Thankfully, the Limerick-native avoided any long-term damage to his lung.

Rochdale have signed former Republic of Ireland defender Paul McShane on a short-term deal, the Sky Bet League One club have announced.

Asked to sum up the 12 months since he joined Portsmouth from Derry City, Ronan Curtis smiles and says: “It’s been amazing, my journey so far. Coming in from Derry to Portsmouth, I didn’t think I was going to play.

At Ireland’s training camp in Portugal, Luca Connell is telling us how his unexpected call-up has disrupted his summer holiday plans. Not that he’s complaining, mind.

The star of Stephen Kenny’s Ireland U21 soccer team, Connor Ronan, has assured Ireland fans that he has no intention of emulating Declan Rice by defecting to his homeland, England.

Saturday was a landmark day for Adam O’Reilly as the 17-year-old from Mahon in Cork city made his Preston debut in the 1-1 draw against Aston Villa.

Derby are in the hunt for their sixth manager in three years following Gary Rowett's departure to Stoke.

As much as the diminishing number of Premier League regulars in the senior Ireland squad is a concern, deeper problems are evident among the U21 panel, though Noel King’s main striker Reece Grego-Cox insists the non-league circuit is ideal for him at this stage.

Ireland 3 Iceland 1: Derry City midfielder Rory Hale took just 14 seconds to mark his international U21 debut last night with a goal by firing Ireland on the way to victory against Iceland.

Most people would've been happy to take a snowday!

Norway 2 Rep of Ireland 1

Ipswich may not always entertain but Mick McCarthy is invariably good value. He certainly was after Ipswich came from behind to beat Burton 2-1 on Saturday. 

Ireland 4 Israel 0: Reece Grego-Cox felt honoured to escalate Ireland’s U21 European Championship qualification crusade yesterday against Israel.

Galway native Ryan Manning has his sights set on guiding Ireland to the U21 Euro finals and earning senior promotion.

If Martin O’Neill was seeking encouragement about the talent pool for the next campaign, the Ireland manager should have received some assurance from the display of the next generation.

Ireland U21 0 Norway U21 0

Declan Rice admits the desire to resume working with Roy Keane endures but helping Ireland’s U21s break their major finals duck is his immediate objective.

Former Republic of Ireland soccer star Mark Kinsella has been cleared of drink driving.

Former Republic of Ireland soccer star Mark Kinsella will go on trial in September accused of drink driving.

Meanwhile, Irish defender Eoghan O'Connell has left the club.

There was a distinctly Irish flavour to Aberdeen’s 3-2 win over Hibernian in Saturday’s Scottish Cup semi-final.

It was a mixed weekend for the Irish contingent at Championship outfit Preston as Aiden McGeady’s sixth goal of the season rescued a 1-1 draw at home to Nottingham Forest on an afternoon when Daryl Horgan and Andy Boyle were hauled off at half-time.

Ireland U21 boss Noel King has strenuously denied pursuing Northern Ireland-born players for his squad following allegations made by Michael O’Neill.

Not once but twice has Ireland U21 skipper Tommie Hoban overcome injuries which have threatened to end his career before it can even take flight.

Everton have been given a major boost ahead of next week’s crucial Capital One Cup semi-final second leg at Manchester City with midfielder James McCarthy and defender Seamus Coleman likely to be fit.

The goals may not be flowing as freely as last season but if Ipswich are to make the promised land of the Premier League, the contribution of Daryl Murphy will be crucial.

Holders Arsenal must entertain Burnley in the fourth round of the FA Cup while Northampton’s reward if they can get past MK Dons in a third-round replay will be a visit from Chelsea.

A personal phone call to Coventy City manager Tony Mowbray earned former Ireland international Stephen Hunt a short-term contract with the Sky Blues.

Maccabi Tel Aviv 0 Chelsea 4: Chelsea’s Champions League fate will go to the final group game after a 4-0 win over 10-man Maccabi Tel Aviv earned successive victories for the first time in two months.

Walsall 1 Chelsea 4: Chelsea continued to rebuild their season as they eased past Walsall in the Capital One Cup.

Chelsea chief Jose Mourinho admitted he had to gag himself or risk a ban after Diego Costa was suspended by the Football Association.

Jermain Defoe’s hat-trick spared Sunderland’s blushes as they defeated Exeter 6-3 in a thrilling Capital One Cup clash last night.

How the Irish fared...

When you’ve spent a career scrapping in every tier of English football, as Rene Gilmartin has, a promotion to the Premier League is treated with a healthy does of scepticism rather than elation.

Tributes have been paid to former Tottenham, Hearts and Scotland midfielder Dave Mackay, who has died aged 80.

He’s the Irishman whose goals have ensured that what should be a procession resembles a contest.

Now that the dust has settled on the January winter transfer window, a number of clubs hoping to have made the signings that will make the difference for them between now and May.

How the Irish fared

Harry Arter marked his 25th birthday in style by scoring for the fifth successive league game as Bournemouth beat Millwall 2-0 to move four points clear at the top of the Championship.