The ending of one year and the start of another can provide an opportunity for a sprinkling of Irish and a reality check for others. With each passing year, the green contingent in the Premier League, especially the top half, is shrinking.

The latest chapter in Daryl Horgan’s career as a professional footballer began with a run off the bench for Neil Lennon’s Hibernian in their 1-1 draw away to St Johnstone in Perth last weekend.

Republic of Ireland international Darragh Lenihan has signed a four-year contract with the Championship club.

After producing a couple of magic moments for Irish women’s football in their World Cup qualification campaign to date, Áine O’Gorman wants the team to deliver a meteoric one in the Norwegian coastal city of Stavanger this evening.

It was entirely in keeping with John O’Shea’s self-effacing character and career-long commitment to the concept of the ‘team player’, that the elegant defender’s farewell address to the Irish supporters seemed to be about everyone but himself, writes Liam Mackey.