Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Amen Kate proves Belle of the ball at Thurles

Amen Kate sparked Cheltenham dreams for Tom Cooper with success in the Billy Harney Memorial Irish EBF Boreen Belle Mares Novice Hurdle at Thurles.

Racing • 20 Dec

ASCOT, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 20: Nico de Boinville riding Impose Toi (green/gold, white cap) clear the last to win The Howden Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot Racecourse on December 20, 2025 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

Long Walk right up Impose Toi's street

Impose Toi continued his progression with a determined display to win the Howden Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.

Racing • 20 Dec

Players from both sides collide at the final whistle during the Sky Bet Championship match between Southampton and Coventry City at St Mary's Stadium on December 20, 2025 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Matt Watson/Southampton FC via Getty Images)

Lampard admits he was 'out of order' for sparking melee

Frank Lampard has admitted he was "out of order" after sparking a post-match melee following Coventry's 1-1 draw at Southampton.

Soccer • 20 Dec

Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah (L) and Liverpool's English midfielder #17 Curtis Jones warms up ahead of the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Sunderland at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 3,

Salah said sorry to Liverpool team-mates - Jones

Curtis Jones said Mohamed Salah apologised to his Liverpool team-mates after criticising head coach Arne Slot and the club in an interview.

Soccer • 20 Dec

Aine Donegan of Ireland watches her tee shot on the 18th hole during day two of the 2025 KPMG Women’s Irish Open Golf Championship at Carton House Golf Club in Maynooth, Kildare. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Donegan secures LET card for 2026

Clare golfer Áine Donegan has secured her Ladies European Tour card for 2026 after coming through Lalla Aicha Q-school in Morocco.

Golf • 20 Dec

23 November 2025; Fastorslow, right, with JJ Slevin up, jumps the last on their way to finishing second, from eventual first place Gaelic Warrior, left, with Paul Townend up, during the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Steeplechase during day two of the P

Big guns remain in King George reckoning

All the major contenders have stood their ground in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen's Day, with a mouthwatering second clash of the season between stablemates Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File in store.

Racing • 20 Dec

Ryan Gerard of USA plays his approach shot on the 18th hole on day three of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open 2026 at Heritage La Reserve Golf Club on December 20, 2025 in Bel Ombre, Mauritius.

Gerard and Jarvis lead the way at Mauritius Open

Ryan Gerard shot a third-round 63 to share the lead of the Mauritius Open with Casey Jarvis on 16-under-par.

Golf • 20 Dec

O'Connor loses GP win after positive test for Pegasus

Cian O'Connor and his mount Pegasus have been disqualified after finishing first at a Grand Prix event in Mexico after the horse tested positive for a banned substance.

Equestrian • 20 Dec

19 December 2025; Dan Sheehan of Leinster, hidden, dives over to score his side's fourth try during the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Ulster at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Cullen: 'We need to get a hell of a lot better'

Leo Cullen hailed the attitude of his Leinster players as they staged a second-half comeback for the second week in a row, but the head coach admitted his side can't make a habit of it.

United Rugby Championship • 19 Dec

Jake Paul fights Anthony Joshua in their heavyweight bout during Jake Paul v Anthony Joshua at Kaseya Center on December 19, 2025 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images for Netflix)

Joshua takes six rounds to overcome YouTuber Paul

Anthony Joshua laboured to a sixth-round victory over YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul in Miami which did little to suggest the former heavyweight world champion will return to the upper echelons of the sport.

Boxing • 20 Dec

Africa Cup of Nations moved to every four years

The Africa Cup of Nations will ⁠in future be held every four years instead of every two ‍years.

Soccer • 20 Dec

5 October 2014; Ballygunner manager Fergal Hartley celebrates with his children Mark, Aoife and Lauren. Waterford County Senior Hurling Championship Final, Ballygunner v Mount Sion. Walsh Park, Waterford. Picture credit: Matt Browne / SPORTSFILE

Tradition not population arming 'Gunner - Hartley

Ahead of their All-Ireland club hurling semi-final against St Martin's of Wexford, Fergal Hartley insists that Ballygunner's unparalleled success is not driven by population growth.

Hurling • 20 Dec

13 July 2025; Aoife Horisk of Tyrone during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Intermediate Championship semi-final match between Tyrone and Westmeath at Avant Money Páirc Sean Mac Diarmada in Carrick-on-Shannon, Leitrim. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile

AFLW-bound Horisk and Tyrone driven by 2024 heartache

Following the heartbreak of their defeat to Leitrim in the previous year's final, Aoife Horisk and Tyrone were highly motivated coming into the 2025 edition of the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship.

GAA • 20 Dec

Mikel Arteta has been at the helm for six years

Arteta wants to 'earn the right' to extend Arsenal stay

Mikel Arteta can envisage life at Arsenal beyond his current 18-month deal but has insisted he must "earn the right" to get another contract extension.

