In recent years, Ireland has become a major player not just in quintessential Irish sports like horse racing, football, and rugby, but also in a full plate of International sports. If you’re new to Irish online bookmakers, this mini guide highlights the top bets you can make with the best Irish sportsbooks.

Horse Racing Bets

Horse racing isn’t just popular in Ireland. It’s an institution. From the drama of Punchestown to the elegance of The Irish Derby, horse racing gets us every time. Horse racing is a fixture at the best Irish bookmakers. Fans can turn to expert sportsbook reviewers like BettingTop10 Ireland to choose the best bookmaker with these top horse racing bets:

Tote and accumulator bets are also in demand at Irish sportsbooks.

Rugby Bets

Rugby has grown in popularity in Ireland, competing with other elite sports like football. Nowadays, more and more people in Ireland follow rugby and become fans of the sport. Rugby is so popular that, beyond reviewing the top rugby coverage markets, authoritative rugby sources like BettingTop10.ie can point to 25% of boys playing in community rugby sports leagues, with 16% of girls participating in local rugby leagues.

Rugby’s popularity is also strong among adults who enjoy watching top national and international games, such as the Rugby World Cup, the United Rugby Championship, and the Six Nations. Of course, you can follow all the pre-match and even live betting action for International rugby events. These are some of the most popular rugby bets:

The correct score is a high-risk, high-reward bet for rugby matches. The winning margin is also a keen bet for rugby matches.

Gaelic Football Bets

As Gaelic football continues to rise in popularity, so has betting on Gaelic football. Gaelic football is played under the jurisdiction of the GAA, which hosts the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, as well as provincial competitions like the Down GAA Championship. There are 32 teams competing in the All-Ireland, with games played weekly during the season. Each game has a unique style based on the team’s strategies and players, which can affect the odds. Discover the passion for Gaelic football with these common bets:

The rise of Gaelic Football at sportsbooks makes it a popular choice for free bets and enhanced odds.

The Future of Irish Sportsbooks

The undeniable future of Irish sportsbooks is in the palm of your hand. Mobile betting continues to drive new memberships. This is especially helpful for live betting. Sports betting apps let you customize notifications and choose which sports you want updates on, with the latest odds available 24/7. AI tech helps to customize the betting experience with early signs of addictive habits.

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Fans discuss matches and news in pubs, at work, with their families and on online forums. Their interest in sports is often complemented by making predictions. In this article, we’ll tell you which sports the Irish love the most and what bets they place.

Football

Football is traditionally one of the most popular sports in many parts of the world, and our country is no exception. Sports fans in Ireland follow the domestic league, the English Premier League and the Champions League, and actively support the national team. Interest in the Boys in Green peaked at the end of last year when they won three consecutive World Cup qualifiers and will now continue their fight for a spot at the World Cup in the play-offs.

Our fans are very excited about the national team’s successes and honour their team’s history. For example, they often recall Ireland’s legendary 2-0 away win against England in 1949. That defeat was England’s first on home soil, although they try to hide this fact. How did this change the history of relations between the countries? The answer to this and another question – “is 1xBet legal in Ireland?” – is provided by the reputable Irish Independent newspaper.

Irish bettors most often bet on the winners of the match, totals and handicaps, and also choose such interesting markets as the correct score, individual player performances and match statistics (corners, yellow cards, red cards, ball possession percentage, etc.). They also love accumulators consisting of many different sporting events. If successful, the odds of all the events in the accumulator are multiplied, allowing the bettor to win a large amount even with a minimum stake.

Horse racing

It is one of the most respected and prestigious sports in Ireland. Our country is known for its strong stables, trainers and jockeys. If you have never been to a horse racing tournament, it’s not like in the TV series Peaky Blinders. The championships are held safely and attract large crowds. The most popular events are the Cheltenham Festival, the Irish Grand National, the Punchestown Festival and the Galway Races. 1xBet supports the development of horse racing in Ireland and is a sponsor of The Curragh racecourse.

Bets on winners and prize places, as well as combination bets, are very popular among punters. However, for many Irish people, horse racing isn’t just a gamble, but a social event and ritual.

