Cricket stars from around the world joined relatives and friends to celebrate the life of Phillip Hughes amid the grief and sorrow still evident from his death.

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Shane Lowry might be chasing a $1.25m (€1m) pay day in Sun City this week but he’s already feeling like a winner after breaking into the world’s Top 50 and getting engaged.

The passing of two sportsmen this week gave everybody pause, and little wonder.

Jordan Spieth smashed the course record in Sydney to claim the Australian Open, while Rory McIlroy finished on two over.

Wales finally cracked the code of success against major southern hemisphere opposition as full-back Leigh Halfpenny’s relentless goalkicking saw off Millennium Stadium visitors South Africa.

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has been ruled out for around three months after successfully undergoing surgery on his left ankle, the Gunners have announced.

The cricket world is in shock today following the death of Phillip Hughes, at the age of 25.

Australian batsman Phillip Hughes has died from the injuries sustained when he was hit by a ball in a domestic game earlier this week.

I HAD Tom Petty and the Heartbreaker’s Learning to Fly on repeat in my head, bumping down a dirt track to an unlikely airfield, home of the Cork Model Aero Club.

ASK Phillip ‘Philly’ Hughes if it might be disrespectful to call him a journeyman and the Shelbourne striker cheerfully demurs.

AUSTRALIAN stand-in captain Michael Clarke yesterday insisted his side had no case to answer regarding cheating accusations which marred the third day of the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney.

FASTEN your seat belts – the threat to air travel from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland is likely to remain for the summer months, according to the Irish Aviation Authority.

GRAEME SWANN admits England will have to come up with something special to deal with Australia’s Shane Watson when the third npower Ashes Test resumes today.

GRAEME SWANN urged against panic as England strive for victory today in the second npower Ashes Test at Lord’s.

JAMES ANDERSON revealed a desire not to waste their ‘get-out- of-jail’ card was behind England’s dominant display in the second npower Ashes Test at Lord’s yesterday.

ENGLAND’S 2005 Ashes hero Andrew Flintoff last night gave a dressing room rallying cry following Australian domination of the second day of the opening npower Testin Cardiff.

LONGFORD TOWN and Kildare County progressed to the FAI Carlsberg Cup quarter-finals on Saturday with victories over Limerick and Cherry Orchard, respectively.