Andy Lee KO’s James Cook in round five in Oklahoma

John Duddy ready for Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. challenge

Middleweight John Duddy (29-1, 18 KOs) will fight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (40-0-1, 30 KOs) on Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas for the WBC silver middleweight title in the biggest fight of Duddy’s professional career.

The 31-year-old has a chance to reinvigorate his dream of fighting for a world title should he prevail against his popular Mexican opponent, and when the Irish Voice caught up with him on Sunday, the Derry native sounded eager for the scheduled 12-round fight to arrive.

“I am looking forward to this fight and getting my crack at this boy. It’s been a long build up, and the talk is coming to an end. Now is time for the punches to do the talking for me,” said Duddy.

Giovanni Trapattoni spurns Inter Milan interest to stay with Ireland

Irish manager Giovanni

Irish boxer Andy Lee wins in Limerick after Thiam retires with back injury after two rounds

Irish middleweight Andy Lee beat

Rory McIlroy has Tiger Woods in his Ryder Cup sights

World number nine golfer Rory

NY GAA: Indiscipline cost New York dear in loss to Galway

Galway 2-13 New York 0-12

New York represented themselves with no shortage of skill, quality and determination in their exciting Connacht Senior Football Championship opener with Galway on Sunday at Gaelic Park in the Bronx, but the men in blue will surely rue the two sendings off at a critical juncture of the game in the second period.

John Duddy and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. hype up June 26 fight in San Antonio

John

Trapattoni gives youth a chance to shine in summer training camp squad

Giovanni Trapattoni will cast his eye over some new Irish faces this May after calling up eight uncapped players to his summer training camp in Dublin.

The camp, which takes place in Malahide in Dublin from May 16-21, will see the Irish manager take a look at his options ahead of the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, which begins in the fall.

Will the Rooneys rid the Pittsburgh Steelers of Ben Roethlisberger?

Now that the NFL Commissioner Roger

Thierry Henry's handball cost the Irish economy $150 million

However depressed Irish people are living in a depressed economy, it just got a little bit worse today when financial experts estimated that

Kerry's Colm "Gooch" Cooper needs surgery for serious eye injury

Kerry's preparations to defend their All Ireland title took a knock with the news news that star forward Colm 'Gooch' Cooper will need surgery on the eye injury he suffered in the NFL Division 1 game against Monaghan on Sunday.

The Kingdom's talisman shipped a blow to his right eye six minutes into the game, and will go under the knife Tuesday.

Robbie Keane named SPL Player of the Month for March

Robbie Keane may not leave Celtic this summer with any silverware, but he received some recognition for his good goalscoring form for the

John Duddy to fight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on June 26 in San Antonio?

According to

Limerick date in May for middleweight Andy Lee?

Middleweight Andy Lee (20-1, 14 KOs) is likely to make a return to action in Limerick on May 15. The fighter and his team are working with promoter Brian Peters, and though no contracts have been signed, a Limerick date in May is a distinct possibility.

Lee was last in action on November 14 when he defeated French fighter Affif Belghecham, and he has been in the gym in New York since January staying in shape as he awaits his next assignment.

Giovanni Trapattoni turns down the Old Lady for Ireland

Giovanni

Roy Keane on the brink at Ipswich as Glasgow Celtic scout for a new manager

The

Robbie Keane scores twice as managerless Celtic beat Kilmarnock 3-1

Robbie Keane was on the mark twice as the post Tony

Robbie Keane confirms he will return to Tottenham Hotspur

Robbie Keane put an end to any pie in the sky hopes of a longer stay with Glasgow Celtic when he said he would be heading back to London to play with Tottenham Hotspur once his loan deal ends in June.

“I’ve got a three-year contract at Tottenham, so I will go back there in the summer,” said the Tallaght man.

Padraig Harrington four behind Jim Furyk at Transitions Championship

Padraig Harrington shot a third round one over par 73 on Saturday at the Transitions Championship at

Padraig Harrington leads Transitions Championship at halfway point

Padraig Harrington shot a second round 65 on Friday to lead the Transitions Championship at

Robbie Keane return to Spurs a given, says Harry Redknapp

Manchester United signs Donegal 16-year-old Gaelgoir goalkeeper

Manchester United has beaten a host of clubs to secure the signing of

June fight in Yankee Stadium likely for John Duddy

A spot on the undercard of the Miguel Cotto/Yuri Foreman fight on June 5 at Yankee Stadium looks like the next assignment for middleweight John Duddy (29-1, 18 KOs), who beat Michael Medina (23-2-2, 18 KOs) by split decision at Cowboys Stadium on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao/Joshua Clottey fight on Saturday.