Rugby

Rugby occupies a special place in the lives of Irish people and on the list of popular sports in Ireland. This isn’t surprising: our national team competes in the Six Nations tournament, and Leinster Rugby is one of the best clubs in Europe. Munster, Ulster and Connacht are also among the strongest teams in the country – they have large fan bases, and their matches are often the subject of betting.

The increase in the number of rugby predictions is most often observed during major tournaments. The most popular outcomes are the winners of the match, handicaps and the total number of points scored.

Gaelic football and hurling

Our national sports under the auspices of the GAA are a treasure of Ireland. The championship finals at Croke Park are traditionally sold out and are considered some of the most popular and significant events.

Such public resonance directly affects the number of predictions. Previously, the range was limited to simple outcomes, but now bettors have access to a wide selection of events. Punters often combine different types of bets, from the standard match winners to various strategies involving handicaps and totals. The number of long-term predictions is growing as well. This confirms the general trend towards in-depth analysis among the Irish.

Betting in Ireland

• In our country, there has been a steady increase in interest in sports betting, especially in the mobile segment. Bettors are increasingly choosing not only classic outcomes, but also non-standard markets. Live predictions are also in high demand – gamblers enjoy demonstrating their analytical skills and reacting to developments. This demonstrates the growth of sports popularity in Ireland and the professionalism of Irish bettors – betting has become part of their everyday life and a source of pride in their knowledge.

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However, this is no longer a surprising phenomenon seeing as the world has become more digital than ever before. This means that athletes can now easily explore media productions, clothing lines, ambassador partnerships, and even performance academies. All they need to do is to build a good online reputation to have greater engagement with their audience.

The Rise of Athlete Entrepreneurship in Ireland

Because the world has become so digitized these days, Irish athletes specifically across rugby, football, and athletics have now developed increasingly sophisticated commercial profiles. These athletes have become experts at using their social media profiles to engage with their audience and fans as well as to communicate with sponsors and other important stakeholders without having the need to rely on traditional broadcasters.

And yet, the digital world can only do so much in terms of actually introducing an athlete to the online world. There will always come a time when athletes would have to meet with sponsors and other important stakeholders so that they can progress in their careers and build a better image for themselves both online and offline.

This is why a lot of athletes in Ireland are considering investing in serviced offices in Dublin. This way, they have a dedicated place where they can hold meet-and-greets and important meetings with important people. And since Dublin remains as the center of Ireland’s commercial and sporting infrastructure, it comes as no surprise that most athletes flock here for exposure and to establish a physical base.

These days, flexible office spaces have become a reality for athlete-led businesses. After all, these are adaptable environments that are more than capable of supporting meetings with sponsors, PR agencies, and commercial partners.

Personal Branding as a Strategic Asset

Personal branding plays a very important role in terms of long-term earning potential. Athletes these days need to establish themselves as a credible persona in their own field. This way, their endorsement values will rise, along with their earning potential.

One of the best ways for athletes to promote their personal branding is through charities and community involvement. Of course, efforts must be authentic. Otherwise, fans and audiences will immediately see through what athletes are trying to achieve. These days, Irish audiences respond very easily to reliability and humility.

It’s a good thing that social platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn exist. After all, they have become superb platforms for controlled messaging. Athletes can choose to be as open as possible about their stories, inspirations, and experiences in these platforms. The goal is to be as authentic as possible to gain the trust and love of their audiences and fans.

Sponsorship Management in a Changing Commercial Landscape

For athletes, sponsorships are some of the most significant revenue streams they can get. However, athletes need to have a code when it comes to sponsorships. This basically means that they should only allow sponsorships from brands or companies that they actually trust. This way, advertising feels natural. In today’s world, trust and authenticity are very important currencies.

Therefore, athletes must easily gain these to help them with their careers and earning potential.

Of course, athletes also need to make sure that the brands they collaborate with have good backgrounds. Data can be easily gathered and verified, but it’s up to athletes to do their own research.

If they do trust a brand, it will be easier to market their products and services as opposed to being forced to be an endorser for a brand they never really believe in or support.

