Darren O’Neill is no stranger to adversity and hardship. For years he was landed with the label of Irish boxing’s bridesmaid.

Sean Hehir and Pauline Curley stole the headlines winning the national titles at the SSE Airtricity Dublin marathon as Alemu Gemechu and Nataliya Lehonkova took overall glory ahead of a record entry of more than 15,000.

Gearoid Towey is one of those men always looking for the next challenge, and his latest may be the biggest of them all — to transform our attitudes towards the mental health of leading sportsmen and women.

The best laid plans of mice and men oft go awry. Robert Heffernan had only one plan in the 50km race walk on the streets of Zurich yesterday: to win gold.

Irish soprano Tara Erraught was ‘mauled’ by British critics for her appearance. ‘Lookism’ disrespects us all, says Suzanne Harrington

For Belgium the penny dropped in 2000 while Germany’s nadir arrived four years later but both have shown Ireland there’s plenty to be gained by recognising the inherent faults of their football systems.

Ciarán Ó Lionáird believes he has nothing to lose going into the 1500m showdown for a plane ticket to Zurich at the GloHealth National Track and Field Championships in Morton Stadium this weekend.

"There was tremendous pressure. The country, family, Rudisha’s community, even the world of athletics. Would people have been satisfied with a silver and a bronze?

A devastated Mark Cavendish ruled himself out of the Tour de France after suffering a shoulder injury in a crash on Saturday's opening stage to Harrogate.

Steven Colvert has declared he will "go down any route" to clear his name after his A sample tested positive for EPO, even if it involves having to take it to court which would incur costs of a six-figure sum.

Former international rower turned bike rider, Cathal Moynihan won yesterday’s opening stage of the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan for the biggest win of his career and the first leaders’ yellow jersey of this year’s race.

This time of year is all about being Irish.

The Olympic spirit is contagious. It makes you emotionally attached to people you have never met or even heard of before.

I had no intention of writing about this topic until I saw a former basketball legend singing Happy Birthday to a North Korean dictator.

When double Paralympian swimmer and London 2012 gold medal winner Darragh McDonald talks about standards, it is time to take notice.

It’s January and people everywhere are talking about resolutions, weight loss and healthy living.

Former Aston Villa, West Ham and Germany international midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger has announced he is gay in a bid to break the taboo of homosexuality in sport.

Cork Olympians Derval O’Rourke and Peter O’Leary jetted off on honeymoon last night after tying the knot in picturesque Parknasilla, Co Kerry, at the weekend.

Race-walking legend Olive Loughnane believes Robert Heffernan can use his fourth place finish at the London Olympics as a springboard to success at the upcoming World Track and Field Championships in Moscow.

When Michael Phelps walked into the press room at the Aquatics Centre on Saturday August 4, 2012, he left no-one in any doubt that his decision to retire was final.

Royal Yachting Association Olympic manager Stephen Park says the death of Andrew Simpson has been like losing a family member, with the news leaving the British sailing team feeling “broken”.

An eight-year-old schoolgirl is in class, looking out the window, miffed.

Irish Olympic silver medalist Ken Egan has announced his retirement from boxing.

The mother of Olympic boxer Kenneth Egan got down on her knees in a cemetery and begged him to give up drink, he revealed yesterday.

Olympic boxing hero Kenny Egan will speak openly at a workshop in Cork today about his recovery from addiction to porn, booze, and escort girls.

The Irish Sailing Association believe a “malicious campaign” against sailor Peter O’Leary cost the country a medal at the Olympic Games.

The election that will take place in China tomorrow could have profound effects on Ireland’s prosperity, write Neil Collins and Yu-Wen Chen

The Irish Hockey Association yesterday announced Mike Heskin will take over as chief executive from Angus Kirkland.

Capt Geoff Curran trained his sights on Ollie Townend at the Johnson & Perrott Land Rover International Horse Trials in Ballindenisk yesterday, ruing that the Briton’s superb performance in the dressage had blown away what would generally be considered a respectable score from the Army officer.

For too long people who were physically disabled were hidden away, either for their own protection, or in some instances because they were seen as an embarrassment to their families.

Usain Bolt has hit out at people who make claims about the use of performance enhancing drugs in athletics, and has “lost all respect” for former Olympic champion Carl Lewis.

Only five medallists from Beijing have survived as the Olympic boxing tournament in London reaches the semi-finals and two of those will face each other today (1.30pm) when the defending light flyweight champion Shiming Zou will face Ireland’s Paddy Barnes for a third time.

Cian O’Connor was delighted “to give back to the Irish public” after delivering the country’s first medal of the Olympics in extraordinary fashion.

Cian O’Connor was delighted “to give back to the Irish public” today after delivering his country’s first medal of the Olympics in extraordinary fashion.

With two medals secured in the camp, high performance coach Billy Walsh said light flyweight Paddy Barnes and flyweight Michael Conlan are champing at the bit for their quarter-final bouts.

Paddy Barnes has progressed to the quarter-finals in the Men's Light Flyweight division of the boxing at the Olympics.

John Joe Nevin will be bidding for Ireland’s first medal at the London Games when he climbs into the ring tomorrow night (8.45pm) to touch gloves with the teak tough Mexican bantamweight Oscar Valdez.

Millstreet Horse Show returns to the international stage next week after a 12-year hiatus, with its popularity as strong as ever.

Darren O’Neill has bittersweet memories of the medal ceremony at the Beijing Olympics when Kenneth Egan received his silver medal.

John Joe Nevin became the first Irish boxer to qualify for a medal fight at London 2012 with a masterful display at the ExCel yesterday when he outpointed Kanat Abutalipov (Kazakhstan) 15-10 for a place in Sunday night’s quarter-finals.

Irish team manager Des Donnelly, said Katie Taylor is focused and ready for first assignment next Monday when she will meet either Queen Underwood (USA) or Natasha Jonas (Great Britain) for a bronze medal.

Following an impressive start to his second Olympic campaign on Saturday, bantamweight John Joe Nevin returns to the ExCel this afternoon (2pm) to take on Kanal Abutalipov (Kazakhstan) for a place in Sunday night’s quarter finals.