A government minister has called upon the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) to “come out and stand up” for international soccer star James McClean over his refusal to wear a poppy.

The full house signs on the approaches to Dalymount Park for tonight’s derby meeting of Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers sit comfortably with a domestic game that is once again allowing itself to embrace a guarded sense of optimism. 

Familiarity won’t be an issue in tonight’s must-win B&I Cup clash for Munster A at Nottingham’s Ladybay (7.45pm).

John Fallon looks back on Irish soccer’s 2017

Richard Egan moved to Ireland for love, but he didn’t leave his other passion behind.

If things had worked out a little differently, Cork City defender Ryan Delaney could have been preparing for a trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United next month.

John Caulfield is expected to shuffle his pack for tonight’s EA Sports Cup semi-final at Shamrock Rovers, with Greg Bolger, Jimmy Keohane, and Ryan Delaney all in line to start at Tallaght Stadium tonight, writes John Fallon.

John Caulfield is expected to shuffle his pack for tonight’s EA Sports Cup semi-final at Shamrock Rovers, with Greg Bolger, Jimmy Keohane, and Ryan Delaney all in line to start at Tallaght Stadium (7pm).

A recent visit back to Sneem, to see a bronze statue of his legendary father unveiled, has pushed Brentford and Ireland defender John Egan to aim even higher this season, as he bids to create his own sporting legacy at the start of a new campaign.

Kevin O’Connor and Stephen Dooley are both doubts for Cork City’s Europa League rescue mission against AEK Larnaca in Cyprus tomorrow night.

Cork City boss John Caulfield has hailed Sean Maguire as the club’s greatest ever striker ahead of his last home game for the club tonight.

Since he arrived at Cork City, Kevin O’Connor has strived to live up to these goals.

Cork City’s European tour takes a turn with a difference over the next two weeks as the club heads for Cyprus’s very own little enclave of Spain.

New Cork City signing Kieran Sadlier has revealed striker Seanie Maguire played a crucial role in his decision to move to Turner’s Cross.

It’s just a week ago that Jimmy Keohane was kicking back by the pool in Mallorca. From lazy sun days, it’s now back to red hot Fridays for Keohane and his City team-mates tomorrow night, as they get back to business in the SSE Airtricty Premier Division against Limerick.

When the FAI brought in ‘summer football’ to the League of Ireland, it wasn’t in the script for the season to be over by autumn. Still, with Cork City 15 points clear going into tonight’s latest meeting of the League of Ireland’s ‘New Firm’, that’s a scenario which could arise unless Dundalk can put a stop to Cork’s march at Oriel Park.

Cork City boss John Caulfield is waiting on his ‘three Bs’ as the league leaders head to Oriel Park to face champions Dundalk on Friday night (7.30pm, live on RTÉ2).

If he’s showing a cool exterior, Alan Bennett reckons it might be because he’s coming straight from an ice bath.

Cork City manager John Caulfield has challenged towering defender Ryan Delaney to become the club’s set-piece goal king this season as he looks to add an aerial threat to his title challengers.

Ireland’s record goalscorer Robbie Keane won’t be joining Dubai club Al Ahli and is instead expected to sign for an English Championship club in the coming weeks.

Victory in today’s B&I Cup clash at Clifton Lane is essential if Munster A are to have a chance of qualifying for the quarter finals.

Munster A couldn’t have faced a stiffer challenge than the champions in today’s B&I Cup opener with London Welsh at Towns Park, Midleton (2.30p.m.), but coach Peter Malone believes his young side will be up to the task.

A multi-millionaire British football club owner who is known to keep a deliberately low profile is this morning at the centre of Ireland’s Olympics ticket touting controversy alongside four other directors of one of his lucrative firms.

Both countries won one game and exited Euro 2016 at the same stage, but what would the best combined Republic and Northern Ireland team look like? Brendan O’Brien, who swapped between the camps during the tournament and covered all eight games, makes his selection.

There is no limp as Shane Long walks into the Complexe Sportif Montbauron.

Chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald ushered in a new era for Munster Rugby by insisting incoming director of rugby Johan “Rassie” Erasmus would not undermine existing head coach Anthony Foley.

Scotland are heading into the Six Nations Championship with the same optimism that usually strikes Caledonia in January but there are reasons to believe this bout will last longer than most examples of the past decade.

Munster’s participation in the British and Irish Cup is as much about player development as a desire to add silverware to the club’s trophy cabinet, according to coach Mick O’Driscoll.

Munster A - champions in 2012, begin their challenge for a second B & I Cup title when they take on London Scottish at the Athletic ground in Richmond, London tonight (7.45pm).

Sean St Ledger still hasn’t given up hope of an international recall...

Ireland’s midfield duo Jared Payne and Robbie Henshaw will put their growing playing relationship on hold when Ulster face Connacht in what should be a close Pro12 clash in Galway on Saturday.

Munster ‘A’ 23 Nottingham Rugby 16

Irish rugby history could be made next month when Lynne Cantwell takes part in her fourth World Cup.

You could hardly call the face-off between Westmeath and Kildare the £100 million game like they tend to call the English Championship play-off final in Wembley, but it’s actually hurling’s equivalent.

When Shamrock Rovers and Cork City meet it always stirs an interest.

Denis O’Brien has said he has nothing to do with the Irish consortium currently looking to take over Doncaster Rovers football club.

The sun was shining, the pitch was in pristine shape, and conditions were perfect for Championship football — yet an unmistakable air of melancholy hung around Celtic Park on Sunday.

KERRY native Billy Dennehy says he’s prepared to shun cross-channel interest to stay at Shamrock Rovers under new boss Stephen Kenny.