Johnston backs Stirling to star new

Veteran all-rounder Trent Johnston believes Paul Stirling can surpass Eoin Morgan and become the best batsman to come out of Ireland.

True grit Ireland a match for Pakistan 

Ireland have still to defeat one of the elite Full Member nations at home but they cannot come any closer.

Dundrum up for Challenge 

Dundrum would like to have been better prepared for their biggest game in years but when Kyle McCallan and his Waringstown team, the Irish Cup and Challenge Cup winners of 2011, arrive today, the Senior One minnows will be playing only their third game of the season.

O'Brien targets series win 

All-rounder Kevin O'Brien is confident Ireland can claim a series win over Pakistan after Thursday's dramatic tie in the first RSA Insurance one-day international in Dublin.

Ireland can beat Pakistan, says Phil Simmons 

Phil Simmons accepts the eyes of the cricketing world are on Ireland when they play the top Test nations but he refuses to put the team under pressure.

Burnett to make up for lost time with fresh start 

Ryan Burnett will finally kick off his professional boxing career after months of turmoil.

Ireland draw exciting opener 

Ireland fell agonisingly short of a first-ever win over a Test-playing nation in Dublin as the opening RSA Insurance one-day international against Pakistan ended in a tie.

Froch should have the edge: Calzaghe 

Former world super-middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe believes Carl Froch will prove too strong for Mikkel Kessler tomorrow night.

Ireland face tough chase 

Ireland will chase a victory target of 276 as they bid to beat a full-member nation for the first time in Dublin in the opening RSA Insurance one-day international against Pakistan.

Injury could help Andy Murray in bid to win Wimbledon 

Ireland ace Murtagh can bowl 'em out 

Ireland will have the County Championship's Most Valuable Player in their ranks today when they meet Pakistan in the first of two one-day internationals at Castle Avenue, Clontarf (10.45am start).

All-rounder Adair enjoying whole new ball game 

Just turned 17, Mark Adair is already a talent at both cricket and rugby. The Sullivan Upper pupil has just been selected for the Ulster Under-18s in the round-ball game which will keep him busy next autumn and winter but this summer is hoping to make a name for himself with the red ball on the Ireland Under-17s.

Simmons already looking ahead 

Coach Phil Simmons has admitted this week's RSA Insurance one-day international series against Pakistan is not the main priority of a summer in which Ireland will bid to secure their place at a third consecutive World Cup.

Adey happy to add Elfring to Belfast Giants line-up 

Paul Adey has put ability before age in signing the first new face of his reign as coach of the Belfast Giants.

Andy Murray pulls out of French Open to focus on being fit for Wimbledon 

Andy Murray's worst fears were realised last night when he was forced to withdraw from next week's French Open.

Squash star Madeleine Perry courting more success 

Madeline Perry is one of Northern Ireland's most successful sporting stars on a global stage, but the odds are you won't know too much about this excellent ambassador for our wee country.

Interpro washout won't be shelved 

The postponed RSA interprovincial Cup game between North West Warriors and the Northern Knights, scheduled for Coleraine on Sunday, may be rearranged.

Rain wipes games but heat is off on backlog 

A second successive wash-out, even at this early stage of the season, would normally leave clubs in both the NCU and North West panicking about a glut of fixtures ahead but, with only eight teams now in top flight cricket throughout Ireland, the pressure is off.

Rafael Nadal settles an old score at Rome Masters – like a Ferrari to Roger Federer's Fiat 500 

It was meant to be a rekindling of the sport's greatest rivalry, but the meeting of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer yesterday in their first final for nearly two years was about as competitive as a race between a Ferrari and a Fiat 500. Nadal claimed his seventh Rome Masters title by beating Federer 6-1, 6-3 in just 68 minutes to complete a perfect preparation for the French Open, which begins on Sunday.

Rafael Nadal destroys Roger Federer in Italian Open final 

Roger Federer admitted he had no answer to Rafael Nadal's masterclass after the Spaniard put him to the sword to win the Internazionali d'Italia in Rome.