Media Companies and Content Ownership

Direct media ownership should be an important consideration for athletes right from the start of their personal brand journey. After all, establishing production companies independently will fare well for athletes in the long run. This is because they get to control the narratives about themselves and their careers. In today’s digital age, good reputation matters significantly in terms of building credibility.

Once production companies are established, athletes can then focus on creating content that would fit their personal brand. Since more and more Irish sports fans are consuming content digitally, there will never be a shortage of audiences for athletes as long as they present themselves as transparently and authentically as possible.

Ownership of intellectual property ensures long-term monetisation opportunities. Advertising, sponsorship placements and distribution agreements provide recurring revenue that is not dependent on match selection or injury status.

Post-Career Ventures and Long-Term Planning

The average professional sporting career remains relatively short. In rugby and football, retirement often occurs in the mid-30s. For boxers and combat athletes, career length can vary significantly, but financial planning remains essential.

Forward-thinking Irish athletes now pursue qualifications, board positions and entrepreneurial ventures during active competition. Some invest in property, hospitality or technology startups. Others establish performance academies that leverage personal expertise.

Education has become a strategic tool. Partnerships between athletes and higher education institutions have grown, with flexible study options enabling players to pursue degrees alongside training schedules. This preparation supports smoother transitions into post-competition careers.

Athlete foundations also play a dual role.

While philanthropic in nature, they enhance public reputation and expand influence beyond sport. These organisations often partner with corporate sponsors, strengthening long-term commercial networks.

The Future of Athlete Brands in Ireland

The trajectory is clear. Professional athletes in Ireland are no longer solely competitors. They are founders, investors, content creators and strategic partners. The infrastructure supporting this shift continues to mature, particularly within Dublin’s commercial ecosystem.

As revenue models diversify, athletes increasingly view brand development as integral rather than supplementary. Structured planning during peak performance years provides financial stability and professional continuity beyond retirement.

For Irish sport, this evolution enhances overall industry resilience. When athletes build sustainable ventures, they contribute to broader economic activity. Sponsorship ecosystems strengthen. Media production diversifies. Grassroots initiatives gain funding and visibility.

The modern Irish athlete operates within a hybrid identity. Performance remains central, but entrepreneurship now runs alongside it. The pitch may still define reputation, yet brand equity extends far beyond the final whistle.

The post How Professional Athletes Are Building Brands Beyond the Pitch appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

O’Connor produced one of the standout performances of the championships in the women’s long jump.

Her opening-round effort of 6.50m was both a personal best and a championship record. The jump pushed O’Connor up to third place on the Irish all-time list and capped a remarkable weekend following her personal best run in the 60m hurdles (8.21 seconds) yesterday.

Speaking after her record-breaking performance, Kate O’Connor said:

“I’ve be training well and I was never going to enter myself into something I’m not training well in. It’s one thing doing well in training, but another thing to come out and do it when you’re under the pressure of competition. You’ve three chances to put in a good attempt as a multi-eventer, so I’m delighted I put that jump in on my first attempt.”

First Senior Title for Nick Griggs

The men’s 3000m final saw Nick Griggs claim the gold medal. The win for a first Irish senior title for Griggs, who stopped the clock in 8:14.52. His victory came after a final lap battle with eventual second Darragh McElhinney (8:15.08), and third-place finisher Andrew Coscoran.

Commenting on his first senior title, Griggs stated:

“It’s special to win my first senior title in the circumstances where it was basically a race-off. Who knows what the selectors will do but I’ve secured my auto qualification for the World indoors. There was a lot more pressure on nationals this year, usually nationals you can go out and enjoy it a bit more, so I’m delighted I was able to deliver on my race plan.”

Women’s 3000m Gold for Shanahan

Louise Shanahan timed her finish to perfection in the women’s 3000m final as she came through in the final metres to clock 9:22.47, and add the 3000m indoor title to last year’s 800m indoor title. Shanahan crossed the finishing line ahead of CNDR Track AC’s Zoe Toland, wo clocked 9:22.59, with Leevale AC’s Michelle Finn claiming the bronze medal in a time of 9:23.03.

1500m Gold Medals for Holmes and Mallon

The 1500m finals were both very tactical affairs, with both the men’s and women’s finals producing late finishes.

