Lauren Mccann

Jon McConnell won Northern Ireland’s only boxing gold at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, defeating Wales’ Orlando Holley-Sotomi by split decision in the men’s 70kg final. He had turned down an opportunity to appear on Love Island to pursue his boxing ambitions, and his victory fulfilled a goal he had written down months earlier and pursued since childhood. Northern Ireland’s boxing team won six medals overall, including silvers for Michaela Walsh and Kaci Rock and bronzes for Willie John McCartan, Garyn McAllister and Jude Gallagher. Walsh secured her fourth consecutive Commonwealth Games medal, while the younger members of the squad viewed the results as the beginning of further success.

Jon McConnell won Northern Ireland’s only boxing gold at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, defeating Wales’ Orlando Holley-Sotomi by split decision in the men’s light-middleweight final. Michaela Walsh earned silver after losing unanimously to India’s Jaismine, extending her record of winning medals at four consecutive Games, while Kaci Rock also took silver on her debut after England’s Sacha Hickey won their final. Northern Ireland’s boxing medals contributed to its second gold and fourth silver of the Games.

Northern Ireland enjoyed a historic Wednesday at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, winning a gold, silver and bronze within 109 minutes while also securing at least four boxing medals. Kate O'Connor won the heptathlon by 291 points, earning Northern Ireland's first athletics gold at the Games in 40 years. Daniel Wiffen recovered from disappointing 400m and 800m performances to take silver in the 1500m, while Ellie McCartney claimed an unexpected bronze in the 200m breaststroke. The results propelled Team Northern Ireland up the medal table and marked a significant night for its athletes.

Kate O'Connor won the heptathlon at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with 6,569 points, securing Northern Ireland's first gold medal of the Games and its first athletics gold at the event since 1986. The Newry-born athlete led after the opening day, recovered from a disappointing shot-put performance, and extended her lead through strong long-jump, javelin and 800m results. England's Jade O'Dowda took silver and Australia's Tori West bronze, while Northern Ireland team-mate Anna McCauley finished eighth.

Northern Ireland’s Kate O’Connor leads the Commonwealth Games heptathlon after six events with 5,611 points, 258 ahead of England’s Jade O’Dowda. O’Connor won both the long jump and javelin stages, recording 6.37 metres and a season-best 52.85 metres, and will contest the decisive 800m in Glasgow. Northern Ireland teammate Anna Macauley is eighth overall after a personal-best long jump but a weaker javelin.

Team Northern Ireland faces a busy fifth day at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Kate O'Connor and Anna Macauley begin the heptathlon, while Northern Irish athletes compete in swimming, bowls, boxing, artistic gymnastics, weightlifting and netball. Danielle Hill is scheduled for a 50m backstroke final, Northern Ireland has two bowls bronze-medal matches, and several boxers enter quarter-finals with medal opportunities. The day's events are spread across venues including Scotstoun Stadium, Tollcross Swimming Centre, the SEC Centre, Glasgow International Arena and the Hydro.

Olympic champion Daniel Wiffen finished fourth in the Commonwealth Games 800m freestyle final at Tollcross Swimming Centre, recording 7:48.82 and narrowly missing bronze. Australia’s Sam Short won gold, Benjamin Goedemans took silver and Matthew Galea finished third. Wiffen will next compete in the 1500m final, an event in which he won Olympic and Commonwealth bronze.

Olympic champion Daniel Wiffen finished fourth in the Commonwealth Games 800m freestyle final at Tollcross Swimming Centre in 7:48.82, narrowly missing a bronze medal. Australia’s Sam Short won gold, Benjamin Goedemans took silver and Matthew Galea finished third. Wiffen will aim to recover in the 1500m final, an event in which he previously won Olympic and Commonwealth medals.

Team Northern Ireland athletes will compete across swimming, boxing, gymnastics, weightlifting, para-athletics, netball and bowls on the fourth day of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Rhys McClenaghan will contest the men's pommel horse final, while Daniel Wiffen seeks his first Commonwealth gold in the men's 800m. Harrison McGrogan will make his Games debut in the men's 71kg weightlifting final, and four boxers will compete in round-of-16 bouts. Northern Ireland's swimming, bowls and netball teams also face important heats, matches and qualification stages throughout the day.

Bethany Firth won bronze for Team GB in the women’s S14 200m freestyle at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, finishing behind Georgia Sheffield and Poppy Maskill. The medal is Firth’s first major medal since giving birth to her daughter Charlotte in 2024 and was especially meaningful because Charlotte watched from the crowd. Firth described overcoming significant doubts before the race and said her daughter inspired her to compete. Although she has recently broken a world record in the S14 100m backstroke, she is prioritizing raising Charlotte and is taking her future swimming career, including a possible 2028 Olympic goal, one year at a time.

Six-time Paralympic champion Bethany Firth won Northern Ireland's first medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, taking bronze in the women's S14 200m freestyle in 2:07.63. England's Georgia Sheffield won gold in a Commonwealth Games-record 2:06.07, while Poppy Maskill took silver. Firth had won the event in Birmingham four years earlier and is competing at her fourth Games.

