Me, I just love the paddleboard yoga one taken by James Crombie. Sooo want to be there. And the Laytown Races staple on Page 4. The surfing in Bundoran too. They’re delightfully soothing pictures – snaps as Des Barry would self-effacingly call them.
But 2025 was the year of the heroic, a theatre of absurdities. If great sporting pictures should make noise, with a booming soundtrack, then this year was truly orchestral. And then some. I don’t keep count, but it felt there were more moments when we unconsciously put our hands on our heads and felt our palms reach for the sky.
From the McIlroy majesty of the Masters at Augusta to a raucous Ryder Cup and Shane Lowry to Ireland’s World Cup playoff qualification rollercoaster that troughed then peaked. Outrageously so. We’ll always have Budapest. From Salah and Liverpool to the thunderous All-Ireland wins for Tipp and Kerry. Declan Rice’s free-kick against Real Madrid (the second one). Katie continued to deny challengers and sidestep Mother Time.
Rugby mightn’t be everyone’s cup of tea but it has usually has a capacity to stir something visceral. This year? Not so much. It had its moments, but they were quieter. Men leaving the arena. O’Mahony. Murray. Healy. But the images therefrom were no less striking.
If you are reading the print version of Camera Classics, there are 60 of the world’s great sports images from 2025 on the following pages. There’s another 20 for those Examiner subscribers poring over the detail over Christmas. In presenting the 20th iteration of our homage to the men and women behind the lens, we genuflect in humble admiration for their dedication to the craft and their pursuit of excellence. In Ireland, we are blessed with the cream of the crop. And they have a work ethic to match their talent.Respect.
Perhaps the cover photo today from David Ribeiro is the most magnificently captured moment from the perfect angle. That night didn’t end great, but it is a great photo.
But it’s all subjective. Is it about the Moment? The significance? Is it meant to be art or drama? Chaos or serenity? When we started this off, the picture of the year was ZZ blowing his top by headbutting Italy’s Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final. Ironic then that 20 years later another footballing icon is the fall guy.
Triumph and tragedy. Chaos and serenity. Cristiano and Caoimhín.
Enjoy,
Tony Leen
Special K
A podium placing in Sports Pictures of the Year surely for David Ribeiro's iconic shot of Ireland keeper Caoimhín Kelleher after saving a penalty from none other than Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo in the World Cup qualifier in Lisbon.
Picture: David Ribeiro / ExtraTime
THE MOMENT
The long winter will be shortened and we won’t feel March landing, all for the toe-poke in Budapest. Ireland's late late Troy show against Hungary wasn't just the sporting moment of 2025 (Rory may disagree), but one that spills into spring 2026. Quiz question: Who was the Hungary goalkeeper? Dénes Dibusz.
Picture: Stephen McCarthy / Sportsfile
WHO'S LAUGHING NOW
If he wasn't barrelling into Dara O'Shea or berating the referee or bating Republic of Ireland supporters (who were only too happy to return in kind) Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo had a relatively quiet night in November's World Cup qualifier at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. One that ended prematurely, as it happened.
Picture: Seb Daly / Sportsfile
SPORTING CHANCE
Frustration is acute, but it doesn't last. When Ireland and Jason Molumby succumbed to a late Portugal winner, via Ruben Neves, at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon, few could have imagined the turnaround in Irish football fortunes within a month.
Picture: Ryan Byrne / Inpho
REFLECTED GLORY
The O`NEILLS.COM Handicap runners and riders at Laytown strand in Meath.
Picture: Morgan Treacy / Inpho
FACE MASK
It's less for the restorative balm and more for the pursuit of happiness that jockey Tom Harney is caked in mud after racing at Naas last February.
Picture: Healy Racing
OUT OF THE GLOOM
The snow came to Naas last January, visibility shortened but the racing continued.
Picture: Healy Racing
I CAN FLY
Some may doubt that fact but it seems every time Armand Duplantis takes flight with a pole, he reaches new heights, literally and metaphorically. At the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, the Swede broke the world record again.
Picture: Pawel Kopczynski / Reuters
COPA DE MONDO
The soarer from Sweden does his bit for the snappers at the World Championships in Tokyo. "Mondo" set a new pole vault world record by clearing 6.30m, marking his 14th world record in pole vaulting. This victory also secured him his third consecutive world championship title, following his previous wins in 2023 and 2022.