Lucy Holmes took the women’s title in 4:31.10 – her first senior indoor title. In the men’s final Lughaidh Mallon launched a decisive move to pass Luke McCann in the final strides to capture gold in dramatic fashion in a winning time of 3:43.45.

400m Wins for Mawdsley and Doggett

Tipperary athlete Sharlene Mawdsley showed her dominance in the women’s 400m with a composed performance to claim a third consecutive national indoor title in 51.89.

The men’s 400m was decided in a tight finish as Seán Doggett held off Fintan Dewhirst to take his first senior indoor crown in 47.33 seconds.

Neville and Akinola are 60m sprint winners

In the short sprints, Ciara Neville returned to the top step of the podium in the women’s 60m, securing her third national indoor title and her first since 20120. Neville’s winning time was 7.27 seconds.

In the men’s 60m final, Bori Akinola was in excellent form as he successfully defended his title. His time of 6.60 seconds continues his strong early-season form as his attention now turns towards the World Indoor Championships.

Other National Indoor Title Winners

In the women’s 800m final Hannah Seagrave won her first senior indoor title, while the men’s 800m final winner, Cillian Kirwan, claimed a championship record of 1:47.68 in winning his title.

West Waterford’s Kate Veale delivered another masterclass to claim an extraordinary tenth consecutive national indoor title in the women’s 3000m walk. Oisín Lane from Mullingar Harriers produced a commanding performance to secure his first senior indoor crown in the men’s event.

Eric Favors broke the championships record in the men’s shot with 19.57m, while Michaela Walsh won a 9th indoor title in-a-row. Michael Kent retained his title in the men’s pole vault with a best clearance of 4.50m.

Day 2 Results 

Men’s 5000m Walk

1 Oisín LANE Mullingar Harriers A.C. 19:39.92

2 Séamus CLARKE Moy Valley A.C. 20:33.19

3 Matthew GLENNON Mullingar Harriers A.C. 21:09.38

Women’s 3000m Walk

1 Kate VEALE West Waterford A.C. 13:50.48

2 Aisling LANE Mullingar Harriers A.C. 14:07.13

3 Ciara WILSON BOWEN Dundrum South Dublin A.C. 14:21.79

Women’s 3000m

1 Louise SHANAHAN Leevale A.C. 9:22.47

2 Zoe TOLAND CNDR Track A.C. 9:22.59

3 Michelle FINN Leevale A.C. 9:23.03

Men’s 3000m (A)