Though no contracts have been signed, Duddy’s managerial advisor Craig Hamilton told IrishCentral that all indications are pointing to the Bronx for a summer fight.

Sun shines on New York City St. Patrick’s Day parade

Instead of heading down the pub for a few holiday scoops at lunchtime, I decided to shoot over to the end of the New York St. Patrick's Day parade on 88th and fifth to take a few pics.

Robbie Keane’s wife wants him to move to the LA Galaxy

No sooner has Robbie Keane found his scoring shoes for Glasgow Celtic than his missus wants him to head for Hollywood and play for the LA Galaxy!

"Would I like to see him play for a team like LA Galaxy? Yes, I would love that, but it changes all the time,” Claudine Keane told the Evening Herald.

Tiger Woods to return to tournament golf at the US Masters

Tiger Woods released the following statement on Tuesday, confirming that he will participate in the first major of the year, the US Masters at Augusta, Georgia on April 8:

'The major championships have always been a special focus in my career and, as a professional, I think Augusta is where I need to be, even though it's been a while since I last played.

Padraig Harrington finishes in a tie for third at WGC-CA Championship

Padraig Harrington shot a final round 72 to end the WGC-CA Championship 11 under par in a tie for third place, seven strokes behind winner Ernie Els, who carded a 66 to finish 18 under par, four strokes in front of compatriot Charl Schwartzel.

It was Els' first win wince the 2008 Honda Classic and the big South African was a delighted winner.

Padraig Harrington one behind leaders at WGC-CA Championship

Padraig Harrington shot a five under par 67 on Saturday to go eleven under par and move up to third place at the Harrington made six birdies over his round but ended his day on a sour note when he bogeyed the last when in a share of the lead.

Though he hit less than half the fairways off the tee, Harrington played some great shots over the course of his round and was bogey free until the blip on the 18 The 38-year-old hit a wind assisted 379-yard drive at the 17 South African pair Ernie Graeme McDowell shot a two over par 74 to leave him two under par for the tournament, while Rory

Six Nations Fulltime: Ireland 27 Wales 12

Two tries from Keith Earls and one from Tomas O’Leary helped Ireland defeat Wales 27-12 in their Six Nations game at Croke Park on Saturday to keep the Irish Triple Crown dream very much alive.

Big East adventure ends for Notre Dame as West Virginia prevail 53-51

Notre Dame's voyage in the Big East tournament ended on Friday night at Madison Square Garden when West Virginia won 53-51, but not before the Irish scared the bejaysus out of their opponents.

While a Sean Butler-inspired WVU pushed their advantage up to ten points during the second half, Notre Dame would not give in.

The Irish were two points down with ten seconds left, but Tory Johnson's three pointer did not find its mark and WVU survived to march on to the Big East final against Georgetown.

Padraig Harrington tied fifth at WGC-CA Championship

Triple major winner Padraig Harrington shot a four under par second round 68 to leave him six under par for the tournament in a tie for fifth place at the

Padraig Harrington two under par after first round of WGC-CA championship

The

Notre Dame defeats Pittsburgh 50-45 to advance to the Big East semifinal

Notre Dame advanced to the semifinal of the Big East for only the third time since they joined the conference when they defeated Pittsburgh 50-45 at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night.

The Irish won their sixth game on the trot as they took the teeth out of the Panthers in a tense and low scoring game.

Three Irishmen to tee off at the WGC-CA Championships

The

Declan Kidney keeps faith with Irish 15 that beat England, Kearney on the bench

Irish rugby coach

Robbie Keane scores twice in Celtic's 2-0 win over Falkirk

Robbie Keane netted twice for Celtic in their 2-0 win over

Harrington and McIlroy struggle at Honda Classic

It was a tough day for the Irish at the Honda Classic at the PGA National Resort & Spa's Champion Course in Palm Beach with both Rory McIlroy and Padraig Harrington well down the field after third round play.