Picture: Morgan Treacy / INPHO
BULGING
At a British & Irish Lions gym session in Perth, Lions skipper Maro Itoje is giving it large. The tourists would take the three game series 2-1 over Joe Schmidt's Wallabies.
Picture: Dan Sheridan / INPHO
LOCKS IN COMBAT
Striving for possession out of touch in the Six Nations Championship meeting at the Aviva Stadium are England’s Maro Itoje and Ireland's James Ryan of Ireland. The hosts edged this one 27-22.
Picture: James Crombie / Inpho
TIT FOR TAT
Rugby fans savoured Mack Hansen's return from injury in the autumn but it may have come at a cost; The great entertainer is out of action now til the spring of 2026
Picture: James Crombie / Inpho
MY HERO
Munster supporter Tadhg Daly, from Dungarvan in thrall as Peter O'Mahony meets his fans - and acknowledges his biggest - after the URC game against Benetton at Virgin Media Park in Cork.
Picture: Brendan Moran / Sportsfile
HEN PECK
Munster's Peter O'Mahony is embraced by his wife Jessica after the Champions Cup run came to an end at the quarter-final stage against eventual winners Bordeaux Begles at the Stade Chaban-Delmas in Bordeaux.
Picture: Brendan Moran / Sportsfile
HOP ON
An adventure ends, this one in the Champions Cup at Stade Chaban-Delmas in Bordeaux - but what an adventure for Munster and Ireland's Peter O'Mahony - and what stories to share over the winter with his son Theo.
Picture: Billy Stickland / Inpho
AUTUMN
Seasonal colours frame Hallie Crowe (Glen Dair Stables) as she prepares a bay colt for the sales ring at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling sale in Ratoath, Co. Meath.
Picture: Morgan Treacy / Inpho
BIG CATCH
Watergrasshill's next generation of stars try to get their hands on the sliotar during the All-Ireland IHC final last January in Croke Park. The Cork side struck late to claim the title 2-15 to 0-19 over Galway's Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry
Picture: Tom Maher / Inpho
SUNSET SURF
In Bundoran, Co. Donegal, it's all about waiting for the perfect moment to catch the wave. Timing isn't everything - patience helps too.
Picture: James Crombie / Inpho
BLACK BEAUTY
The 2025 iteration of the RDJ Dublin City Triathlon welcomed 1000 triathletes to Phoenix Park. Shane Dunne claimed the victory in the Men’s Triathlon National Series race.
Picture: Bryan Keane / Inpho
THE CURLY FINGER
Clare manager Peter Keane calls the tune during the Banner's All-Ireland SFC Round 2 game against Monaghan in Clones. Keane took Clare to a Munster final, but stepped down in August after one season in charge.
Picture: Michael P Ryan / Sportsfile
Walking amongst his people
The great David Clifford celebrates Kerry's Allianz Football League Division 1 win in February over Tyrone in Pomeroy - never the easiest place to emerge from with the points. Clifford's 3-3 on the day helped.
Picture: Ramsey Cardy / Sportsfile
The evolution of Shane Ryan
As a keeper of stature and an articulate custodian was one of the more eye-catching elements of Kerry's run to an All-Ireland title. The Rathmore man added an All-Star to his Celtic Cross. As did collaborators Paudie Clifford and Gavin White.
Picture: James Crombie / Inpho
TIPPERARY TREAT
Tipp's Conor Stakelum has the best of both worlds as he celebrates their remarkable All-Ireland SHC final comeback win over Cork with partner Lauren McCormack and the Liam MacCarthy cup.
Picture: Stephen McCarthy / Sportsfile
CATCH IT?
Snapper Dan Sheridan set up this delightful shot of Clare's Shane O'Donnell at the launch of the All-Ireland Club Championships in October. O'Donnell's Éire Óg Inis went all the way to the Munster final before running into the combine harvester that is Ballygunner.
Picture: Dan Sheridan / Inpho
UFO
Kilkenny's Martin Keoghan splits the uprights despite being chinned by the split hurley of Limerick's Mike Casey in their Allianz Hurling League Division 1A game at UPMC Nowlan Park.