1 Nick GRIGGS CNDR Track A.C. 8:14.52

2 Darragh MCELHINNEY Bantry A.C. 8:15.08

3 Callum MORGAN CNDR Track A.C. 8:16.30

Women’s 1500m

1 Lucy HOLMES Dublin City Harriers A.C. 4:31.10

2 Niamh CARR Dublin City Harriers A.C. 4:32.39

3 Madison MOONEY Tullamore Harriers A.C. 4:32.80

Men’s 1500m

1 Lughaidh MALLON U.C.D. A.C. 3:43.45

2 Luke MC CANN U.C.D. A.C. 3:43.51

3 Ronan MCMAHON-STAGGS Dublin City Harriers A.C. 3:44.77

Women’s 400m

1 Sharlene MAWDSLEY Newport A.C. 51.89

2 Arlene CROSSAN Finn Valley A.C. 54.12

3 Jenna BREEN City of Lisburn A.C. 54.39

Men’s 400m

1 Seán DOGGETT Athenry A.C. 47.33

2 Fintan DEWHIRST Tír Chonaill A.C.47.84

3 Hugo MAGEE Crusaders A.C. 48.92

Women’s 60m

1 Ciara NEVILLE Emerald A.C. 7.27

2 Precious AKPE-MOSES Blackrock (Louth) A.C. 7.33

3 Molly SCOTT  St. Laurence. O’Toole A.C. 7.37

Men’s 60m

1 Bori AKINOLA U.C.D. A.C. 6.60

2 Max O’REILLY Riverstick/Kinsale A.C. 6.69

3 Craig DUFFY  Clonliffe Harriers A.C. 6.71

Women’s 800m

1 Hannah SEAGRAVE Clonliffe Harriers A.C. 2:07.76

2 Emma MOORE Galway City Harriers A.C. 2:08.06

3 Pia LANGTON Kilkenny City Harriers A.C. 2:09.19

Men’s 800m

1 Cillian KIRWAN Raheny Shamrock A.C. 1:47.68 CR

2 Callum HURLEY Ferrybank A.C. 1:48.37

3 Finn WOODGER Metro/St. Brigid’s A.C. 1:49.60

Men’s Pole Vault

1 Michael KENT SEN M D.M.P. A.C. 4.50                                                                            2 Shane POWER St. Joseph’s A.C. 4.40                                                                             3 Matthew ROSSITER St. Abban’s A.C. 4.00

Women’s Long Jump

1 Katherine O’CONNOR Dundalk St. Gerard’s A.C.  6.50 CR

2 Lauren CALLAGHAN Finn Valley A.C. 6.44

3 Anna MCCAULEY City of Lisburn A.C. 6.05

Men’s Long Jump

1 Sam HEALY Leevale A.C. 7.56

2 Reece ADEMOLA Leevale A.C. 7.49

3 Ryan ONOH Cork City A.C. 7.11

Women’s Shot Put

1 Michaela WALSH Swinford A.C. 14.15

2 Caoimhe GALLEN Lifford Strabane A.C. 13.02

3 Niamh MADDEN Nenagh Olympic A.C. 12.16

Men’s Shot Put

1 Eric FAVORS Raheny Shamrock A.C. 19.57 CR

2 John KELLY Finn Valley A.C. 18.19

3 James KELLY Finn Valley A.C. 15.49

The post Long Jump PB and Championship Record for Kate O’Connor appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The Irish team consisted of Cian O’Connor, Jordan Coyle, Tom Wachman and Shane Sweetnam.

Teams from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Israel and Mexico and the USA contested.

The hosts took the title – their 11th win in the 24-year history of the FEI Nations Cup at Wellington, Florida.

Ireland were tied for the lead with the USA at the midway point of competition as Israel and Colombia failed to advance to the second round over the Nick Garant-built course.

Ireland on zero score at half-way 

Ireland and the USA began the second round on zero scores, after Cian O’Connor, Shane Sweetnam and Tom Wachman had all jumped without faults.

Scores of zero on the board once again came from Callie Schott and Marilyn Little for the home nation, while a rail fell for Karl Cook.

For the Irish squad’s second round, Jordan Coyle and Cian O’Connor were clear, with Wachman aboard Do It Easy and Sweetman with Rural Junior SCF posting four faults each, ensuring the hosts took a second consecutive victory in the competition.

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Eighth title for Lavin

Emerald AC’s Sarah Lavin won her eighth national indoor 60m hurdles title as she beat world silver medallist Kate O’Connor of Dundalk St Gerard’s.

Lavin produced a smooth 60m hurdles run to win in 8.07 seconds, finishing ahead of Kate O’Connor who ran a huge personal best time of 8.21 seconds to go third on the Irish all-time list behind Derval O’Rourke and Lavin.

Commenting on her victory this afternoon, Sarah Lavin said:

“I’m happy, I would have liked a season’s best but to run sub eight is a difficult task. There were things I did really well there, and some things I need to tidy up but overall, it was a positive run. I want to carry the speed and intent through the race, sprinting is one thing, working on technique for the hurdles is another, and trying to bring those together”.

Orlaith Mannion (South Galway AC) rounded out the 60m hurdles podium in third in a time of 8.45 seconds.

Adam Nolan wins men’s 60m hurdles

The men’s 60m hurdles was claimed by Adam Nolan from St Laurence O’Toole AC, as he successfully defended his 2025 gold in a time of 8.03 seconds. Leevale’s Seán Carmody took second in 8.19 seconds, with 2025 high jump champion Ciarán Connolly of Le Chéile AC taking third spot in a time of 8.45 seconds.

Becker takes first senior 200m title 

Sophie Becker won her first national senior indoor 200m title with an indoor PB time of 23.43 seconds. Racing in the sixth lane, Becker utilised her opening 100m speed to break clear of the field to cross ahead of Molly Daly (Kilkenny City Harriers), who clocked 24.07 seconds for second place, with DSD’s Mollie O’Reilly finishing third in 24.14 seconds.

