Getting ready for the start of the Newry Parkrun. Photograph: Columba O'Hare/ Newry.ie
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It's been a memorable weekend for Mayobridge man Charlie Smyth who has matured incredibly fast in his transition from the GAA to a kicker with the New Orleans Saints in American Football's National Football League. Before heading stateside Smyth played in goals for Down.
On Friday 19 December he was signed from the practice squad to the active roster and yesterday after just four career games he found himself in the record books when he led the Saints to a win over New York Jets, tying in the clubs all time record of five field goals!
Smyth originally signed with the Saints as a free agent in 2024 through the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP) program and has spent the past two seasons on the Saints' practice squad before taking over the kicking duties in Week 13 against the Miami Dolphins.
Up until Friday Smyth had four-of-five on field goal attempts with a long of 56 yards and successfully converted an onside kick. His first career field goal, a 56-yarder, is tied for the second-longest made on a first attempt in NFL history. In Week 15 against Carolina, he connected on a 42-yarder and the game-winning 47-yarder with two seconds remaining, marking New Orleans' first game-winning field goal since 2022.
Yesterday 21 December Charlie Smyth was in the news again when he tied a club record with five field goals in the win against New York Jets. Smyth connected from 35, 49, 36, 50 and 39 yards out, respectively.
Smyth is just the second kicker in NFL history to appear in a game after coming from Ireland through the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP) program, joining Jude McAtamney, and he is the first to do so without any prior college experience. Launched in 2017, the IPP program is designed to give elite international athletes the opportunity to develop their skills and compete for a spot on an NFL roster.
After yesterdays game Saints Head Coach Kellen Moore said: “Charlie’s awesome. Charlie’s awesome. He’s playing really good football, really good football, and our team’s rallying behind him. He’s got a bright future.”
Smyth is extremely grateful for all the support from back home: “Yeah, the support from everybody back home in Ireland has been unreal. I am super grateful for it. A lot of people are pushing the game of American football in Ireland, and it's nice to play, I suppose, a small part in the rise of it and just the fan culture at home.
"Yeah, I am super elated to be a part of that and the support has been amazing. I am constantly getting texts, and the phone is constantly blowing up this past couple of weeks, so it's been unreal. It's been unreal because this organization took a chance on me a couple of weeks ago and said, ‘Look, despite all the lack of experience, we are still going to give him a shot, and we see what he has been doing in the building, so just super grateful to everybody here. And I think we’re all reaping the rewards of it at the minute.”
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Newry City AFC have announced the signing of 19-year-old midfielder Cillian Kavanagh, subject to international clearance, with the teenager becoming Stuart King's first signing of the January transfer window.
The midfielder previously had spells at both Dundalk and Shelbourne in the League of Ireland and has been training with the first team squad for a number of weeks. Kavanagh attended the Linfield game and was impressed by what he saw from the stands.
"It's been nothing but easy coming up, Stuart and the staff have been really nice and the lads have been absolute gentlemen as well, so it's been really easy fitting in," says Kavanagh. "I can't wait to get started, I can't put it into words to be honest. I was actually up watching the Linfield game and I saw the fans and that has given me the buzz to come and play here. I can't wait until January."
First team Manager Stuart King was pleased to get the deal over the line. "I'm delighted to get Cillian in. He's been training with us for a few weeks now and he's been really good," he said. "He's played a couple of behind closed door friendlies and he's stood out. He's got real quality, is so good on the ball and has really stood out in training."
King added: "Cillian has really embraced this opportunity and he really wants it. He can see where we're trying to get to and he wants to be a part of it."
Cillian will be eligible to play when the transfer window opens, subject to clearance.
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Newry City AFC have bolstered their defensive options with the signings of Jamie Rea and Jamie O'Flaherty.
The 28-year-old Rea arrives from Sports Direct Premiership side Portadown, though he'll be best remembered for his impressive stint at Loughgall where he racked up nearly 200 appearances and lifted the Championship title in 2022/23. The defender has also turned out for Ards and Glenavon during his career.