Picture: Sam Barnes / Sportsfile
THE MASTER
Golf's 18th greens were glorious for Irish golf in 2025, whether that be Shane Lowry's Ryder Cup high at Bethpage or Rory McIroy's nation-holds-its-breath play-off victory at Augusta in April. The Masters triumph completed a career grand slam for the Holywood man, only the sixth golfer to do so after Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
Picture: Brian Snyder / Reuters.
Up The Last
One good swing we reckoned, and that would be that - but Masters champion Rory McIlroy knew better and there was plenty of drama still to come around the par four finisher at Augusta National.
Picture: Joel Marklund / Getty Images
PAIN GAME
This is good torture, the best kind after Shane Lowry nailed the winning putt for Europe at the biennial Ryder Cup matches at a rowdy Bethpage State Park Golf Course, outside New York. The half point against Russell Henley secured the 14th point for Luke Donald's men.
Picture: Matthew Harris / Inpho
HEAD THROW
There is comfort for Joe Public golfer in the fact that not everything Rory McIlroy hits comes off the sweet spot - as this club flip on the 12th at the 125th US Open at Oakmont Country Club proves.
Picture: Patrick Smith / Getty Images
HEX BROKEN
After too many near misses, Justin Rose must have been fearing his PGA Tour drought would extend beyond four years but he crushed it at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am last February - and sealed a Masters invite in the process. The 42-year-old had not won since Torrey Pines in 2019, when he was No. 1 in the world.
Picture: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images
WATCH YER BACK
Golf's world's No 1 Scottie Scheffler knows full well the weight of the Wanamaker trophy for victory at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in North Carolina.
Picture: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images
BROLLY GOOD
The US Open at Oakmont delivered a home winner in the guise of understated JJ Spaun, who was protected til the final putt in Pennsylvania by caddie Mark Carens.
Picture: Patrick Smith / Getty Images
SUNSET BOULEVARD
South Africa's Jacques Kryuswijk at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship last January.
Picture: Warren Little / Getty Images
BUNKER BLAST
Japan's Hideki Matsuyama explodes from the bunker at the 17th during the Arnold Palmer Invitational last March in Orlando.
Picture: David Cannon / Getty Images
UPSIDE DOWN
Seeing the World Aquatics Championships from a different perspective in Singapore.
Picture: Hollie Adams / Reuters
Vicious Cycle
The peloton snakes its way up Rue Lepic on the Cote de la Butte Montmartre close to the Basilique du Sacre-Coeur during the final Stage 21 of the 112th Tour de France, a 132.3 km trek from Mantes-La-Ville to Paris Champs-Elysees.
Picture: Abdul Saboor, Reuters
GIRO GRUNT
Just because the Giro D'Italia takes places in May doesn't mean conditions and climate are benign. Britain's Simon Yates leads the breakaway climb to the Colle delle Finestre to take the overall race lead. He would become only the third British rider to win the Giro.
Picture: Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
SPOT THE GREEN
Cork's massed ranks moved seamlessly from venue to venue as the Rebels closed in on July, with only the odd local intruder making their way in to observe Seamus Harnedy and co at TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick.
Picture: Piaras Ó Mídheach / Sportsfile
YES WE CAN
Kerry’s Dylan Geaney celebrates the Kingdom's 39th All-Ireland SFC title against Donegal last July. The year wasn't done yet. Dingle and Geaney went on to win a first Kerry title in 77 years and with Dylan a driving force, won a dramatic Munster Club SFC crown in December against St Finbarr's of Cork. An annus mirabilis.
Picture: Morgan Treacy / Inpho
SHAFT OF LIGHT
At the Australian Open in Melbourne Park, Coco Gauff served up a win in her fourth round match against Switzerland's Belinda Bencic but the world No. 3 exited in the quarter-finals to Spain's No. 11 Paula Badosa.
Picture: Tingshu Wang / Reuters
SERENE
It's called Paddleboard Yoga and if tranquility and mindfulness is what's required, the location is Lough Ennell. You'll frequently find Snapper Crombie there.
Picture: James Crombie / Inpho
SUNSHINE GIRL
Slovenia's Ilka Stuhec competes in women's downhill team combined at the Alpine World Ski Championships last February 11 in Saalbach, Austria.
