“Walking down the street, I’ve been called Jesus, Rasputin, Fagan, ZZ Tops, even Forty Coats, it depends on the generation,” says John McNally, the face of beards in Ireland.

Medal-winning boxers Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan returned to Belfast to a rapturous reception from their supporters and family.

Medal-winning boxers Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan returned to Belfast tonight to a rapturous reception from supporters and family and thanked the fans for urging them on to glory.

Team Ireland gold medal winner Katie Taylor has said she will take a break before deciding where her future lies.

John Joe Nevin set up the fight of the Olympic boxing finals when he out-fought world champion Lazaro Alvarez in a thrilling semi-final bout at the ExCeL yesterday.

IRISH boxers have brought the country to heights not reached since Melbourne in 1956 as Darren Sutherland claimed a third Olympic medal in Beijing.

Irish captain Ken Egan joined compatriot Paddy Barnes on the winners' podium at the Beijing Olympics after he outclassed Brazilian light heavyweight Washington Silva (8-0) over four rounds today.

Irish boxer Paddy Barnes is guaranteed at least an Olympic bronze medal after his victory at the Worker's Indoor Arena in Beijing today.

Paddy Barnes will get Ireland's quest for an Olympic boxing medal underway today when he meets Polish light flyweight Lukasz Maszczyk in a high noon quarter-final showdown at the Worker's Indoor Arena in Beijing.

The Irish Amateur Boxing Association is to induct the country's first-ever Olympic medal winner into its Hall of Fame.

Ulster Bank has appointed Robert Gallagher as chief executive of the Bank's Corporate & Financial Markets (CBFM) with responsibility for Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland.

Mayo 1-10 Dublin 0-03

DAVID HENRY, controversially dropped from the Dublin football team for the Bank of Ireland Leinster semi final, is likely to be recalled for next Saturday’s glamour All-Ireland qualifier with Derry at Clones.

League finalists Laois take on the mighty Dubs in fortress Croke Park to decide who will meet Kildare in the Leinster final.

KERRY have named 10 of the side that failed to Armagh in last year’s All-Ireland final for Sunday’s Munster SFC semi-final with Tipperary in Tralee.

DUBLINER Ben Dunne may have found an opponent to take him the distance for his seventh professional fight at Mohegan Sun, Mashentucket, Connecticut, tonight when he will face Terrell Hargrove who boxes out of Mohamed Ali’s old gym in Louisville, Kentucky.

Dublin 1-19, Louth 0-09

Dublin 0-12 Galway1-9

EXCITING teenage prospect Donncha Walsh from Cromane will make his senior intercounty debut when Kerry take on Dublin in the Allianz NFL at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney, on Sunday.

THEY are finally closing in on the Holy Grail. Yesterday in Croke Park, 25 years later, what they once called intestinal fortitude - and the width of a post - guided Armagh to the gates of the Promised Land.

THE flags are out in force, stapled to every second car window that goes by, the jerseys crowd Henry street, the city is brimming with confidence.

IT was a weekend of missed goal chances, come-backs and deadlocks, and a weekend which saw a tame end to Galway's All-Ireland reign.

Dublin 2-13 Kildare 2-11

Dublin won their first Leinster Football Championship title since 1985 in a roller-coaster final in front of an ecstatic 78,033 crowd at Croke Park.

Dublin forward Dessie Farrell will miss his side’s Leinster football semi-final meeting with Meath on Sunday after failing a fitness test last night.

Tyrone 0-18 Dublin 2-10