The New Orleans Saints won their first Super Bowl with a surprise 31-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Miami.
Drew Brees hit a record-equalling 32 passes for 288 yards, with touchdowns to Pierre Thomas and Jeremy Shockey.
Cornerback Tracy Porter returned an interception from Colts quarterback Peyton Manning 74 yards for another score to seal victory.Garrett Hartley kicked three field goals of over 40 yards as the Saints came back from 10-0 down early on.Indianapolis, who won the NFL title in Miami just three years ago, went into the game as favourites.
It was an emotional victory for the Saints, a team who went 20 years before recording their first winning season and a further 23 before appearing in this, their first NFL title game.

The team’s resurgence has been seen as a mirror of the rebuilding of the city of New Orleans after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Giovanni Trappatoni will relish the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign after his Republic Of Ireland side were drawn in a six team group to qualify for Poland. In what amounts to a Soviet era package tour Ireland will face old foes Russia,the tricky Slovakians, The little known Armenians and minnows Andorra & Macedonia. The winner of the group qualifies automatically with the best placed runner up avoiding the playoffs which is what Trap will target given that the group features six sides.

UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying draw
Group A
Germany
Turkey
Austria
Belgium
Kazakhstan
Azerbaijan

Group B
Russia
Slovakia
Republic of Ireland
FYR Macedonia
Armenia
Andorra
Group C
Italy
Serbia
Northern Ireland
Slovenia
Estonia
Faroe Islands

Group D
France
Romania
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Belarus
Albania
Luxembourg
Group E
Netherlands
Sweden
Finland
Hungary
Moldova
San Marino

Group F
Croatia
Greece
Israel
Latvia
Georgia
Malta
Group G
England
Switzerland
Bulgaria
Wales
Montenegro

Group H
Portugal
Denmark
Norway
Cyprus
Iceland
Group I
Spain
Czech Republic
Scotland
Lithuania
Liechtenstein

Bye to finals (hosts)
Poland
Ukraine

Ireland head coach Declan Kidney and captain Brian O’Driscoll were in good humour as Ireland’s Six Nations campaign got off to a winning start with victory over Italy at Croke Park.

Kidney was happy with the work-rate of his side and in particular the players who were returning from injury.

He said, “I’d like to pay credit to how hard some of the injured guys have been working to get themselves right.

“I think Jerry (Flannery) was motoring well – even after 55 minutes, because of the nature of the injury there was no point in putting him in a place where the muscle was going to fatigue and cramp up.

“Also Rory (Best) more than deserved his chance, because he has done extraordinarily well to get to where he is at. It’s handy to have the two of them.”

Skipper O’Driscoll felt the game was an important opportunity for his side to get some valuable game-time.

“I think it was a good work-out. It’s not easy to just immediately click having only been together for two weeks and not play together since November,” he said.

“By the time we played against South Africa we had been together four weeks. You have to realise that you can’t just turn it on and turn it off – you have to build those things.”

Sportspeak were in Croke Park to get the views of Kidney and O’Driscoll after the game.
 

Ireland launched their RBS 6 Nations title defence with a nervy victory over Italy at Croke Park. Leinster’s Jamie Heaslip and Munster’s Tomas O’Leary crossed over the try line to help pick up a 23-8 half time lead, but in the second half the champions lost their way and never breached the line again. Italy, who scored their try through a Kaine Robertson charge down, staged a damage limitation exercise after the one-sided first half that was highly effective and killed the match as a spectacle.Ronan O’Gara kept the scoreboard ticking over and finished with 16 points on his departure with 15 minutes to go. O Gara today also became the first player in 6 Nations history to score over 500 points. He also keeps the record with Munster in the Heineken cup with well over 1000 points to his name. Ireland failed to maintain their power up front and suffered as a result, showing only the odd flash of brilliance, and must improve significantly if they are to have any hope of beating France in Paris next Saturday. Coach Declan Kidney said: ‘We definitely know we have a lot of things to do but we took a conscious decision not to come together until late.
There was a small bit of rustiness. We’re delighted with the win. If you look at it compared to last year’s game, there is not a lot of difference.We were trying things in the second half but we didn’t manage to get any pace into the game.’
Italy had only lost the second half 6-3 and coach Nick Mallett was delighted with his side’s rearguard effort.
‘At 23-8 at half-time there was a real possibility we could have conceded a lot more tries, especially with the ball Ireland had in the second half,But the fact we didn’t was down to some fantastic defence and it’s something I’m really proud of. Ireland are a very good side. They’re very pragmatic and have got a very good set of backs, probably the best backline in Europe. It was our job not to give them ball.” Final score on a frustrating game in Croke Park, Ireland 26, Italy 11

 
Dublin’s preparations for their role European Capital of Sport for 2010, upped a notch at Dublin Castle this week with the passing of the flag from previous host City Milan.

One of Ireland’s leading boxers Bernard Dunne is lending his support to the project, and the Neilstown native is excited about his role.

Bernard spoke to Sportspeak about upcoming Irish boxer Paudie Hyland; how he won’t quit boxing just yet and his role as ambassador for the Dublin – 2010 European Capital of Sport.

