The FAI have formally extended the shutdown of Irish football until April 19, inclusive, but said it still remains “committed” to a June return for the SSE Airtricity League.

In the absence of an outright ban on training, one source said there was “some confusion” on the issue.

Having left his seat in Tallaght just before the winning strike, the Ireland manager says he had already seen enough of the midfielder’s performance to give him “plenty to think about” as he ponders his squad for the Euro 2020 play-off against Slovakia.

FAI Medical Director Dr Alan Byrne was watching in the team hotel and noticed O’Carroll was struggling with his answers.

The agony and ecstasy riff is a familiar one in sport but rarely can it have had a more literal application than to the bittersweet situation in which Alan Judge found himself at the conclusion of Ireland’s 1-1 draw with Denmark in Copenhagen in June.

The Government has been accused of running down the Defence Forces to such an extent that if there was a major security crisis, the country has been left “woefully unprepared, dramatically undefended, and shamefully exposed.”

Retired Lieut Col Dan Harvey said the Defence Forces is "broken" and "in crisis" with "morale at an all-time low," because they are "overlooked and undervalued, overworked, underpaid, over-stretched and undermanned."

“Despite what the Liverpool manager said, football isn’t more important than life and death. Life is much more important.”

Three second-half goals for Shamrock Rovers were enough for the Hoops to get by Shelbourne at Tolka Park in the FAI Cup.

Everton’s Courtney Duffus is interested in solving Ireland’s long-term striker shortage.

All eyes will be on James McCarthy when, if all goes according to plan, the Everton midfielder joins the rest of the Irish squad for training at Turner’s Cross today.

Injury time – that’s where Irish football finds itself right now.

A man accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend’s partner set fire to a blood-stained hoodie he had been wearing on the night of the fatal fight, the Central Criminal Court heard yesterday.

Seamus Coleman last night reported for international duty despite his Everton manager Robert Martinez all but ruling the full-back out of Ireland’s Euro qualifier against Germany on Thursday.

Damien Duff is expected to end speculation on his future by finalising a move to Shamrock Rovers this week.

Drogheda United 1 Dundalk 2: John Mountney’s deflected 90th-minute free-kick proved decisive as Dundalk snatched victory in an entertaining Louth derby at United Park last night.

Cork City 4 Drogheda United 1: A tremendous second half hat-trick from Billy Dennehy saw Cork City put an indifferent first-half performance behind them to move to within four points of leaders Dundalk at the top of the Airtricity League Premier Division with a 4-1 victory over Drogheda United at Turners Cross last night.

Shamrock Rovers 1

No footballer ever likes to be caught napping but, away from the pitch, they’re being advised to do just that, and more, as the science of sleep plays an increasing role at the highest levels in the game.

The season might still be young but three games in the next seven days will tell a lot about Dundalk’s ability to successfully defend their Airtricity League title.

Allianz FL Division 4 Round 2: Wicklow 0-11 Leitrim 0-10: Wicklow struck with a storming second-half comeback to snatch a one point win over Leitrim in their Division 4 clash at Aughrim yesterday.

Martin O’Neill has warned Republic of Ireland skipper Robbie Keane his familiarity with Celtic Park will count for little as he looks to take a further step towards Euro 2016 qualification in Scotland.

Republic of Ireland midfielder James McCarthy was due to undergo another scan on his injured hamstring on Wednesday afternoon with the Euro 2016 qualifier against Scotland looming.

Athlone Town 0 Dundalk 3

With Robbie Keane having proved his fitness by scoring an audacious goal for LA Galaxy on Sunday, James McClean is now the main injury concern for Ireland ahead of tomorrow night’s friendly against Oman and Sunday’s Euro qualifier in Georgia.

SSE AIRTRICITY PREMIER DIVISION:

Manager John Caulfield describes this evening’s trip to Athlone as Cork City’s "biggest game of the season" and, no doubt, he’ll have much the same to say about the side’s seven remaining league games after tonight.

Jon Walters will hope to face the might of Portugal barely a week after finding himself on a drip in hospital.

SSE AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION:

The bookmakers price them a staggering 18/1 to win but Athlone manager Mick Cooke believes his side can cause an upset as they visit reigning champions St Patrick’s Athletic tonight.

Dundalk’s excellent start to the season has received a major blow with the news that their captain Stephen O’Donnell’s campaign is over.

Stephen Kenny wants his Dundalk players to maintain their desire to help sustain their impressive start to the season.

Drogheda United 2 Sligo Rovers 3