Picture: Maxim Thoré Bildbyrån
'The Catch'
'The Catch' is trademarked back to a 1981 6-yard toss from the 49ers' Joe Montanta to wide receiver Dwight Clark but there have been copious passable impersonations since - like November's gymnastics from the Washington Commanders' Treylon Burks against the Broncos at Northwest Stadium. Denver outlasted the Commanders 27-26 though.
Picture: Patrick Smith / Getty Images
WE'RE UP
Alijah Martin of the Florida Gators syncs with his bench for the dunk in their Final Four game against the Auburn Tigrs at the NCAAs in San Antonio, Texas.
Picture: Alex Slitz / Getty Images
SAND STORM
Stage 11 of the Dakar Rally's 12 gruelling stages, from Shubaytah and back, sees Toyota Gazoo Racing's Seth Quintero and Dennis Zenz battle the vast emptiness. The desert stages are spread over 14 days and cover 7,700km.
Picture: Hamad I Mohammed / Reuters
OH MO
Who could have thought 2025 would end as it has for Liverpool legend and crowd hero Mohamed Salah as Anfield celebrated the Reds' first Premier League title, with crowds, since the old Division 1 days. Somewhere in the distance a new contract and a bus would muddy the waters.
Picture: Carl Recine / Getty Images
KARATE KID
Galway Utd's Jeremy Sivi puts his plyometrics to good use as Shelbourne's Sean Gannon works his hip flexor in their SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match at Tolka Park.
Picture: Seb Daly / Sportsfile
FOUL PLAY
One of the crudest challenges of the year goes to Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts who karate-kicked Jean-Philippe Mateta of Crystal Palace into next week. The French man was stretchered off, the keeper shown a straight red card. Mateta was later discharged from hospital with 25 stitches in his ear.
Picture: Jacques Feeney / Offside / via Getty Images
MONEY MEN
Does money guarantee football success? Kylan Mbappe didn't believe so and left Paris Saint-Germain to win the Champions League at Real Madrid. What happened? His former French team mates beat Arsenal in the last four and then steamrolled Inter to claim old Big Ears in some style for their charismatic Spanish coach Luis Enrique. Marquinhos leads the Munich celebrations.
Picture: Maja Hitij / Getty Images
DIBU DUEL
Brazil meets Argentina in north London as Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli scores despite the valiant efforts of Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez at the Emirates Stadium. Villa have dented the Gunners' title ambitions this term and the sides meet again before year's end.
Picture: Hannah McKay / Reuters
AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN
At the Freestyle Skiing world championships in St Moritz, Switzerland, Australia's Danielle Scott reaches new heights in her warm-up.
Picture: Claudia Greco / Reuters
OVER THE WAVES
Switzerland's Jean-David Duval in action in the High Diving (27m) semi-final event at the World Aquatics Championships on Sentosa Island, Singapore.
Picture: Marko Djurica / Reuters
PERFECT TEN
At Dungarvan Point to Point last February, jockey Sean Queally somersaulted head first out over his mount Pat Coyne, denting not just his professional pride, one would venture. Both were fine afterwards.
Picture: Healy Racing
GET OUTTA THAT
Lossiemouth gets all emotional with trainer Willie Mullins after winning the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown
Picture: Shauna Clinton / Sportsfile
END OVER END
At Loughrea Point to Point, startled watchers got some pre-race B-roll as Nimba unseats jockey Derek O'Connor prior to the 4YO Geldings Maiden.
Picture: Healy Racing
PLOUGHING
An unidentified diver smashes through the water at the World Aquatics Championships finals in Singapore last July 30.
Picture: Marko Djurica / Reuters
SYMMETRY
Japan's Naomi Osaka in action during her Australian Open first round match against France's Caroline Garcia in Melbourne.
Picture: Edgar Su / Reuters
BLACK HAND
On UFC fight night, a drop of claret goes with the show - Felipe dos Santos on the receiving end of Lone'er Kavanagh's upper cut during a flyweight bout at the O2 in London.
Picture: Andrew Boyers / Reuters
SHALT NOT PASS
After waiting for so long, Dingle were not about to allow a late free from Austin Stacks’ Greg Horan deny them a first Kerry SFC title since 1948.