Meanwhile, O'Flaherty returns to Newry after featuring 22 times for the club last season before his summer switch to Warrenpoint Town. The 22-year-old from Ballyholland will be a recognisable face to fans at the Showgrounds.
Speaking about his move, Rea said: "When I met with Stuarty, I really liked what he said. I'm hoping to get a lot of game time. The club's looking to do well, they're looking to get promoted. It's a competitive league and I just want to play my football again, to enjoy football again, and I feel like that's going to happen here."
O'Flaherty added: "I'm delighted to be back down. I want to play as much football as I can and try and help the team as much as possible. Promotion is the first aim, but definitely we want to try and win the league. I think that's what all the boys are aiming for and you can sense that."
Newry City AFC Manager Stuart King was clearly pleased to get both deals over the line, describing them as two quality additions who have experience at a higher level. "I'm delighted and it's two big signings of real quality. It kicks us on even more," King said.
He went on to praise both signings, noting that O'Flaherty knows the club inside out while Rea brings Premiership experience and was part of a successful Championship winning side. King also took time to thank Portadown FC and Niall Currie for their professionalism in facilitating the Rea deal.
The manager made clear his ambitions for the club, explaining: "I'm aiming to bring in people who are better than what we have, that's the way we're going to drive this place forward. The club's working so hard behind the scenes. They've been really good to me, they see the progression and to keep progressing, we need better players. So, I'll always be looking out for better players to make this club better."
Both Rea and O'Flaherty are available for selection when Newry City travel to face Ballyclare Comrades in the Playr-Fit Premier Intermediate League on Saturday.
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Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, in partnership with the Sports Association Newry, Down and South Armagh (SANDSA), has announced that nominations are now open for this year's NMD Sports Awards.
The awards celebrate sporting excellence and the positive role of sport and physical activity by recognising the outstanding achievements and dedication of local athletes, teams, coaches and volunteers throughout the district in 2025.
The awards ceremony will take place on Friday 20 March 2026 at the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle, bringing together clubs, communities and sporting representatives to honour those who inspire participation and achievement at all levels.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Philip Campbell, said: "These awards offer a wonderful opportunity to recognise the remarkable achievements of individuals and teams throughout our district. The athletes, coaches and volunteers nominated represent the very best of local sport. Their hard work and passion ensure that opportunities to take part in sport and physical activity continue to grow for people of all ages and abilities. We are proud to celebrate their contributions."
The categories available for nomination include:
Nominations are open to athletes, sports clubs, schools, community groups, local organisations and members of the public across the district.
Nomination forms are available from:
Council website: www.newrymournedown.org
Newry Leisure Centre Reception: 60 Cecil Street, Newry, BT35 6AU
Down Leisure Centre Reception: 114 Market Street, Downpatrick, BT30 6LZ
Completed nomination forms must be submitted by Monday 26 January 2026 at 4pm. Forms can be emailed to leisureandsport@nmandd.org or returned to reception at Newry or Down Leisure Centres.
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Newry City AFC have announced the signing of striker Aaron Donnelly from Dundalk.
The highly-rated striker, who turns 19 next month, becomes Manager Stuart King's fifth signing of the January transfer window so far, following Cillian Kavanagh, Jamie Rea, Jamie O'Flaherty and Albert Watson to The Showgrounds.
Donnelly has been a regular feature for Dundalk Under-20s and was also the Lilywhites' Under-17 side's top goalscorer in 2024.
King said: "I'm delighted to get Aaron on board. He's a striker who is different to what we have. Aaron's been training with us and has also been doing pre-season with Dundalk's first team. He's sharp and looks to get shots off early."
The manager also paid tribute to Dundalk for their assistance with the move, saying: "I'd like to place on record my thanks to Shane Grimes, Neil Adair and all at Dundalk Football Club for their help. The relationship between the clubs is a good one and it's something we hope to build on further in the future."
