Mick McCarthy expects both James McClean and Enda Stevens to be available for Ireland’s Euro 2020 play-off game away to Slovakia.

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.

James McClean is hoping that intensive rehab work he is undertaking in Dubai will help speed up his recovery from a knee injury in time to make him available for Ireland’s Euro 2020 play-off game against Slovakia on March 26.

With 12 Leinster Schools Senior Cup titles, Belvo were favourites to prevail over the Jeremy Staunton-coached Castleknock.

Aston Villa striker Scott Hogan has joined Birmingham on loan after being recalled from Stoke, the Premier League club have announced.

Castleknock College held off a spirited fightback from Cistercian College, Roscrea at Donnybrook Stadium yesterday to book their place in the Leinster Schools Senior Cup quarter-finals.

League One Shrewsbury have been handed a dream trip to Chelsea in the FA Cup fifth round if they can find a way past Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Tottenham booked a fourth round trip to Southampton after surviving a late scare in a 2-1 win over Middlesbrough.

Vera Pauw will be forced into at least three changes in personnel as Ireland hunt a third successive victory in their Euro campaign against Greece today.

Republic of Ireland international Richard Keogh could be out of football until December 2020 after damaging two knee ligaments in last week’s car crash.

Aston Villa cruised into the Carabao Cup fourth round, with substitute Jack Grealish sealing a comfortable 3-1 win over a young Brighton side.

Wayne Routledge scored a last-minute winner as Swansea edged their top-of-the-table clash with Leeds at Elland Road.

Kyle Naughton, Bersant Celina and Borja Baston – who celebrated his 27th birthday by becoming the division’s top scorer – were on target as Birmingham’s resistance crumbled after the break.

Sheffield Wednesday moved top of the SkyBet Championship after a 1-0 victory over Luton.

Liverpool return to Istanbul, scene of one of their greatest triumphs 14 years ago, for Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup clash with Chelsea.

The Ireland manager is considering Birmingham City’s new recruit for inclusion in his squad for the upcoming Euro 2020 qualifier against Switzerland.

Promotion favourites Fulham suffered a blast of Championship reality with a shock opening-weekend 1-0 loss at Barnsley.

Birmingham have signed midfielder Dan Crowley from Willem II for an undisclosed fee.

Birmingham have parted company with manager Garry Monk, the club have announced.

Manchester United fans were involved in more football-related arrests where racism was an aggravating factor or a feature than any other club in England in the four seasons up to 2017-18, data from the UK Home Office shows.

Collins edged out fellow Ireland international Aiden McGeady for the award.

We live in an era of protest, one in which the right to protest is protected by the European Convention on Human Rights, and one in which nervous authorities are increasingly influenced by the voice of the people and the noise they make.

So then, Sean, tell me why you don’t like Mondays?

Birmingham City fan Paul Mitchell, 27, has been jailed at Birmingham Magistrates' Court for 14 weeks for assaulting Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish.

Here are all the latest headlines this lunchtime...

O'Neill was a hugely animated figure and was lectured by referee Jeremy Simpson after straying from his technical area and down the side of the pitch once too often.

Holders Chelsea are safely through to the fourth round of the FA Cup but Premier League Cardiff were victims of a giant-killing act by Gillingham.

Alan Hutton's superb solo goal sealed Aston Villa's thrilling 4-2 derby win over Birmingham.

Bruce had a cabbage thrown at him before last night's game.

St Patrick’s Athletic captain Ian Birmingham has paid a glowing tribute to Liam Buckley after his departure as manager at Richmond Park.

"I haven’t met him (the manager) face to face yet, but we’ve had numerous phone calls and it was really impressive the way he sold the club to me."

There will be a crowd in excess of 40,000 at Wembley today to see Arsenal and Chelsea contest the 2018 Women’s FA Cup final, writes Liam Mackey.

Initially there was intrigue. Then there was admiration, many years of it. Next came pity, followed by a mixture of anger and apathy.

The absence of Stanley Aborah and Bastien Hery didn’t help Waterford United’s cause at the Brandywell, as Derry City extended their unbeaten run at the Brandywell.

Wolves took another step closer to promotion after goals from Diogo Jota and Ruben Neves earned the runaway Sky Bet Championship leaders a 2-0 win against Derby at Molineux.

Former Cork City star Sean Maguire came off the bench to score Preston’s winner against Bristol City at Deepdale and keep North End’s play-off challenge firmly on course.

Burton condemned Jose Morais to defeat in his first game in charge of Barnsley with a 2-1 victory which moved Albion off the bottom of the Championship.

Birmingham hauled themselves out of the relegation zone and left Sunderland further in trouble at the wrong end of the Sky Bet Championship with a 3-1 win at St Andrew's.

Man United and Spurs, should they progress, were also handed away draws.

Alex Neil did not hold back from criticising his players as Preston lost ground on the Championship play-off places following a draw with Birmingham.

“Full of highs and lows, yeah.” That’s how Megan Campbell, with quiet and deliberate understatement, sums up her rollercoaster 2017.

Evidence against the Birmingham Six was “enhanced”, a top-ranking police chief warned an MP years before their eventual release.

Here’s a handy game-by-game guide to the 2018 leagues and championships.

Birmingham and Aston Villa fought out a goalless draw in an entertaining Sky Bet Championship derby at St Andrew's.

If Ireland are awarded a penalty against Moldova on Friday night, David Meyler would have no qualms about putting himself on the spot.

Two goals and regular starts for Preston in the Championship and a League of Ireland winner’s medal virtually in the post — all Sean Maguire needs now to complete a heady 2017 is to get the nod from Martin O’Neill to play his part in an Irish redemption song as the World Cup qualifying campaign reaches its conclusion.

The status quo was maintained at the top of the Championship as Leeds, Cardiff and Wolves all won.