Daniel Wiffen finished fifth in the men's 400m freestyle final at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, recording 3:47.22 after fading in the closing 50 metres. Australia's Sam Short won, while Wiffen's Irish team-mate Jack McMillan finished seventh. Wiffen will next target the 800m freestyle, where he is expected to face Short again. Ireland's Lottie Cullen reached the women's 100m backstroke final, while Danielle Hill, Grace Davison and Ellie McCartney missed out on their respective finals. Matthew Hamilton set a new Irish junior record in the 100m butterfly but did not progress.

Lisa Bowman made her Northern Ireland return at the 2026 Commonwealth Games after an eight-year international hiatus, scoring 24 goals in an 83–34 defeat by England. Despite the result, she said Northern Ireland remained focused on executing its processes, involving the whole squad and competing throughout the match. Bowman praised the support at Glasgow’s Hydro and said the team would target its next pool matches, beginning with Malawi.

Former Northern Irish boxer Aidan Walsh is attending his third Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in a welfare and support role for Team Northern Ireland, rather than as a competitor. Drawing on his experience as a Commonwealth gold medallist, Olympic bronze medallist and athlete-wellbeing specialist, he is helping younger athletes manage pressure and enjoy their first Games. Walsh also discusses his sister Michaela, who is seeking a fourth consecutive Commonwealth medal after winning gold in 2022.

Team Northern Ireland faces a busy second day at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Bowler Gary Kelly competes twice in the men's singles, while Shauna O'Neill and Chloe Wilson contest the women's pairs. Northern Irish swimmers, including Olympic champions Daniel Wiffen and Jack McMillan and Paralympic champion Bethany Firth, take part in morning heats, with evening semi-finals and finals possible. The netball team begins its Pool A campaign against England.

Rhys McClenaghan qualified third for the Commonwealth Games pommel horse final in Glasgow with a score of 14.500, marking a strong return after missing the 2025 season through injury. He acknowledged that his new routine still has room for improvement but believes he can sharpen it before Monday’s final, where he will aim to add gold to his 2018 title and 2022 silver medal. A stumble on the floor exercise prevented him from reaching that final, while the absence of rival Max Whitlock improves McClenaghan’s chances of winning.

Olympic champion Rhys McClenaghan qualified third for the Commonwealth Games pommel horse final in Glasgow with a score of 14.500, including the highest execution mark in qualifying. Returning after shoulder surgery kept him out throughout 2025, he is targeting a third Commonwealth Games medal after gold in 2018 and silver in 2022. McClenaghan missed the floor final, while Northern Ireland team-mates Eamon Montgomery also failed to qualify and Ewan McAteer reached the vault final despite competing with a groin injury.

Rory McIlroy said Bryson DeChambeau’s participation in September’s Irish Open at Doonbeg would benefit the event despite recent criticism following DeChambeau’s rules penalty at the Open Championship. McIlroy confirmed he will not compete again until the PGA Tour play-offs and noted a reduced enthusiasm for the PGA Tour and FedEx Cup structure. He reflected on a stagnant performance at The Open, citing difficulty maintaining momentum over the weekend.

Galway advanced to the All-Ireland Ladies Senior Football final with a dominant 0-21 to 0-8 victory over Armagh, controlling both halves and building a decisive lead through consistent scoring. Armagh struggled to create opportunities from open play and failed to mount a second‑half response. Galway will face Kerry, who overcame defending champions Dublin with goals from Jadyn Lucey and Siofra O'Shea to secure their place in the final on 2 August at Croke Park.

West Indies secured a 64‑run victory over Ireland in Bready to complete a 3‑0 ODI series sweep. Stafanie Taylor scored 105 in West Indies' total of 257, while Ireland’s Gaby Lewis led the chase with 50 before the hosts were bowled out for 193. Karishma Ramharack took three wickets as Ireland fell short despite multiple two‑wicket contributions from their bowlers.

Larne advanced to the Champions League second qualifying round with a 3-1 aggregate win over Tre Fiori, coming from behind to win 2-1 in the second leg. Manager Gary Haveron described the upcoming tie against Red Star Belgrade as a “free hit” and expressed pride in bringing the Serbian club to Northern Ireland. Early setbacks were overturned through goals from Matt Ridley and Dan Bent, with Tre Fiori reduced to nine men before Larne secured their first Champions League victory.

Wicklow overturned a 13‑point deficit to defeat Down 1-21 to 2-16 in the Tailteann Cup final, securing their first title and a place in next year’s All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. Manager Oisin McConville credited tactical adjustments, composure at halftime, and the team’s determination for the second-half turnaround, highlighting their ability and desire as key factors in the victory.

Cliftonville and Glentoran meet again in the Women's League Cup final after dominant group-stage performances and unbeaten league starts with identical records. Cliftonville seek a fourth consecutive title, having overturned a two-goal deficit to beat the Glens in last year's final. Both sides feature in-form scorers, including Caitlin McGuinness for Cliftonville and rising talent Gracie Conway for Glentoran. Managers and players frame the match as a battle between the league’s top teams, with Glentoran motivated by last year’s defeat and eyeing momentum ahead of their Champions League campaign.