Soccer • 20 Dec

6 December 2025; A general view of a sideline flag before the AIB Leinster GAA Football Senior Club Championship final match between Athy of Kildare and Ballyboden St Enda's of Dublin at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile

GAA opts to maintain relationship with Allianz

The GAA has opted to maintain its relationship with Allianz despite calls from a number of county boards to end its association with the insurance group.

Hurling • 20 Dec

Kate O'Connor of Ireland poses for a portrait with her women's heptathlon silver medal during day nine of the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025 at Kabukicho in Tokyo, Japan

O'Connor dreaming of 'doing something special' in LA

After a marvellous 2025, Kate O'Connor is not afraid to declare that her biggest ambition is to climb the podium at the LA Olympics in 2028.

Athletics • 19 Dec

19 December 2025; Rieko Ioane of Leinster, second from left, celebrates with teammates, from left, Luke McGrath, Ciarán Frawley and James Lowe after scoring their side's first try during the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Ulster at t

Leinster hold off Ulster with late fightback at Aviva

For the second Friday in a row it looked like Leinster's season was about to hit another stumbling block, but for the second week in a row they found a way to win.

United Rugby Championship • 19 Dec

William O’Connor of Ireland celebrates after wining the first set on Day Nine of the 2025/26 Paddy Power World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace on December 19, 2025 in London

Irish duo O'Connor and Barry march on at Ally Pally

Irish pair Willie O'Connor and Keane Barry breezed through their opening assignments at the PDC World Championship on Friday.

Darts • 19 Dec

Charlie Smyth #39 of the New Orleans Saints warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on December 7, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.

Smyth signs three-year deal with New Orleans Saints

Charlie Smyth has been signed to the New Orleans Saints' 53-man active roster on a three-year deal.

US Sport • 19 Dec

Adam Idah of Swansea City celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammates Ronald Pereira Martin and Jay Fulton during the Sky Bet Championship match between Swansea City and Wrexham AFC at Swansea.com Stadium on December 19, 2025 in Swansea, Wale

Idah the toast of Swansea after late Wrexham winner

Republic of Ireland striker Adam Idah struck at the death to ensure Swansea City claimed the Welsh bragging rights over Wrexham with a dramatic 2-1 comeback home win.

Soccer • 19 Dec

Allen into semi-finals in Scotland

Antrim's Mark Allen has advanced to the last four of the Scottish Open after an impressive 5-2 victory over England's Joe O'Connor.

Snooker • 19 Dec

Shamrock Rovers sporting director Stephen McPhail poses for a photograph with the FAI Cup and SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division trophy following the 2025 Sports Direct Men's FAI Cup Final match between Shamrock Rovers and Cork City at the Aviva Stadiu

McPhail leaves Hoops after 9 years as sporting director

Shamrock Rovers are on the hunt for a new sporting director after Stephen McPhail informed the club of his decision to step away from football.

Soccer • 19 Dec

Galway All-Ireland-winning captain Burke retires at 35

David Burke has retired from inter-county hurling at the age of 35.

Hurling • 19 Dec

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 14: Micah Parsons #1 of the Green Bay Packers walks off the field with a knee injury during the third quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on December 14, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds

Packers v Bears & Smyth stays active - 5 NFL storylines

Michael McQuaid of Pro Football Ireland looks at some of the key storylines ahead of Week 16 of the NFL season, which got underway last night when the Seattle Seahawks defeated the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field.

US Sport • 19 Dec

Rowan Lester of Ireland plays his second shot on the first hole on day two of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open 2026 at Heritage La Reserve Golf Club on December 19, 2025 in Bel Ombre, Mauritius. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Dublin's Lester misses cut at Mauritius Open

Dublin's Rowan Lester completely changed his fortunes on Day 2 of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open but it wasn't enough to make the cut as South Africa's Casey Jarvis opened up a two-shot lead after a second-round 65.

Golf • 19 Dec

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Amen Kate proves Belle of the ball at Thurles

Long Walk right up Impose Toi's street

Lampard admits he was 'out of order' for sparking melee

Salah said sorry to Liverpool team-mates - Jones

Donegan secures LET card for 2026

Big guns remain in King George reckoning

Gerard and Jarvis lead the way at Mauritius Open

O'Connor loses GP win after positive test for Pegasus

Cullen: 'We need to get a hell of a lot better'

Joshua takes six rounds to overcome YouTuber Paul

Africa Cup of Nations moved to every four years

Tradition not population arming 'Gunner - Hartley

AFLW-bound Horisk and Tyrone driven by 2024 heartache

Arteta wants to 'earn the right' to extend Arsenal stay

GAA opts to maintain relationship with Allianz

O'Connor dreaming of 'doing something special' in LA

Leinster hold off Ulster with late fightback at Aviva

Irish duo O'Connor and Barry march on at Ally Pally

Smyth signs three-year deal with New Orleans Saints

Idah the toast of Swansea after late Wrexham winner

Allen into semi-finals in Scotland

McPhail leaves Hoops after 9 years as sporting director

Galway All-Ireland-winning captain Burke retires at 35

Packers v Bears & Smyth stays active - 5 NFL storylines

Dublin's Lester misses cut at Mauritius Open