IRELAND’S 2011 World Cup kits were launched yesterday.

THE president of the United States of America told the group of footballers behind him that he had dressed in their honour: a grey suit to go along with the matching grey suits worn by the Colorado Rapids.

GRAEME McDOWELL has declared it his dream to play the Open Championship in his hometown of Portrush as he vowed to help bring major golf back to Northern Ireland.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON signalled his intention not to slide into Rory McIlroy’s shadow as he confirmed his participation in his “fifth major”, next month’s Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland.

AIDAN WALSH was hooked from the start. From his home in Kanturk, he can reach Fitzgerald Stadium in less than an hour and, growing up, there was plenty mystique surrounding Cork and Kerry football clashes in Killarney.

IRISH cricket chiefs have hailed the decision to allow the national team the opportunity to compete in the 2015 World Cup.

THE companies that declined title sponsorship of the Irish Open must be kicking themselves given the hype and build up to next month’s tournament in Killarney.

IRELAND’S hopes of making the 2015 Cricket World Cup have taken a massive turn for the better after the International Cricket Council (ICC) yesterday overturned a decision to exclude non-Test playing nations.

DAMIEN RICHARDSON is confident his Airtricity League XI can hold their own against Scottish club Celtic and Premier League giants Manchester City in next month’s inaugural Dublin Super Cup.

ARSENAL would be willing to sell captain Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona if they can agree a fee with the European champions.

GERMAN discounters Aldi and Lidl are making significant inroads in the Irish grocery market with Lidl matching long-standing retailer Superquinn’s market share for the first time.

MANCHESTER UNITED defender Wes Brown was having a medical at Sunderland last night as manager Steve Bruce edged closer to another summer signing — and he could be closely followed by Ireland’s John O’Shea.

JAMIE Spencer anticipates a bold show from Cape Blanco when the pair team up in Saturday’s Man o’War Stakes at Belmont Park.

CARDIFF BLUES have placed Gareth Baber and Justin Burnell in joint charge with their interim appointments being reassessed after the World Cup.

REPUBLIC of Ireland U19 head coach Paul Doolin has named an 18-man squad for the UEFA Championship finals which take place in Bucharest, Romania from July 20 to August 1.

THEY will journey along the eastern seaboard next Sunday with thoughts of 2008 in their minds. Three years ago having a main role on Leinster final day was a ground-breaking experience for the Wexford footballers.

LADIES Irish Open boss Roddy Carr avoided some Chinese torture to deliver a world class field at Killeen Castle next month.

LEO CULLEN has ticked most boxes in his 11 years as a professional player.

HUNGARIAN referee Gyoengyi Gaal has apologised to FIFA for missing an obvious handball during Equatorial Guinea’s 3-2 loss to Australia at the Women’s World Cup on Sunday.

IRELAND hooker Jerry Flannery last night expressed confidence he will win his injury battle ahead of the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.