Forty-five years after making my Ireland debut, 55 years after watching my country play for the first time, I’m struggling to think of a week when we produced back-to-back performances as poor as these.

Newly-promoted Sheffield United are closing on a €6.6m move for Ireland international striker Callum Robinson.

Jack Grealish and Declan Rice would still be playing for the Republic of Ireland but for weak relationships between former manager Martin O'Neill and underage coaches, according to Stephen Kenny.

Wembley no longer holds any mystery for Conor Hourihane. There is no room for romance in this story.

Republic of Ireland Under-18s lost 4-0 to Turkey in Istanbul today in Andy Reid's first game in charge.

His predecessor Martin O’Neill had to wait 10 months for his first competitive match, but half that duration is just as frustrating for Mick McCarthy when he’s had no Ireland fixtures at all.

Reid is currently undertaking his UEFA Pro Licence alongside the likes of Robbie Keane, Damien Duff, Keith Andrews, and Jim McGuinness.

Ireland's all-time leading goal scorer will captain his country once more in a Sean Cox fundraiser.

Andy Reid has defended Roy Keane's management style from criticism.

From the cold shoulder in Ireland to the warm embrace of Nottingham, Martin O’Neill is surfing a wave of enthusiasm, expectation and, of course, nostalgia on his return to the City Ground.

“At the time we didn’t realise how big an achievement it was,” says Andy Reid of being part of the Ireland U16 team who were crowned European champions in 1998.

Things took an unusual turn, for a Liam Brady column, on the morning of Cardiff.

Seven Irish swimmers are in action on Day One of the European Junior Championships in Israel.

Republic of Ireland 0 Germany 7 (Uefa U17 Championship finals): Ireland boss Colin O’Brien is certain his side can improve for Saturday’s Euro quarter-final against England after getting what he admitted was a “second chance” in Croatia.

Martin O’Neill reckons Robbie Keane could flourish when he transitions into coaching, but has cautioned his players about the perils of becoming a boss.

This wasn’t just about the Republic of Ireland qualifying for the knockout stages of Euro 2016. This was about crossing a Rubicon.

Arguably, nothing has tarnished the reputation of the NFL more than the litany of domestic violence cases it has handled in recent years. And mishandled.

It’s off, in ways we wouldn’t have expected under a manager of Martin O’Neill’s standing.

Maybe it’s better this way.

Here's the sporting year in [guff] quotes.

Nottingham Forest are in talks with Hull about a potential loan deal for Tom Ince.

Same as it ever was… Same as it ever was… Same as it ever was… Same as it ever was… Same as it ever was… Same as it ever was… Same as it ever was… Same as it ever was.

Injured midfielder James McCarthy will be monitored after being left out of the Republic of Ireland squad for the Euro 2016 qualifiers against Gibraltar and Germany because of injury.

While next month’s European Championship qualifiers against Gibraltar and Germany might be just three days apart, the gulf in standard between Ireland’s opponents is about as wide as it gets in international football, running all the way from unranked minnows to the champions of the world.

Republic of Ireland boss Martin O’Neill has named a provisional 37-man squad for next month’s Euro 2016 qualifiers against Gibraltar and Germany.

That’s that, then. The last box finally ticked after eight largely forgettable friendlies that yawned across the course of 10 interminable months, in four different countries and against opposition from three continents.

Amidst all the talk about Shay Given’s return and Mark Noble’s potential arrival, the presence of Hull City’s Robbie Brady at training in Malahide all week has slipped under the radar.

With the start of the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign less than a week away, the weekend’s championship action brought some unwelcome news for Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill as Jeff Hendrick suffered a dislocated shoulder in Derby’s 1-1 draw with Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich.

Shay Given has been recalled to the Republic of Ireland squad ahead of next week’s double-header against Oman and Georgia.

So it’s business as usual, as in business unusual, across the Irish Sea, the fledgling new Premier League season having already sent the back pages into overdrive with LVG’s nightmare start at Old Trafford, Liverpool prepared to swap frying pan for fire as Balotelli replaces Suarez and, simply stinking the whole place out, the Malky Mackay scandal.

Martin O’Neill says England have intensified their efforts to secure dual-eligibility players and has confirmed Jack Grealish, fresh from his Premier League debut for Aston Villa, has asked for more time to consider his international future.

Republic of Ireland boss Martin O’Neill sprang no surprises when he named a provisional squad for his first competitive game.

Martin O'Neill has named a provisional 36-man squad for Ireland's upcoming games against Oman and Georgia.

ROY’S REWARD — ENGLAND STILL ON COURSE FOR 2022

We have to talk about Stephen. Well, actually, we don’t, but it seems that in at least every other encounter with a manager of the Republic of Ireland over the past seven years, we end up talking about Stephen.

Stephen Ireland could yet be added to the Republic of Ireland squad for their end-of-season friendlies.

When Brendan Rodgers first knotted his tie as a professional football manager, as Watford boss in November 2008, Ireland U21 midfielder John O’Toole had a ringside view – making a second half appearance as a sub.

Their title dreams may have hit a significant roadblock yesterday but there was a measure of consolation for Liverpool last night as Luis Suarez was named the Professional Footballers Association’s (PFA) Player of the Year.

Martin O’ Neill has backed Roberto Martinez’ assertion that Seamus Coleman will not be leaving Everton, after reports suggested the Irish full-back could be bound for Old Trafford.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez rubbished claims Seamus Coleman is on his way to Manchester United and quipped it must be another player with the same name who is featured in speculation about a move to Old Trafford.

If you could cash a reality check you’d be up to your eyeballs in folding stuff this weekend.

Standing on the sideline of a training pitch fielding questions from the dreaded meeja will never be high up on Roy Keane’s list of ‘Things I Like To Do’.

Martin O’Neill says the onus will be on Ireland to attack in Wednesday’s home game against Serbia.

Andy Reid, Kevin Doyle and Rob Elliot have withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland squad for this week’s friendly against Serbia.

There is long-term good news and short-term bad news for Martin O’Neill ahead of Ireland’s friendly against Serbia at the Aviva Stadium next Wednesday.

Andy Reid will miss the friendly game against Serbia at the Aviva Stadium next Wednesday.

Martin O’Neill believes Stephen Ireland is “warming” to the idea of an international return but the manager says he wants to sit down with the player to discuss his seven-year exile and his current intentions in more detail.