St Helens back rower James Bentley and Hull prop Lewis Bienek are among the new faces named in head coach Stuart Littler's first Ireland rugby league squad.

He joined Bolton in the summer of 2017 but has not played since December.

He was also fined £75.

Martin O'Neill has expressed his surprise at Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill's claim that the Republic of Ireland are targeting Catholic players from across the border.

Burnley have announced the signing of striker Nahki Wells from Huddersfield for an undisclosed fee.

Irish football lore has room for just one one-cap wonder from the Steve Staunton era. And that’s fine by Colin Doyle.

Cork man Colin Doyle hopes that he will be celebrating for real at Wembley today.

Our father, who art in heaven — any chance I could be wrong for once?

It was a mixed weekend for the Irish contingent at Championship outfit Preston as Aiden McGeady’s sixth goal of the season rescued a 1-1 draw at home to Nottingham Forest on an afternoon when Daryl Horgan and Andy Boyle were hauled off at half-time.

Uefa U21 European Championship qualifier

Ireland U21 boss Noel King has strenuously denied pursuing Northern Ireland-born players for his squad following allegations made by Michael O’Neill.

Chelsea captain John Terry was sent off as the Premier League leaders beat Peterborough 4-1 in the FA Cup third round at Stamford Bridge.

Darren Randolph has revealed that he would be reluctant to seek a transfer away from West Ham United should his lack of first-team action at the Premier League club threaten his spot as Ireland’s first-choice goalkeeper.

A drone has delayed a League One game in England.

Daryl Murphy has set his sights on promotion after completing his move from Ipswich to Newcastle yesterday.

Alan Judge’s Euro 2016 dream is almost certainly over after the midfielder broke his leg in Brentford’s 3-1 Championship win at Ipswich on Saturday.

Everton have been given a major boost ahead of next week’s crucial Capital One Cup semi-final second leg at Manchester City with midfielder James McCarthy and defender Seamus Coleman likely to be fit.

Holders Arsenal must entertain Burnley in the fourth round of the FA Cup while Northampton’s reward if they can get past MK Dons in a third-round replay will be a visit from Chelsea.

Goals from Anthony Pilkington and Joe Mason broke Huddersfield’s resistance on Saturday and lifted Cardiff to second in the Championship.

Over the weekend, the Sunday’s Well Rebels, Ireland’s only mixed ability rugby team, returned home to Cork after their successful Mixed Ability Rugby World Tournament campaign in the UK.

The Sunday’s Well Rebels, Ireland’s only Mixed Ability rugby team, are through to the final of the Mixed Abilites Rugby World Tournament after three days of play in Bradford.

It may still be very early days but the Championship table will make very pleasant reading for Chris Hughton this morning. 

The Sunday’s Well Rebels, Ireland’s only Mixed Ability Rugby team, travel to England next week to compete in the first Mixed Ability Rugby World Tournament (MARWT).

The final day of the Championship brought contrasting emotions for the Irish as the title and the identity of the last two teams to reach the play-offs was decided.

Two of Brentford’s Irish players were in flying form on Saturday but their best efforts were not enough to earn the Bees three desperately-needed points.

Chelsea 1 Southampton 1

"It’s so sad for us to get knocked out; we knew we’d have a great opportunity if we’d won on Monday night.”

Louis van Gaal found it impossible to defend Angel di Maria after the Argentina international was sent off for grabbing the back of referee Michael Oliver’s shirt in Manchester United’s FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Arsenal.

Holders Arsenal will face either Bradford or Reading in the FA Cup semi-finals after last night’s quarter-final victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Holders Arsenal will face either Bradford or Reading in the FA Cup semi-finals having won their sixth-round tie at Manchester United this evening.

Bradford 0 Reading 0

Bradford and Reading must wait to make history after the two lowest sides left in this season’s FA Cup clattered out a goalless lunchtime draw at Valley Parade.

FA Cup Quarter-Final

He’s the Irishman whose goals have ensured that what should be a procession resembles a contest.

“It will be a good game, a great game. Against Arsenal is always a great game.”