Republic of Ireland Assistant manager Marco Tardelli has said he is looking forward to Ireland’s Euro 2012 qualifying campaign but he wasn’t giving anything just yet. Mr Tardelli was speaking as a special guest at a ceremony to celebrate Dublin becoming the sport capital of Europe this afternoon in Dublin Castle. The draw for the championship takes place this Sunday and Marco reckons Ireland have nothing to worry about. “We have many good players, there may be some young players in our new squad and it will be a good adventure” he added “I was happy with our world cup matches and this gave young players a chance”

There has been rumours that Under 21 player James Mc McCarthy could leave the Republic of Ireland and play for Scotland, and Tardelli has claimed he will stay with Ireland. “I am not sure if the Scottish wants him” “Mc McCarthy is playing in Ireland and I think he will stay, maybe not in the senior squad but I think he will stay”

On Ireland’s up coming game against Brazil in London Tardelli admitted he doesn’t know what type of team Giovanni Trappattoni might choose “ to be honest, I think all players deserve the chance to play but clearly this is not possible”

Finally when asked about the constant hype in the Italian media about Trappatoni leaving for Juventus he said “Every single day in Italy, teams say they want Giovanni, but we stay here”

Ireland’s record points scorer Ronan O’Gara is back at fly-half for the opening match of the RBS Six Nations against Italy on Saturday.Jonathan Sexton, who starred at number 10 in the November win over world champions South Africa, was ruled out because of a dead leg injury. Leinster flanker Kevin McLaughlin is the only new cap, replacing injured Ulster star Stephen Ferris.Andrew Trimble wins a place in the wing and Gordon D’Arcy is in at centre with Brian O’Driscoll. Wallace is on the bench as cover for centre and fly-half, so Sexton, whose five penalties helped the Irish humble the Springboks in the autumn, is axed from the 22 altogether. Ulster hooker Rory Best’s inclusion as a replacement completes a remarkably quick comeback from neck surgery.Best, who had not been expected to play rugby this season, was in the Ireland A side which lost to the England Saxons last Sunday.
Without the injured Ferris, a key performer in last year’s first Grand Slam since 1948, Kidney went for 24-year-old McLaughlin ahead of fellow in-form Leinster back row Sean O’Brien.
Ferris sustained a knee injury while on Heineken Cup duty for Ulster against Bath 10 days ago and has not been risked with the crucial showdown against France looming on Saturday week.”I would not say I am shocked. I felt like I had a chance coming into this week,” said McLaughlin.”It is a big step up for me this weekend but I will treat it like any other game, just get on with it and play my game on Saturday.”

Ireland: R Kearney, T Bowe, B O’Driscoll, G D’Arcy, A Trimble, R O’Gara, T O’Leary; C Healy, J Flannery, J Hayes, D O’Callaghan, P’Connell, K McLaughlin, D Wallace, J Heaslip.
Replacements: R Best, T Court, L Cullen, S O’Brien, E Reddan, P Wallace, K Earls.

 
Robbie Keane has joined Celtic on loan for the rest of the season. Robbie who is the Republic of Irelands highest goal scorer has been almost like a stale peice of bubble gum at White Heart Lane since his very public christmas party in Dublin with some of his spurs team mates. An official statement will be released on Celtic’s website by 11 this evening. Sportspeak’s soccer hack Daniel “Pitchside” Pitcher has more on this story.

A late deal completed just before the deadline of 5pm was Manchester City’s capture of Adam Johnson from Middlesbrough. The highly-rated England Under-21 international has signed a four-year deal after the clubs agreed an undisclosed fee.

West Ham have bolstered their striking options by completing the signing of Benni McCarthy on a two-and-a-half-year deal from Blackburn Rovers. The Hammers are also thought to have signed former Spurs striker Mido on loan until the end of the season from Egyptian side Zamalek.

It was all quiet at Stamford Bridge, while rivals Arsenal and Manchester United also failed to enter the market.

Wigan Athletic, meanwhile, won the race to sign youngster Victor Moses from money troubled Crystal Palace in a deal thought to be worth in the region of £2.5million. Moses has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract at the DW Stadium while Bolivia striker Marcelo Moreno has also joined on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk.

One of the busiest Premier League sides today was Fulham – who brought in Stefano Okaka and Nicky Shorey on loan from Roma and Aston Villa respectively.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has also signed German youngster Christopher Butchmann from Liverpool and allowed Diomansy Kamara, Tony Kallio and Wayne Brown go out on loan to Celtic, Sheffield United and Bristol Rovers respectively.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has also had quite a busy day as he looked to boost his chances of survival by announcing the signing of Tottenham defender Alan Hutton on loan until the end of the season. Daryl Murphy and David Healy have left the Stadium of Light to join former manager Roy Keane at Ipswich on six-month loan deals while Nyron Nosworthy has joined Sheffield United on loan.

Burnley boss Brian Laws snapped up Jack Cork on loan from Chelsea and also extended the loan deal of Portsmouth striker David Nugent until the end of the season.

Pompey’s relegation rivals Hull City managed to stave off Wolves’ interest in Stephen Hunt while also letting Peter Halmosi, Daniel Cousin and Will Atkinson to join Szombathelyi Haladas, Larissa and Rochdale respectively.

Monday’s other major moves include Marcus Bent joining QPR on loan from Birmingham City and Kyle Naughton joining Middlesbrough from Spurs.

The big news from the Coca-Cola Championship was the departure of Geremi from leaders Newcastle United to Turkish side Ankaragucu.

The Magpies’ rivals West Bromwich Albion, meanwhile, have signed Feyenoord attacking midfielder Andwele Slory on a free transfer.

Derby County’s fight for survival has been boosted by the arrival of Manchester City’s young full-back Javan Vidal.