Donnelly said: "I'm glad to finally get signed having been in training with the lads over the last couple of weeks. I'm ready to kick on now in January and try to get the club back up into the Championship. I think this move will be a new challenge for me, but it's a challenge I'm ready for and I'm looking forward to getting in now and getting started."
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A Newry youth football club that has spent over two decades borrowing pitches across the city has launched a Crowdfunder campaign after finally securing a permanent home with a long-term lease of the Lisdrumliska Pitch at Glen Hill. Already over £20,000 has been raised.
Lisdrum Youth FC was founded in the summer of 2002 by Eamon Traynor and Tommy Gray, who shared a vision that sport could shape the lives of young people in Lisdrumliska and the surrounding areas of Newry. Their aim was to give local youth a place to grow not just in fitness and skill, but in friendship, purpose and pride.
Since its founding, the club's teams have played wherever they could find space, never quite having a pitch to call their own. Despite this, the spirit of Lisdrum remained strong over the years as volunteers kept building and believing in the club's mission.
The club now describes the long-term lease at Glen Hill as more than just a pitch, calling it "a promise to our youth, our community, and our founders: that Lisdrum will always be more than a club. It will be a home."
All teams and programmes are run entirely by a team of dedicated volunteers who are passionate about making a difference in the lives of local people. The club is committed to building a healthier and more connected community in Newry through both football and community events.
With the lease now secured, the club says it has established a foundation where generations can train, compete and carry forward the legacy that began with Eamon and Tommy over 22 years ago.
To support their mission to enhance football locally for generations to come you can donate at www.crowdfunder.co.uk
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The runners aren’t slowing down: nor is this event.
Saturday mornings on the Newry Greenway have quickly become a fixture for runners, walkers, buggy pushers and volunteers alike, as Newry Parkrun continues to go from strength to strength just six months after its launch.
Since the event began, an impressive 2,062 finishers have crossed the line, highlighting the enthusiasm and commitment of the local community.
New Year’s Day marked a particular milestone, with the largest turnout to date of 266 participants, a clear sign of the event’s growing popularity and Newry’s growing pool of athletes.
The Carlingford Lough Greenway course has already hosted some standout performances. The fastest male time recorded so far is 16:52, while the fastest female time is an outstanding 19:22, set by none other than Dame Kelly Holmes over the Christmas period, adding a touch of sporting prestige to the local event. The course has also welcomed well-known running names such as Team Kerr, further underlining its appeal to athletes of all levels. The event has watched athletes hit their 500th and 100th parkrun milestones on this greenway.
Over the past six months, the event has braved snow, hail, sleet, and rain, with the occasional burst of sunshine offering a welcome reward. Regardless of the conditions, the spirit on the Greenway has remained consistently positive, friendly and inclusive.
More than just a race, Newry Parkrun has become a community event that brings people together every Saturday morning, whether they are chasing a personal best, enjoying a jog with friends, or volunteering to support others.
As it moves beyond its first six months, Newry Parkrun shows no signs of slowing down, continuing to build momentum, and cementing its place as a key part of the city’s sporting and social life.
Newry's Parkrun takes place every Saturday morning at 9.30am at the entrance to the Carlingford Lough Greenway at the Albert Basin in the city. For more information check out www.parkrun.org.uk
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Armagh Ladies footballers suffered a tough 12-point defeat at home to Waterford in their opening Lidl NFL Division 1A fixture at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, with the final score reading 2-14 to 0-8.
Manager Gregory McGonigle's side were missing a host of experienced players for the fixture, with Caroline O'Hanlon, Niamh Henderson, Niamh Reel, Blaithin and Aimee Mackin, and Niamh and Dearbhla Coleman all unavailable for selection. The absences proved costly as the Déise women dominated proceedings from start to finish.
