Gibson of Athlone Town in action against Mateja Bulut of Agram

30 March 2025; Offaly captain Lee Pearson lifts the cup, as one of the handles comes off, after his side's victory in the Allianz Football League Division 3 final match between Kildare and Offaly at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile — Can you handle this? Offaly captain Lee Pearson lifts the Allianz Football Legaue Division 3 trophy, and breaks it

And here are some striking images from across the globe courtesy of Getty Images

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JULY 13: Reece James #24 of Chelsea FC lifts the FIFA Club World Cup trophy after their team's victory as U.S. President Donald Trump reacts following the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Final match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium on July 13, 2025 — Everyone's a winner, baby: US President Donald Trump celebrates with Chelsea after their Club World Cup triumph

FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 28: Rory McIlroy of Team Europe celebrates with fans after Team Europe's 15-13 win over Team America during the trophy presentation ceremony after the Sunday singles matches of the 2025 Ryder Cup at Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course on September 28, 20 — Europe abú: Rory McIlroy finds some friendly fans at Bethpage Black to celebrate his Ryder Cup triumph with

KIGALI, RWANDA - SEPTEMBER 28: (L-R) Isaac Del Toro and Team Mexico and Tadej Pogacar and Team Slovenia climb the steep cobblestone Mur de Kigali (Wall of Kigali) in the breakaway during the 98th UCI Cycling World Championships Kigali 2025, Men Elite Road Race a 267.5km race from Kigali to Kigali on — Rwanda rothars: The crowds throng the side of the road to watch the UCI World Championships in Kigali

TOKYO, JAPAN - SEPTEMBER 13: Geordie Beamish of Team New Zealand avoids the foot of Jean-Simon Desgagnes of Team Canada as he falls to the ground during the the Men's 3000 Metres Steeplechase Heats on day one of the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025 at National Stadium on September 13, 2025 i — Track and heel: Geordie Beamish of Team New Zealand gets the foot of Canada's Jean-Simon Desgagnes in his face

CORVIGLIA, SWITZERLAND - MARCH 19: Hinako Tomitaka of Japan warms up prior to during the Women's Moguls Final in the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships 2025 on March 19, 2025 in Corviglia, St. Moritz, Switzerland. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) — You've peaked: Hinako Tomitaka of Japan showing off, quite frankly

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