Becker spoke of her delight post-race in claiming the 200m title:

“I’m delighted with that. My first 200m title and an indoor PB to go with it so two boxes ticked and I’m thrilled to have taken the title. I’ve been lacking a little bit of confidence and the 200 really helps my 400 because I’m more of a speed-based athlete, so to know I have that time over 200 will give me plenty of confidence”.

Third national title for Mark Smyth

Raheny Shamrock’s Mark Smyth took a third national indoor title following a titanic tussle with defending champion Marcus Lawler of Clonliffe Harriers. The Raheny clubman held off the strong finishing Lawler to cross the winning time in 21.11 seconds. Lawler was second in 21.24, with Adam Murphy (Tinryland AC) third in 21.68 seconds.

Finals Results

Women’s 200m

1 Sophie BECKER Raheny Shamrock A.C. 23.43

2 Molly DALY Kilkenny City Harriers A.C. 24.07

3 Mollie O`REILLY Dundrum South Dublin A.C. 24.14

Men’s 200m

1 Mark SMYTH Raheny Shamrock A.C. 21.11

2 Marcus LAWLER Clonliffe Harriers A.C. 21.24

3 Adam MURPHY Tinryland A.C. 21.68

Women’s 60mH

1 Sarah LAVIN Emerald A.C. 8.07

2 Katherine O`CONNOR Dundalk St. Gerards A.C. 8.21

3 Orlaith MANNION South Galway A.C. 8.45

Men’s 60mH

1 Adam NOLAN St. Laurence. O’Toole A.C. 8.03

2 Sean CARMODY Leevale A.C. 8.19

3 Ciaran CONNOLLY Le Chéile A.C. 8.45

Women’s High Jump

1 Aoife O’SULLIVAN Liscarroll A.C. 1.75

2 Sommer LECKY Finn Valley A.C. 1.75

3 Lauren DUFFY Bohermeen A.C. 1.65

3 Maeve FLEMING Leevale A.C. 1.65

Men’s High Jump

1 Mohammed IBRAHIM HALIL Raheny Shamrock A.C. 1.93

2 Darragh KELLY Craughwell A.C. 1.90

3 Emmanuel OSAS Ratoath A.C. 1.90

Men’s WFD

1 Michael HEALY Leevale A.C. 9.11 NR

2 David TIERNEY Leevale A.C. 7.99

3 Robert HIGGINS Na Fianna A.C. 7.08

Women’s WFD

1 Kotryna PACERINSKAITE Fanahan Mc Sweeney A.C. 8.70 NR

2 Laura DOLAN Ferbane A.C. 6.46

3 Bridget MC DYER Finn Valley A.C. 6.29

Men’s Triple Jump

1 David ONWUDIWE Ennis Track A.C. 13.96

2 Darragh FAHY Loughrea A.C. 13.94

3 Joseph GILLESPIE Finn Valley A.C. 13.75

Women’s Triple Jump

1 Daphni DOULAPTSI TEEUWEN Raheny Shamrock A.C. 12.54

2 Caoimhe MC DONAGHSouth Sligo A.C. 12.21

3 Anna RYAN Moycarkey Coolcroo A.C. 11.4

The post Eighth National Indoor 60m Hurdles Title for Sarah Lavin appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The Irishman posted an impressive score of 75.00 in the final run of the event. Lynch’s result marks one of the strongest Olympic performances by an Irish winter athlete to date.

Alex Ferreira of the United States won gold in the men’s freestyle skiing halfpipe competition with a score of 93.75. The US Olympian completed his Olympic medal set having previously won silver (2018) and bronze (2022). Silver went to Henry Sildaru from Estonia with a best score of 93.00, while Brendan Mackay of Canada claimed bronze with a 91.00 third run.

Lynch “couldn’t be more happy”

Reflecting on the significance of tonight’s result, Ben Lynch said:

“It feels really cool, especially because eight is my lucky number. My birthday is September 8th. I got eight stitches above my eyebrow here, so eight has always been my lucky number and the fact that I just got eight, the stars align.