Picture: James Crombie / Inpho
OVER AND ABOVE
Elea Jørstad Bock competes in women’s 100m hurdles at the Norwegian Athletics Championships in Askøy.
Picture: Vegard Grøtt/BILDBYRÅN
MUDDY MARVELS
Jockey Phillip Byrnes covered in mud during heavy conditions at Naas Racecourse.
Picture: Morgan Treacy / INPHO
It hurts, Mammy
Ballincollig’s Leah Weste is retaining a stiff upper lip after their All-Ireland Camogie Intermediate Club Championship final loss to Camross in December - but daughter Molly has no such reservations as she gives full vent to her pain and pride in her mum.
Picture: James Crombie / Inpho
THE WALK OF FAME
His Republic of Ireland colleagues form a guard of honour for hat-trick man Troy Parrott to milk to delirium among the travelling green army after their Budapest escape to victory and a World Cup play off in March 2026.
Picture: Stephen McCarthy / Sportsfile
GOOD WALK
Scotland's Grant Forrest with his caddie, David Kenny at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship in UAE.
Picture: Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images
MELBOURNE MELTDOWN
World No 1 she may be but Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka isn't above the occasional hissy fit following hr Australian Open loss to the US's Madison Keys at Melbourne Park.
Picture: Quinn Rooney / Getty Images
RIDING HIGH
France's Tim Bringer competes in the Maxxis Slopestyle in Memory of McGazza final during Crankworx last March in Rotorua, New Zealand.
Picture: Hannah Peters / Getty Images
AIR MILES
Mikel Merino has offered himself up in so many positions for Mikel Arteta's Arsenal that he may be the most adaptable three-pin plug in European football. He has also become a mainstay of the Spanish national team, as his willingness to get the extra yard is acknowledged and rewarded. However, the Gunners came up shy in the Premier League (2nd) and the Champions League (semi-final) for the want of a dedicated striker.
Picture: Ryan Pierse / Getty Images
A NEW BEGINNING
At 40, and after a partial knee replacement and seven years away, American icon Lindsey Vonn was still up for second place on the podium at the women's Super-G during World Cup event last March at Sun Valley Resort, Idaho.
Picture: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images
ARROW FORMATION
David Bass, riding Not At That Price, in the slot position as he leads the field at Warwick Racecourse last March.
Picture: Dan Istitene / Getty Images
TURKISH DELIGHT
In demand Juventus talent Kenan Yildiz celebrates scoring against Genoa in Turin last March. Expect to see the attacking midfielder's name up in lights again in 2026.
Picture: Image Photo Agency / Getty Images
MILE HIGH
Boston's Jaylen Brown hangs around after a dunk in their NBA playoffs series against the Orlando Magic at TD Garden in Boston. At the business end, the Oklahoma City Thunder would edge the Indiana Pacers in a thrilling seven-game final series to be crowned 'world champions'.
Picture: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images
Cool Finish
Leon Draisaitl #29 of the Edmonton Oilers scores the game-winning goal against the Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Florida Panthers during overtime to win 5-4 in Game Four of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 12, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida.
Picture: Steph Chambers / Getty Images
MAKING A SPLASH
At the Artistic Swimming final at the World Aquatics Championships in Xi An, China, an unidentified competitor tucks in any flailing limbs.
Picture: Lintao Zhang / Getty Images
Bunny Hop
Despite the best efforts of Ireland's James Lowe, Wales' Thomas Rogers goes over and above to score a try in February's Six Nations clash at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Picture: Tom Maher / Inpho
GOBSMACKED
Dundalk's Ethen Vaughan celebrates winning the SSE Airtricity League First Division title at Oriel Park. Dundalk finished ten points clear of second-placed Cobh Ramblers and have already added talent to their ranks for next season.
Picture: Tom Maher / Inpho
WING AND A PRAYER
At Daramona House point to point in Westmeath, Newbrook Diamond and jockey Joey Dunne went through the wings and their separate ways. Thankfully, both were okay afterwards.
Picture: Healy Racing
RUNWAY INCURSION
Empire Soldier, with Jamie Lee Scallan up, takes the obstacles two at a time - the latter being Stealthy Tom, with Simon Derek Torrens up - in the Punchestown festival's Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross Country Steeplechase.
Picture: Seb Daly/Sportsfile
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