Shane Long and Derrick Williams have been ruled out of Republic of Ireland's upcoming international friendly against Northern Ireland and next week's Nations Cup game in Denmark.

Paul Kennedy is in line for his biggest team challenge to date when Ireland take on seven opponents in Friday’s important Division 1 Nations Cup of Italy in Rome.

Hopes are high that Ireland’s show jumpers will today repeat last year’s Nations Cup win at Dublin Horse Show and, while manager Robert Splaine was upbeat yesterday, he was saying little that might prove a hostage to fortune.