The home side made a bright start when debutant Lara Marsden, daughter of 2002 All-Ireland winner Diarmaid Marsden, grabbed two quick scores inside 30 seconds to cancel out Chloe Fennell's early goal. Fennell had knocked home the opening major inside six minutes after Brid McMaugh's shot dropped short.
However, a barren ten-minute spell followed for both sides before Waterford began to take control. Áine O'Neill was instrumental for the visitors, notching four quickfire points to stretch the lead. Maeve Lennon grabbed the final score of the opening half for Armagh, who trailed 1-5 to 0-3 at the break.
The Orchard County emerged with renewed energy after the turnaround and enjoyed their best spell of the match midway through the second half. Lennon converted two frees and captain Lauren McConville raised a white flag as Armagh hit three scores on the bounce to give their supporters something to cheer about.
But any hopes of a comeback were quickly extinguished when substitute Kellyann Hogan converted two frees for Waterford to restore their six-point cushion. Kelly Mallon added a score after coming off the bench for the hosts, but Treasa Ní Chrontaigh slashed home Waterford's second goal to put the game beyond doubt. The visitors tagged on the final three points to complete a comprehensive victory.
Armagh will be hoping to have several key players back for their next outing as they look to bounce back from this disappointing start to their Division 1A campaign. Waterford, meanwhile, improved on their 10-point victory over Armagh in the 2025 league by two points this time around.
Scorers - Waterford: Á O’Neill 0-5, C Fennell 1-1, T Ní Chrontaigh 1-0, K Hogan 0-2 (2f), C Walsh 0-2, B McMaugh 0-2, K Murray 0-1, J Queally 0-1.
Armagh: M Lennon 0-3 (2f), L Marsden 0-2, K Mallon 0-1, L McConville 0-1 A McCoy 0-1.
Teams
Waterford: K Gardiner; C Murray, L Mulcahy, R Casey, L Ní hArta, K McGrath, L Cusack; E Power, B Browne; K Murray, B McMaugh, Á O’Neill; C Fennell, C Walsh, L McGregor. Subs: K Hogan for C Walsh (41 mins), A McGrath for E Power (49 mins), T Ní Chrontaigh for C Fennell (55 mins), A Hahesy for A O’Neill (59 mins), J Queally for K Murray (59 mins).
Armagh: B Mathers; M Ferguson, C McCambridge, G Ferguson; Emily Druse, L McConville, C Towe; S Quigley, C Marley; L Marsden, A McCoy, C McNally; M Lennon, A Donnelly, K Mallon. Subs: K Mallon for C McNally (39 mins), E Cassidy for S Quigley (45 mins), E Lavery for M Lennon (53 mins), Elsie Druse for L Kavanagh (59 mins).
Referee: Maggie Farrelly (Cavan).
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Armagh took their first win at the weekend in their Lidl National Football League against Kildare.
Armagh manager Greg McGonigle was pleased with the way they bounced back from their opening round loss to Waterford to defeat Kildare by 0-13 to 0-9.
“I was disappointed not with our attitude, but we didn’t die with our boots on if you use that expression last week,” said McGonigle.
“Obviously today we did. We were a lot more compact, worked for each other and won a lot of second balls. Delighted to get the win and good to get a couple of points.”
Kelly Mallon led the way as last year’s league runners-up Armagh edged out a Kildare side who knocked them out of the championship last season.
She kicked five frees for an Armagh side who led by 0-7 to 0-4 at the break and they pushed on for victory despite Alannah Prizeman also shooting five frees for Kildare.
“We put a lot into last week,” said Kildare manager Pat Sullivan, whose side were held to a draw by a late Cork point on the opening weekend.
“Maybe there was a bit of a hangover from last week and we looked a bit tired at the end of it as well there. The performance last week was really, really good to be fair. The performance today in patches, for 45 minutes of that game, was good. There’s a lot of players learning their trade and it’s a learning zone for Division 1, and we’re trying to build that panel for further along the road for championship.”
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