It was another remarkable weekend for Irish sport, with a second world cycling title for Lara Gillespie, World Cup swimming gold for Ellen Walshe, a memorable European victory for Connacht Rugby and a clean sweep for Ireland’s four provinces. There was also extraordinary success on the racecourse and no shortage of drama as club championships were decided around the country.
Here are our nine Irish Sporting Champions of the Weekend, brought to us this week by Allianz, Partners of our Olympic, Paralympic and Sport for Social Good coverage.
Lara Gillespie – A Second Rainbow Jersey
Lara Gillespie delivered the weekend’s outstanding individual achievement, winning gold in the Points Race at the UCI Track World Championships in Shanghai. The Wicklow cyclist accumulated 42 points across 100 laps, finishing five clear of Denmark’s Amalie Dideriksen, with Belgium’s Shari Bossuyt taking bronze.
Gillespie’s victory earned her a second rainbow jersey, following her Elimination Race world title in Chile last year. It also added to the silver medal she won earlier in the championships in the Scratch Race. At 25, she has firmly established herself among the world’s leading track cyclists and provided another memorable moment for Irish cycling.
Ellen Walshe and Mona McSharry – Golden Finish to World Cup
Ellen Walshe claimed her first gold medal of the 2026 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup Series with a commanding 200m butterfly victory in Astana, Kazakhstan. The Templeogue swimmer clocked 2:04.05, finishing more than two seconds clear of her nearest challenger, before returning to place fourth in the 200m Individual Medley.
Mona McSharry completed an equally impressive campaign, collecting bronze in the 50m Breaststroke to secure a remarkable ninth medal from nine events across the three World Cup meetings. Together, the performances underlined the growing consistency of Ireland’s elite swimmers as they build towards December’s World Short Course Championships in Beijing.
Connacht Rugby – Saracens Beaten as Provinces Complete Clean Sweep
Connacht produced a memorable European performance, recovering from a 12-point deficit to defeat three-time champions Saracens 45-36 at Dexcom Stadium. Ciarán Frawley and captain Cian Prendergast scored two tries each as Stuart Lancaster’s side delivered a major statement in the Investec Champions Cup.
It was part of a clean sweep for Ireland’s provinces, with Leinster defeating Clermont 48-23, Ulster winning 40-21 away to Zebre Parma in the Challenge Cup, and Munster overcoming Racing 92 by 33-25 at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Munster’s emotional victory also marked the tenth anniversary of Anthony Foley’s passing, completing a special weekend for Irish rugby.
Wayne Lordan – Six Winners in One Afternoon
Wayne Lordan enjoyed an extraordinary afternoon at Leopardstown, riding six winners from seven races in partnership with trainer Aidan O’Brien. Their remarkable achievement included victories in both Group Three contests, with Wall Street taking the Eyrefield Stakes and Capability Brown landing the Killavullan Stakes.
The six-timer was a first for a single trainer-jockey combination at one meeting in either Ireland or Britain under either racing code. With O’Brien overseeing another hugely successful afternoon at Ascot, Lordan took centre stage in Dublin, delivering a performance that will occupy a special place in Irish racing history and further highlighting the remarkable strength of the Ballydoyle operation.
Cuala – Dublin Champions Again
Con O’Callaghan drove Cuala’s emphatic 3-15 to 1-6 win over Castleknock in the Dublin Senior Football Championship Final at Parnell Park. The Dublin star contributed 2-5, including a first-half penalty, as Cuala reclaimed the county title they first won in 2024.
Captain Michael Fitzsimons provided leadership from defence, while Jamie Conroy added the third goal in a dominant team performance. After following their previous Dublin success with All-Ireland glory, the Dalkey club will now approach another provincial campaign with considerable confidence. They have a rare chance to win a double as their hurlers compete for the PTSB Dublin Championship final in the small ball code next weekend.
Glen Rovers – Back at the Summit of Cork Hurling
Glen Rovers completed a remarkable journey back to the summit of Cork hurling, defeating city rivals St Finbarr’s to claim their 28th Senior Championship title. Just three years after suffering relegation, the famous Blackpool club celebrated a first county crown since 2016 in front of 19,041 spectators at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Eoin O’Leary proved the decisive figure with two second-half goals, while Patrick Horgan contributed 11 points as Glen Rovers overturned a half-time deficit. The victory reflected the resilience of a club that has rebuilt its senior standing and restored its place among Cork’s leading hurling powers.
St Eunan’s – A Historic Donegal Treble
St Eunan’s created Donegal sporting history by completing an unprecedented senior championship treble in football, hurling and ladies football. The achievement was sealed dramatically when Ciarán Moore kicked the winning point in the final moments of the men’s football decider against Naomh Conaill.
The 1-16 to 1-15 victory came after Niall O’Donnell produced a spectacular late two-pointer to level the sides. It delivered a record 17th Donegal senior football crown for the Letterkenny club and crowned an extraordinary season of achievement across three codes.
St Brigid’s – Roscommon Champions After Extra-Time Drama
St Brigid’s retained the Roscommon Senior Football Championship following a thrilling 1-25 to 2-16 extra-time victory over Pádraig Pearses at Dr Hyde Park. The defending champions appeared to have secured the title in normal time with a dramatic two-pointer from Conor Hand, but Tom Butler responded with an equally spectacular score for Pearses.
Hand subsequently delivered the decisive goal in extra time as the Kiltoom club pulled clear to claim the Fahey Cup for a second successive season. Having reached the All-Ireland Club Final earlier this year, St Brigid’s will hope to go one better this year.
Aidan O’Brien and Minnie Hauk – Champions Day Glory at Ascot
Aidan O’Brien enjoyed another hugely successful British Champions Day as Minnie Hauk captured the Group One Fillies and Mares Stakes at Ascot. Ridden by Ryan Moore, the dual Classic winner delivered a commanding performance to defeat Believed by a length and a half, adding another prestigious international success to the Ballydoyle operation.
It marked O’Brien’s first Group One victory at the season-ending showpiece since Magical in 2019. Combined with Wayne Lordan’s historic six-winner afternoon at Leopardstown, the result underlined the extraordinary depth of Irish racing talent and completed one of the most successful Saturdays in recent memory for Ireland’s leading international training operation.
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