Senegal government accuses CAF of ‘corruption’ after AFCON triumph overturned
Senegal government accuses CAF of ‘corruption’ after AFCON triumph overturnedBy Jamie Gardner, Press Association Chief Sports ReporterThe Senegalese government has accused African football’s governing body of “corruption” after the country was stripped of the continental title they won in January. An appeal board of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has taken the Africa Cup of Nations crown from Senegal and awarded it to Morocco, overturning Senegal’s 1-0 win and imposing a 3-0 defeat instead. The appeal board determined Senegal had forfeited the match when they left the field in protest at a disputed penalty awarded to Morocco deep in stoppage time. Pape Gueye went on to score the winning goal for Senegal in extra time. Everton’s Idrissa Gueye, part of Senegal’s victorious squad, posted in an Instagram story: “Titles, trophies, medals… all of this is fleeting.
Source:Irish Independent
March 18, 2026 22:58 UTC
Newcastle blown away by Barcelona’s stunning second-half salvo
Barcelona 7 Newcastle 2 (Barcelona win 8-3 on agg)Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring their sixth goal with Ronald Araujo during their Champions League round of 16 second leg win over Newcastle at the Nou Camp, Barcelona. Anthony Elanga’s first-half brace had cancelled out Raphinha’s early opener and Marc Bernal’s free-header, but Lamine Yamal’s stoppage-time penalty opened the floodgates with Fermin Lopez, Lewandowski and Raphinha again doing the damage. They were back on terms within seven minutes when Jacob Ramsey picked out Lewis Hall and he exchanged passes with Harvey Barnes down the left before sending in a cross which Elanga slotted calmly past goalkeeper Joan Garcia. The Magpies levelled again five minutes later when Yamal's ill-judged back-heel was picked off by Hall, who fed Barnes to cross for Elanga to slide home. The Pole doubled his tally with an emphatic 61st-minute finish after Yamal had bamboozled both Burn and Thiaw, and Raphinha rounded off the scoring after intercepting Ramsey's woeful pass across his own goal.
Source:Irish Independent
March 18, 2026 22:57 UTC
DPP drops charges against three gardaí over alleged ‘squaring away’ of motoring tickets
Three gardaí who had been due to stand trial over the alleged ‘squaring away’ of fixed-charge notices for motoring offences will no longer face prosecution. It is understood the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has written to Liz Hughes, the Garda Representative Association (GRA) solicitor acting for the three officers, informing her that the charges have been dropped.
Source:Irish Independent
March 18, 2026 22:56 UTC
From ‘polite’ pushback and ‘pained smiles’ to ‘awkward’ exchanges, how world media saw Taoiseach’s encounter with Donald Trump
From ‘polite’ pushback and ‘pained smiles’ to ‘awkward’ exchanges, how world media saw Taoiseach’s encounter with Donald TrumpMicheál Martin’s visit to White House overshadowed by US president’s comments on Iran and criticism of UK leaderTaoiseach Micheál Martin during the meeting with US president Donald Trump in the White House. Photo: GettyMaeve McTaggart Today at 06:30Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s meeting with US president Donald Trump has been largely overshadowed in the international press by Mr Trump’s comments on the Iran war and his criticism of the UK prime minister.
Source:Irish Independent
March 18, 2026 22:49 UTC
Israel kills at least 10 Gaza police officers in latest attempts to loosen Hamas control
Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike that targeted a police vehicle in Zawaida in the central Gaza Strip on March 15th. Israel says its attacks in Gaza that have struck and killed police officers have been aimed at eliminating threats to its troops from Hamas. Israeli troops remain deployed in the roughly 53 per cent of Gaza under Israel’s control. Hamas accuses Israel of targeting police officers who it says are trying to maintain public security and stability in Gaza following the two-year war. ‘STRIKES AIM TO DISRUPT HAMAS’ SECURITY EFFORTS’Palestinian political analyst Reham Owda said Israel’s attacks on Gaza police highlighted Israeli concerns about Hamas tightening its grip on Gaza in areas under its control.
Source:The Irish Times
March 18, 2026 22:42 UTC
Protest over Cork apartment plan told Bessborough site 'is not just land'
A protest outside Leinster House on Wednesday was told that the Bessborough mother and baby home site is "not an empty field waiting to be filled". Campaigners attempting to stop the construction of a 140‑unit apartment development on the grounds of the former Cork mother and baby home were joined by politicians and families for the 'No Building Over Bessborough' rally. Some of the supporters wept throughout the rally, while others held up placards saying, “stop the development” and “find the babies”. She was one of the campaigners who successfully opposed the previous development plans at Bessborough and addressed the crowd saying: “And here we are again”. “We went looking for the mother and baby home I was born, which was somewhere in Highgate.
Source:Irish Examiner
March 18, 2026 22:41 UTC
Hockey: Scoil Mhuire and Crescent eyeing All-Ireland tilt
Scoil Mhuire, Cork, and Crescent College, Limerick, will head to Armagh for the two-day tournament. Scoil Mhuire, for their part, recently won both the Munster Schoolgirls Cup final and the league title, defeating Crescent in both finals. Dave Egner has been head of hockey at Scoil Mhuire for several years and knows all about this tournament. FIXTURESTHURSDAY, MARCH 19Scoil Mhuire v Colaiste Iognaid, 11am; Crescent College v Loreto Kilkenny, 9am; RSA v Crescent College, 2.15pm; Banbridge Academy v Scoil Mhuire, 3.45pm; RSA v Holy Child Killiney, 9.30am; Banbridge Academy v Wesley College, 11am; Holy Child Killiney v Loreto Kilkenny, 2.15pm; Wesley College v Colaiste Iognaid, 3.45pm. FRIDAY, MARCH 20Holy Child Killiney v Crescent College, 9.30am; Wesley College v Scoil Mhuire, 11am; RSA v Loreto Kilkenny, 9.30am; Banbridge Academy v Colaiste Iognaid, 11am.
Source:Irish Examiner
March 18, 2026 22:40 UTC
Local Gardai issue witness appeal after van is stolen from outside house
Local Gardai issue witness appeal after van is stolen from outside houseGardai have issued a public appeal for assistance after a vehicle was stolen from the driveway of a home in the Kilbeggan area during the early hours of this morning (Wednesday). A local Garda spokesperson said residents of the house at Cornaher, Kilbeggan, were awoken by a noise outside at approximately 5am and, when they looked outside, they saw their van being stolen. The van was white Citroen Berlingo with no writing on the side. The Garda spokesperson said there were electric gates on the house and that the thief of the van avoided them when making a getaway by driving through a fence around the property. The stolen van was driven away in the direction of Rahugh, and Gardai are appealing to anyone who was on the road in the area early this morning, and may have witnessed something suspicious, to get in touch.
Source:Irish Independent
March 18, 2026 22:30 UTC
Rory McIlroy includes elk sliders and colcannon in Masters dinner menu
Rory McIlroy is pictured in the famous green jacket after winning last year's Masters and (inset) the Masters menu at AugustaRory McIlroy will serve elk sliders and champ – aka colcannon – as part of the menu for the Masters Club Dinner he will host before he bids to win back-to-back green jackets at Augusta National next month. “Firstly, my mom does these really, really nice dates stuffed with goat’s cheese wrapped in bacon. “And then I wanted to try to bring a little bit of, I guess, the local, local ingredients in. “Moving on to the main course again, this dinner is obviously an amazing honour to be able to host it, but at the same time, I want everyone to enjoy it. “So I went for two different options for the main course, a wagyu fillet mignon for people who want red meat or a fillet of seared salmon.