“It definitely still feels surreal, but it’s sinking in a little bit. Yeah, it’s pretty cool because my last best result was 16, so I have that at the Olympics and couldn’t be more happy to be here.”

Pivotal third run

Lynch’s third run was his pivotal one, putting him right up the score board, as he explained:

“The third run, I was really nervous at the top. I felt very prepared, but obviously the nerves were on. My family’s here, everyone was watching, and I hadn’t landed my first two runs. But yeah, just tried really hard to focus on the run, not worry about the result, and I ended up landing it pretty much as good as I possibly could have, and I’m really, really excited.

“I think before this, I’d only gotten around the sixties in World Cups. It’s hard to get high scores in world level, world Cup level, but yeah, that’s the best score I’ve ever gotten. I also got down qualifier 75, so just so stoked.”

The post Ben Lynch takes 8th place at Winter Olympics appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Eleven combinations advanced to the tiebreaker, with the Irish representatives coming out in top over Andy Christiansen’s (ECU) jump-off course.

Irish 1-2

The 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding stopped the clock at 37.90 seconds with Wexford’s Bertram Allen right behind in 39.12 seconds riding Conquest de Rigo.

Taking third was Charlotte Jacobs (USA) in a time of 40.01 seconds riding North Star’s Playboy JT Z, an 11-year-old Zangersheide gelding.

Kenny delighted to be back in action

“I knew Bertram’s horse has a massive stride,” Kenny admitted. “He did seven [strides] from one to two. I wasn’t sure if I could do that, but it showed up for me. I think my horse is more experienced than his in jump-offs, so that’s probably where it got him,” said Kenny of his jump-off round with his 2025 European Championships partner Eddy Blue.

Kenny was officially cleared to return to international competition on 13 February after the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) lifted a provisional suspension issued on 13 October following a positive drug test during the FEI European Championships.

“This is my first week back – Bertram rode Eddy for me recently and did a fantastic job on him,” said the Irish Olympian. “The horse feels ready to go, and he was amazing today as he always is. I’m very lucky to have such a fantastic group of owners and staff who kept the horses in great shape. I was lucky Bertram was able to ride them for me – I’m very thankful to everybody who was involved in that.”

The post Darragh Kenny and Eddy Blue win at WEF appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

TV coverage in Ireland

The game, which will mark the first Super Bowl since the 1970 merger between teams that each ranked in the top four in scoring offense and scoring defence during the regular season, will be live on Virgin Media (11pm), Sky Sports NFL (10pm), Channel 5 and DAZN.

The Patriots, who ended the season 17-3, make their 12th Super Bowl appearance, the most among all teams.

Tonight, New England can become the first team to win seven Super Bowls and surpass San Francisco (40 wins) for the most postseason wins by a franchise in NFL history.

Seahawks bid for second Super Bowl win

The Seahawks, with a 16-3 season record, will appear in the Super Bowl for the fourth time, and can secure the second Super Bowl victory in franchise history, previously winning Super Bowl XLVIII following the 2013 season, when they defeated the Denver Broncos 43-8.

New England and Seattle are the 10th pair of teams to meet in multiple Super Bowls, previously facing off in Super Bowl XLIX in Arizona following the 2014 season, with the Patriots winning 28-24 on that occasion.

The Head Coaches: Vrabel v Macdonald

Mike Vrabel, in his first season as the Patriots head coach, can become the first head coach to win 18 games, including the playoffs, in his first season with a team in NFL history. He can also become the fifth person in NFL history to win the Super Bowl as both a player and a head coach, joining Mike Ditka, Tony Dungy and Tom Flores as well as Doug Pederson. As a player, Vrabel won three Super Bowls (XXXVI, XXXVIII and XXXIX) with New England.

The Seahawks head coach, Mike Macdonald, can become the third-youngest head coach, at 38 years and 227 days, to win the Super Bowl if successful tonight.

The Quarterbacks: Maye v Darnold

New England quarterback Drake Maye can become the youngest starting quarterback ever to win a Super Bowl. He can also become the fifth quarterback to win the Super Bowl in his first or second season.

Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold aims to become the fourth quarterback to win the Super Bowl in his first season with a team, joining Tom Brady (Super Bowl LV with Tampa Bay), Trent Dilfer (Super Bowl XXXV with Baltimore) and Matthew Stafford (Super Bowl LVI with the Los Angeles Rams).

Players to watch

Seattle wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba can become the fourth player (fifth occurrence) to lead the NFL in receiving yards during the regular season and win the Super Bowl in the same year. If he achieves the feat, he will join Drew Pearson (1977) and Jerry Rice (1989 and 1994) and Cooper Kupp (2021).

Including the postseason, Smith-Njigba has 1,965 receiving yards – the most receiving yards by a player under the age of 24 in NFL history – and can become the third player ever with at least 2,000 receiving yards in a season, including the playoffs. He can also become the second player with 90-or-more receiving yards in 15 games in a season, including the playoffs.

Seattle wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who was named Super Bowl LVI Most Valuable Player with the Los Angeles Rams, can become the eighth wide receiver to be on the active roster and win the Super Bowl with two different teams.

Seattle linebacker DeMarcus Lawrence, who has a sack and forced fumble in both Seahawks wins this postseason, can become the first player since 2000 with a sack and forced fumble in three consecutive playoff games within the same postseason.

Consecutive Super Bowl wins for Milton Williams?

New England defensive tackle Milton Williams, who won Super Bowl LIX last season with Philadelphia, can become the sixth player to be on the active roster and win the Super Bowl in consecutive seasons with different teams.

If successful, he will join LeGarrette Blount (2016 with New England, 2017 with Philadelphia), Chris Long (2016 with New England, 2017 with Philadelphia), LeSean McCoy (2019 with Kansas City, 2020 with Tampa Bay), Ken Norton (1993 with Dallas, 1994 with San Francisco) and Deion Sanders (1994 with San Francisco, 1995 with Dallas).

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Dubliner Comerford launched Team Ireland’s Olympic campaign on Saturday as he became Ireland’s 34th Winter Olympian, while Maloney Westgård finished his first race of three on Sunday.

Cormac Comerford competed in the Men’s Downhill on the iconic Stelvio Slope, with the  Alpine skier recording a time of 2:04.40 to finish 34th. 

A time of 2:04.40 for @cormaccomerford in the men’s alpine skiing downhill #rtesport #TeamIreland #MilanoCortina2026 pic.twitter.com/S2RsJCq6gR

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 7, 2026

The Glenageary skier was the final athlete to start in the downhill field. Starting last brought added pressure, with the track heavily worn by the time Comerford pushed out of the gate, but he successfully negotiated the course to bring his Olympic debut safely to the finish.

Olympic debut

Commenting on his Winter Olympics debut, the 29-year-old said:

“It’s an incredible feeling to make my Olympic debut today in this weather, on this slope. To bring it down Stelvio is a huge achievement, coming from the artificial slope back home. There’s a huge sense of pride. I made a few mistakes in the run, it felt smoother in training, but that’s racing and I’m really proud to have brought it down.”

Really challenging course

Olympic veteran Norwegian-born Thomas Maloney Westgård finished his first race of three with a 35th place in the Men’s 10km + 10km Skiathlon in a time of 49.24.6.

Competition took place in relatively mild conditions creating a tough course for the athletes in the event which involves skiers competing 10km using classic skis before transitioning to a 10km free skating finish. Wearing bib 36 off the start, in what is his least preferred discipline, Maloney Westgård stuck with the opening hectic pace.

Speaking afterwards, the thirty-year-old three-time Olympian said:

“That was a tough one. Soft conditions and quite icy and tricky in the downhills and crusty corners. So it was a really challenging course for sure. Just like it should be in the Olympics. I was a bit anxious on some of the downhill. So, yeah, I’m happy to have started the Olympics.”

Back in action on February 11th

The next competition for Team Ireland is the Men’s Super-G in Alpine Skiing, with Cormac Comerford racing in his second event on the 11 February in Bormio. Following that action, attention moves back to Predazzo, when Thomas Maloney Westgård switches his focus to the 10km Free.

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