The Ireland athletics team manager fears the unfolding doping and corruption scandal may extend beyond Russia, who were accused yesterday of “sabotaging” the London Games.

Ireland Olympic team manager Patsy McGonagle has rejected the assertions made against Gaelic games and the GAA by Jerry Kiernan.

Wednesday morning in a café in Portlaoise and Gordon Matthews, general manager for Rugby League Ireland, is responding to a query as to why people in this country should pay heed to the code’s World Cup which starts tomorrow and sees Ireland taking on Fiji, England and Australia in the obligatory group of death.

Rob Heffernan will enjoy a double homecoming in Ireland today, after reaching the summit of his career at the World Athletics Championships.

Ireland's new world athletics champion, Rob Heffernan, is expected to arrive back at Dublin Airport later to a hero's welcome.

Emma Gallivan has come to appreciate Rob Heffernan’s idiosyncrasies, so much so that his wise-cracking prior to yesterday’s event didn’t surprise her in the least.

Ireland steered well clear of relegation in League 1 of the European Team Championships in Morton Stadium over the weekend to record their best ever placing of seventh but the “sporting extravaganza” that was promised never materialised.

Ireland have secured league one status at the European team championships finishing seventh overall.

Derval O'Rourke has withdrawn from this weekend's European team championships, dealing a further blow to Team Ireland.

Ireland have been dealt two serious blows ahead of the European team championships in Dublin this weekend.

Olympic superstar Usain Bolt ran rings around his opponents at London 2012 but can he tackle the hills of Donegal?

THERE was no medal but Robert Heffernan’s heroic fourth place performance in the 50k walk at the Olympic Games on Saturday will rank among the greatest Irish athletic performances of all time.

Four years ago in Beijing Paul Hession turned in a stunning performance to win his second round heat and qualify for the semi-finals of the 200m at the Olympic Games.

Robert Heffernan will captain the Irish athletics team at London 2012 it was confirmed yesterday.

Historian Dr Tom Hunt came up with a few gems from Ireland’s lesser known Olympic triumphs and disasters

Ireland’s Olympic Team manager said last night the women’s 4x400m relay team will put the controversy that embroiled the squad behind them and move forward towards their goal — a place in the Olympic final.

Ireland’s Olympic team manager yesterday rejected any association or coaching arrangement between Irish Olympic race walker, Robert Heffernan, and former Olympic silver medallist, Francisco ‘Paco’ Fernandez, who is serving a ban for his involvement in a drugs scandal in Spain.

There was a mix of joy, drama and heartbreak for the Irish athletes in action on the opening day of the European track and field championships in Helsinki yesterday.

Jessie Barr and her brother Tom will have an eye on Olympic qualification when they line up for their respective first round heats of the 400m hurdles at the European track and field championships in Helsinki today.

The Irish women’s 4x400m relay team got a timely boost on the eve of the European championships when they dominated the women’s 400m in Nivelles, Belgium, at the weekend.

Colin Griffin achieved the 50k standard for the Olympic Games at the IAAF World Cup of Race Walking in Saransk, Russia over the weekend.

Olympic team manager, Patsy McGonagle, predicts Ireland could have 24 athletes at the London Olympics.

Irish athletics chiefs and competitors last night played down the poor performances at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Istanbul.

ALREADY qualified for the 20k walk at next year’s Olympic Games, Robert Heffernan can fight for a medal on two fronts after posting his qualifying standard for the 50k walk at Naumburg.

CIARAN Ó LIONAIRD can’t wait to get his preparations for next year’s Olympic Games underway and, after his Daegu odyssey, he can plan for the future with world-class funding from the Irish Sports Council.

CIARAN Ó LIONAIRD took another giant step forward in his fragmented athletics career yesterday when he finished sixth in his semi-final of the men’s 1,500m at the world championships in Daegu to qualify for tomorrow’s final.

IRELAND’S hopes of a medal at the world championships in Daegu suffered a major blow yesterday when Olive Loughnane failed to replicate her silver medal performance in Berlin two years ago in the women’s 20k walk.

ALISTAIR CRAGG will join Ciarán Ó Lionaird on tomorrow’s programme in the heats of the 5,000m while Deirdre Ryan will compete in the qualifying rounds of the high jump.

CIARÁN Ó LIONAIRD has been like a breath of fresh air since he arrived at Ireland’s training camp in Daegu to put the finishing touches to his preparations for the World Championships, which get under way today.

THE Olympic Council of Ireland has moved quickly to dispel suggestions they will accept ‘B’ standard athletes for next year’s London Olympics.

IRISH team manager Patsy McGonagle admits that Athletics Ireland chiefs “need to take a hard look at ourselves” after the national team’s disappointing performance at the European Indoor Championships in Paris.

DERVAL O’ROURKE will recover from her fourth place at the European Indoor Championships, according to her coach Sean Cahill.

IN anticipation of a long day at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, where the European athletics championships get under way this morning, a room has been booked for Derval O’Rourke at a nearby hotel.

MARIAN HEFFERNAN has been added to the Irish team for next week’s European indoor championships in Paris.

DERVAL O’ROURKE will be fighting fit for the first round heats of the 60m hurdles at the European indoor championships in Paris on Friday.

THE family of a talented athlete struck by a truck while walking home in the early hours of yesterday morning are preparing to turn off his life-support machine today.

WITH qualifying standards due to be announced in April/May, the build-up to London 2012 has already begun for Irish athletes with the cream of the current crop already in training camps around the world.

THE introduction of a two year-cycle for the European Championships was originally met with scepticism, particularly as it means an extra event in Olympic year but Joanne Cuddihy is one athlete who welcomes the decision.

DESPITE winning only one medal, Irish team manager Patsy McGonagle was still pleased with the Irish team’s performance at the European championships in Barcelona.

THE fallout from David Gillick’s disappointing performance in the 400m final on Friday night may have cost the Irish men’s 4x400m relay team a place in yesterday’s final and possible qualification for next year’s world championships in Korea.

IRISH team manager Patsy McGonagle believes David Gillick is ready to win his first European outdoor medal in this evening’s 400m final at the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona.

DAVID McCARTHY and Ailís McSweeney qualified for the semi-finals of their respective 800m and 100m events on an exciting, and controversial, morning for Irish athletes at the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona.