If Ireland are to have a shot at redemption, they will first need to get some shots on target.

An evening of holes, from beginning to end. 

We always hear plenty of talk about Irish heart and Irish passion.

Few faces do instant scorn as well as Gordon Strachan’s so there were some with bated breath at the Aviva Stadium last night when the Scotland manager was asked if his side was in Dublin with the aim of playing for a draw.

A disgruntled group of Republic of Ireland supporters have organised a plane protest against FAI chief executive John Delaney ahead of today’s crucial Euro 2016 qualifier against Scotland.

I watched last Sunday’s scoreless draw with England on television and listened with interest to the analysis of Kenny Cunningham and Keith Andrews.

After a long build-up and various sub-plots being floated, Ireland’s John O’Shea has cut through the froth surrounding this evening’s Euro 2016 qualifier to revisit first principles.

His subtle but succinct skewering of John Delaney grabbed all the attention on this side of the Irish Sea, but closer to home, it was another of Stewart Regan’s observations that stood out from the rest. 

Messi gave up processed food this season, we heard this week from nutritionist Giuliano Poser, seemingly the true driving force behind Barcelona’s surge out of pre-Christmas lethargy to intestinal purity and treble glory.

Martin O’Neill said earlier this week that defeat against Scotland today would leave Ireland with a mountain to climb in European Championship Group D.

It's brilliant.

Robbie Brady is a study in footballing evolution: From winger to wing-back to full-back, but still with a licence to thrill when it comes to whipping in crosses and delivery of the dead ball.

Shaun Maloney does not think the Republic of Ireland will be fooled again by another Scottish set-piece ploy.

Given that he found himself featuring in yet another non-football story to hog the headlines in Ireland, Martin O’Neill was asked yesterday if, since becoming national manager, he has ever felt like he’s ended up in a soap opera.

It’s being billed in many quarters as a make or break 90 minutes in Ireland’s quest to make it to France in 2016 but whether his team wins, loses or draws against Scotland on Saturday, Martin O’Neill maintains the result of this one game won’t define the final outcome of the qualifying race.

Tom Boyd is predicting a no-holds-barred battle of wits as Martin O’Neill and Gordon Strachan go head-to-head in Dublin on Saturday evening.

Eamon Dunphy has slammed Martin O’Neill for seemingly regarding him as a bit of a homer while Ronnie Whelan, even though he’s another self-confessed fan, has expressed the fear that he might get “gobbled up” in the heat of the expected battle between Ireland and Scotland on Saturday.

Scotland assistant boss Mark McGhee hopes to see his former star pupil Robbie Keane kept in reserve on Saturday —even if he feels the Ireland skipper is playing at the equivalent of League One level in America.

John Delaney was last night accused of “ludicrous” behaviour by Stewart Regan as the Scottish FA chief issued a withering appraisal of his FAI counterpart in the wake of last week’s Fifa loan furore.

Martin O’Neill gave a famously inspirational speech in the Celtic dressing room before they stepped out to face Liverpool at Anfield in their Uefa Cup quarter-final in 2003.

“I always thought there was something wrong with Aiden’s eyesight,” smiles Tom Boyd, when told that Aiden McGeady reckons Ireland have a better first-choice XI than Scotland – a difference of opinion that will be put to the definitive test in their Euro 2016 qualifying clash in Dublin on Saturday.

Shay Given has admitted the Republic of Ireland’s hopes of Euro 2016 victory over Scotland could come down to a single moment of magic.

True to form, Paul McShane’s plan to rouse the Aviva Stadium crowd during Saturday’s Euro qualifier against Scotland involves a crunching tackle.

Martin O’Neill concedes that, even though they have home advantage, his Irish team will be the one feeling the most pressure when Scotland come calling to the Aviva on Saturday.

Some of the Irish players allowed the occasion to get to them in Glasgow but, if our Euro qualifying hopes are to improve I believe the onus is on the manager to more clearly define the way in which he wants his team to play

At the Ireland team hotel in Portmarnock yesterday, Roy Keane was asked by a television reporter if he was prepared to discuss the well-publicised incident in the team hotel last Wednesday, in which the Assistant Manager had a confrontation with Irish fan Frank Gillespie.

FAI chiefs, including chief John Delaney, deliberately boycotted Scottish Football Association hospitality on Friday as a gesture of their displeasure over the ticketing arrangements for the Euro 2016 qualifier.

Roy Keane has expressed concern about what he regards as Everton’s overly protective attitude to James McCarthy and Seamus Coleman when it comes to their Irish obligations — and suggested part of the problem could relate to manager Roberto Martinez’s own lack of international experience.

EURO 2016 GROUP D QUALIFIER:

All sound and fury, no pause for thought — and certainly none of the craft that Shaun Maloney and Scotland displayed.

Blame it on the less-than-ideal build-up, where tickets and a hotel confrontation overshadowed the football, but Martin O’Neill will wake up this morning with a feeling of regret over the three points that slipped away.

The axe swung. Experience counted for nought.

So much for ‘home’ comforts.

Somebody had to draw the short straw.

Watching Roy Keane and the Irish players striding into Celtic Park past the statue of Jimmy Johnstone was to be reminded that, to paraphrase Martin O’Neill, some pre-match "distractions" are definitely more distracting than others, writes Liam Mackey.

THE REPUBLIC of Ireland failed the test of nerve at a raucous Celtic Park last night as Gordon Strachan's Scotland jockeyed themselves into Euro 2016 qualification contention.

Shaun Maloney revealed his outstanding winning goal for Scotland against the Republic of Ireland was the result of a well-worked training ground move.

Scotland 1 Republic of Ireland 0

Scott Brown laid down the ground rules early.

Robbie Keane can still have an impact as a sub but it would be better for Shane Long or Jon Walters to start up front at Celtic Park tonight. Martin O’Neill may be ready to make that big call.

The propaganda war is over, said Gordon Strachan yesterday.

EURO 2016 QUALIFIER:

Robbie Keane may be best known for the incisive quality of his finishing skills, but the Republic of Ireland captain has always been equally sharp on those occasions when presented with a question or statement that hasn’t met his full favour.