It's better to fall in the Autumn than seize up in the Summer, as Irish teams will notice by watching from afar, while what were deemed minnows occupy the platform they've a long way back to sharing.

Here we take a look at these pressing issues, some to be resolved swifter than others but each carrying their own degree of significance within the ecosystem of Irish football.

At their next board meeting on August 29, or before if they are minded to, the FAI have a last supper to consider.

I went for a haircut in Longford recently. It should have been a fairly simple job. On the way I realised I had forgotten my wallet in my other jacket, but as I was nearly in town, I went on. The barber confirmed he only took cash.

Those moralising about the relevance of the breakup of Katie McCabe and Irish teammate Ruesha Littlejohn, and its fallout, ought to recall how their love story first came into the public domain 

Your correspondent has been on the ground doing his utmost to keep up, keep awake and keep ahead in the context of struggling to shake off jetlag from three flights spanning 20 hours in the air.

Ireland’s record goalscorer always possessed a knack of seeing around corners and he knew what to expect at a press conference following his confirmation as Maccabi Tel Aviv boss.

All ten of the top-flight sides have something to play for, be it the title, European qualification or avoiding the relegation playoff and the automatic trapdoor to the First Division.

There’s no guarantee that Tom Cannon will be emulating the manoeuvre perfected by Rice and Jack Grealish before him but history hasn’t favoured Ireland once that dreaded hiatus to a budding international career begins.

The absence of a sponsor for the men’s team, and their missing out on the bonanza of qualification for three tournaments on the spin, suffocates cashflow whatever the spin doctors espouse.