Phil Healy has described her coach Shane McCormack as a “mastermind” after the Bandon sprinter broke the long-standing Irish 100m record at Morton Stadium on Wednesday night.

Welshman Geraint Thomas wears the yellow jersey into stage three of the Tour de France today after a chaotic opening two stages over the weekend.

Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas were grateful to emerge with little more than bumps and bruises from a crash as Marcel Kittel won stage two of the Tour de France in Liege.

Genk chairman Herbert Houben had a roundabout trip to Cork to make tonight’s match at Turner’s Cross after he turned up at the wrong airport.

Rivers in Europe have burst their banks from Paris to the southern German state of Bavaria, killing six people and trapping thousands more in homes and cars.

Republic of Ireland international midfielder David Meyler is on the verge of signing a new long-term deal at Hull.

Soldiers patrolled the streets of Brussels on the third day of a security lockdown, as a suspected explosive belt was found dumped near Paris and the mobile phone of a fugitive believed to have taken part in the attacks on November 13 was detected in two locations in the city.

Waterford Airport’s future looks secure following confirmation that flights on the Waterford-London/Luton route are to resume at the end of April.

Belgian footballer Steven Defour endured a stormy return to his old club last night - culminating in a sending-off.

One of Belgium's biggest post-war labour demonstrations brought some 100,000 workers to the capital today to protest government free-market reforms and austerity measures that they claim undermine the welfare state.

Former enemies during the First World War have united for ceremonies surrounding the 100th anniversary of the start of the conflict.

Everton last night finally signed Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku for a club-record fee of £28million (€35m).

Everton have signed Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku for a club-record fee of £28m.

David Forde has set his sights on a remarkable double as he prepares to lock horns with Italy once again.

Ireland are set to renew old acquaintance by playing Italy in a summer friendly.

David Moyes is certain Marouane Fellaini will prove to be a massive success at Manchester United.

Cycling legend Sean Kelly has hailed Dan Martin’s Liege-Bastogne-Liege win in Belgium on Sunday believing the victory could inspire a generation of young Irish talent.

Tottenham have won the race to sign highly-rated Germany international Lewis Holtby from Schalke.

When Giovanni Trapattoni named his final 23-man squad for last summer’s European Championships and Andy Keogh’s name was nowhere on it, the Dubliner feared for his international career after 23 caps and at just 26 years of age.

A change in personnel is unavoidable and a change in formation a real possibility as Ireland prepare to take on Germany in the teeth of what Giovanni Trapattoni admits is the biggest injury crisis of his time as manager of Ireland.

Zenit St Petersburg last night completed the sensational capture of Brazilian forward Hulk from FC Porto on a five-year contract for an undisclosed fee believed to be €50 million.

“I think this year we focused too much on the peas and not enough on the steak.”

Ireland’s two riders in the Tour de France, Nicolas Roche (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Dan Martin (Garmin-SHARP) enjoyed a solid weekend with Roche moving inside the top 10 overall while Martin displayed some good form on Saturday’s leg-breaking climb to the finish at La Planche des Belles Filles to finish 17th.

Bradley Wiggins took possession of the Tour de France race leader's yellow jersey after a dominant performance from Team Sky today, capped by a stage seven success for fellow Briton Chris Froome.

Giro d'Italia champion Ryder Hesjedal abandoned the Tour de France ahead of stage seven today.

Ireland’s Dan Martin started his maiden Tour de France with a superb 8th place finish on the opening road stage from Liège to Seraing yesterday.

Dan Martin could have chosen a different road.

Last week was a mixed one for former athletes, with Texas coursing through their veins.

Cesare Prandelli called for calm as he prepared to send Italy into their make-or-break Group C clash with the Republic of Ireland tomorrow night.

Damien Duff was today reflecting on the end of a dream after the Republic of Ireland's bruising defeat by Spain.

Team RadioShack-Nissan-Trek have called a press conference for 4pm this afternoon amid reports Andy Schleck has been forced to pull out of the Tour de France.

Goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly has insisted the Republic of Ireland's preparations for Euro 2012 could hardly be more different to the campaigns in which he played a part.

Giovanni Trapattoni opened a door and inadvertently stumbled into Hungarian manager Sandor Egervari’s post-match press conference in the Ferenc Puskas stadium last night, the Irish manager’s apology and generous smile — which was graciously accepted by Egervari — suggesting the Italian was in a good mood.

Giovanni Trapattoni is in no danger of under-estimating Ireland’s Euro 2012 opponents.

There is mounting concern that if John O’Shea is not fit enough to play in next Monday’s friendly against Hungary in Budapest, the defender will miss Euro 2012.

Shay Given will miss training this morning and tomorrow due to a knee injury but after undergoing a scan he is not believed to be a doubt for the Euro 2012 tournament.

Ireland U15s were twice pegged back yesterday by Belgium in Killarney as they drew 3-3 in the second of this week’s double-header.

The Ireland Under-15s staged a second-half comeback last night in Killarney to clinch a draw against Belgium.

Hannover again hope to force the fans who caused disturbances at Europa League matches last season pay for the damages they caused.

THOUSANDS of people stood with heads bowed in cold and windy weather at a silent ceremony to remember victims of the grenade and rifle attack that left five dead in one of Belgium’s biggest cities.