Harrington shot a two over par 72 to go four over par for the tournament, while McIlroy carded a five over par 75, dropping five shots in four holes on the back nine, including a triple bogey 6 at the par 3 15th.

Rory McIlroy level par after second round at Honda Classic

World number nine golfer Rory

Hamstring injury rules Michael Owen out for the season

Manchester United striker Michael Owen’s season is over as a result of the hamstring injury he suffered during the Carling Cup final last Sunday.

The 30-year-old needs surgery to repair the damage and will not feature again this campaign, ending any slim hope he had of breaking into Fabio Capello's World Cup squad.

Irish heavyweight Kevin McBride talks about returning to the ring

Irish heavyweight Kevin “The Clones Colossus” McBride (34-6-1, 29 KOs) is considering a ring comeback after almost 2 1/2 years out of the squared circle.

The 36-year-old Brockton, Massachusetts-based fighter was a guest on the On the Ropes radio show last week, during which he recounted the circumstances around the signature win of his career, his sixth round stoppage of Mike Tyson on June 11, 2006.

Though he talked at length of the fight and the win, McBride also went on to say that, for one reason or another, things did not materialize as he would have liked in terms of big fights after the high profile win over the former undisputed champion of the world.

Robbie Keane passed fit to play, joins Irish squad for Brazil game

After further tests on his knee, doctors gave Robbie Keane the all clear on Monday night and the on-loan Celtic striker has joined up with the Irish squad to take on Brazil at the Emirates Stadium in London on Tuesday evening.

While reports coming out of the Irish camp say that coach

Irish coach Giovanni Trapattoni names his team to play Brazil

Long serving players Shay Given and Kevin

Richard Dunne the latest Irish casualty for Brazil game

Aston Villa defender Richard Dunne is the latest Irish player to pull out of Tuesday's international friendly against Brazil due to a muscle injury.

Robbie Keane out of Irish squad for friendly against Brazil in London

Irish captain Robbie Keane has pulled out of the Irish squad to face Brazil on Tuesday after taking a knock on the knee during yesterday’s Old Firm defeat to Rangers at Ibrox.

Keane, Ireland’s top goalscorer, has been hampered by the same knee in recent weeks, but he played the full game as Celtic lost further ground to their biggest rivals on Sunday.

Jonathan Sexton to start for Ireland vs. England

Jonathan Sexton has been handed a starting berth by coach Subs:

6 - Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/

Giovanni Trapattoni names Irish squad to face Brazil

Irish soccer manager Giovanni Trapattoni has called up 23 players to his squad to face Brazil for the March 2 friendly at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium in London.

Wigan’s James McCarthy, Portsmouth’s Marc Wilson and Man City’s Greg Cunningham are the three new faces in the group for the glamour friendly against the Samba men.

Irish boxer Henry Coyle back in action Saturday

Light middleweight Henry Coyle (10-2, 8 KOs) is scheduled to fight this Saturday at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana.

It will be the Mayo man’s first fight back after being tko’ed in round three by Neil Sinclair for the Irish light middleweight title on May 15.

Padraig Harrington knocked out of Accenture Matchplay Championship in first round

In one of the early shock results of the tournament, Padraig Harrington was beaten by Jeev Milkha Singh at the World Golf Championships - Accenture Matchplay Championship.

Harrington fell to the Indian player three and one, but was gracious in defeat.

“He out-putted me. I putted badly, he putted well. At the end of the day in match play, it's huge who putts the best. Not to have the lead after the first eight holes, you know, he was in the driving seat in every one of them. I didn't hole a 10-footer, but he holed them all. He played lovely,” Harrington told the Indo Asian News.

Irish hooker Jerry Flannery receives Six Nations suspension for kicking French player

Munster and Ireland hooker Jerry Though no action was taken on the field during the game,

Magnificent seven for Rory McIlroy in world golf rankings

Rory Despite the fact the Here is a list of the top ten ranked golfers in the world:

1 (1) <1> Tiger Woods United States 13.095
2 (3) <3> Steve 3 (2) <2> Phil 4 (4) <4> Lee 5 (5) <6> Jim 6 (6) <13> Martin 7 (9) <9> Rory 8 (7) <7> Paul Casey England 5.119
9 (10) <8> Henrik 10 (8) <5> Padraig Harrington Ireland 5.031