Source:Irish Independent
March 18, 2026 22:02 UTC
Pedestrian hospitalised after being struck by car in Athlone
The Dublin Road in Athlone. Pedestrian hospitalised after being struck by car in AthloneA pedestrian was hospitalised yesterday (Tuesday) evening after being hit by a car in Athlone town. The incident happened on the Dublin Road, close to the Circle K filling station, just after 7.30pm. The male pedestrian is understood to have been crossing the road when he was struck by a car. An update on his condition was not available at the time of writing, but it's believed that his injuries are not life-threatening.
Source:Irish Independent
March 18, 2026 22:00 UTC
'Couldn't be fitter': Anthony Cunningham dismisses cancer rumours
Anthony Cunningham has dismissed rumours he has cancer. The former Galway hurling and Roscommon football manager said that he "couldn't be fitter" at the moment. "There was some wild rumours there for the last three or four months that I had cancer and I was sick. One of the pluses with the college is that there's an indoor running track and an outdoor running track within 50 metres of my desk. It happens from time to time that these wild rumours go out."
Source:Irish Examiner
March 18, 2026 22:00 UTC
Enoch Burke’s transfer from Mountjoy to Castlerea was lawful, High Court rules
Enoch Burke’s transfer from Mountjoy Prison in Dublin to Castlerea Prison in Co Roscommon earlier this month was lawful, the High Court has ruled. Enoch Burke’s transfer from Mountjoy Prison in Dublin to Castlerea Prison in Co Roscommon earlier this month was lawful, the High Court has ruled. In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, Judge Brian Cregan said Burke “has the keys to his own prison cell in Castlerea Prison, just as he has in Mountjoy Prison”. He has spent more than 600 days in prison in separate spells for his contempt of the court order. “Mr Burke has the keys to his own prison cell in Castlerea Prison, just as he has in Mountjoy Prison,” he added.
Source:The Irish Times
March 18, 2026 21:57 UTC
Man City star Jeremy Doku fires Arsenal two-word warning ahead of Carabao Cup final
Man City star Jeremy Doku fires Arsenal two-word warning ahead of Carabao Cup finalManchester City face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, with the two teams - who are also battling for the Premier League title - in contrasting veins of formView 2 Images Jeremy Doku believes that Manchester City will bounce back (Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)Jeremy Doku has warned Arsenal that Sunday's Carabao Cup final will be a 'good cure' for out-of-sorts Manchester City. The defeat means that City have now failed to win four of their last five matches in all competitions. Doku and his team-mates then travel to Chelsea before welcoming Arsenal to the Etihad for a potential title decider. Who'll lift the Carabao Cup? We played well 11 against 11 and 10 against 11.
Source:Daily Mirror
March 18, 2026 21:57 UTC
Monaghan egg business secures M&S supplier partnership
Monaghan-based Connolly’s Eggs has announced a new partnership with Marks & Spencer (M&S), and their eggs are now available across all Irish stores. The partnership aims to further strengthen the retailer’s commitment to supporting Irish produce and the local economy. ‘Connolly’s Free Range Large Eggs’ have officially been launched across all 16 M&S stores in Ireland. Connolly’s Eggs was founded in the early 1990s by married couple John-Joe and Veronica Connolly with a modest flock of just 300 hens. Kevin Connolly of Connolly’s Eggs said: “We are ecstatically proud to have secured the M&S market and to see our new packaging in-store.
Source:Irish Examiner
March 18, 2026 21:56 UTC
Barcelona 7-2 Newcastle (8-3 on agg): Eddie Howe's side produce dog's dinner in defence in record European defeat
A record European defeat in which morale and momentum took a kicking at the feet of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha. But, on 15 minutes, Newcastle were level. Newcastle came out for the second half in body only - coherent thought was left behind in the dressing-room. On 52 minutes, Raphinha sent Lopez clear and he finished with class and composure. The second half was tough.
Source:Daily Mail
March 18, 2026 21:55 UTC