Blackburn Rovers defenders Darragh Lenihan and Greg Cunningham have been called up for the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2020 qualifiers this month.

Mick McCarthy has named his Ireland squad for the forthcoming European Championship qualifier against Switzerland and the friendly with Bulgaria.

The Ireland manager is considering Birmingham City’s new recruit for inclusion in his squad for the upcoming Euro 2020 qualifier against Switzerland.

If ever there was a time Kevin Feely was going to consider what might have been, it was two weekends ago when two of his former clubs were playing in Wembley as he took to the field for Kildare in Tullamore.

The call-up will be a boost for Connell after his club, Bolton Wanderers, went into administration following their relegation from the Championship.

The parallels are striking. For Liechtenstein in Vaduz almost 23 years ago read Gibraltar in the Victoria Stadium on Saturday.

Josh Cullen is a London-born midfielder and West Ham United employee and he has just been called up to the senior Ireland senior set-up for the first time as a late addition to Mick McCarthy’s squad.

Shamrock Rovers midfielder Jack Byrne has received a last-minute call-up to replace the injured Callum O'Dowda in Mick McCarthy's first Republic of Ireland squad back in charge.

It’s that time of year when the latest batch of sports tomes stack up like Jurgen Klopp celebratory memes on a Twitter feed so it’s unlikely that Michelle Obama’s latest literary offering, Becoming, will be afforded much time here. What has caught our eye, though, was the former First Lady’s appearance in London this week, writes Brendan O'Brien.

Liverpool shouldn’t really be anyone’s idea of plucky underdogs.

Former Republic of Ireland soccer star Mark Kinsella has been cleared of drink driving.

New surroundings, same narrative. Sean Maguire has got used to that winning feeling this year; his goals ensuring Cork City have turned this season’s Airtricity League Premier Division title race into a procession.

Kevin Feely doesn’t know what better way to put why he waved goodbye on a career across the Irish Sea.

Former Republic of Ireland soccer star Mark Kinsella will go on trial in September accused of drink driving.

Harry Arter cocks his head to one side and asks for the question to be repeated.

Tottenham beware: a new ground means new gripes, writes Brenda O’Brien.

As the League of Ireland season kicks off tonight, all eyes will be on Dundalk’s four-in-a-row title quest even if the manager with history in his grasp won’t countenance personal accolades.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today

They started last night’s match in unison but as the friendly against the Netherlands progressed, it became evident Harry Arter and Stephen Quinn were battling against each other for a ticket to France.

Barring a miracle of epic proportions on Saturday, Ireland’s strong historical connections with Bournemouth will be enhanced in the Premier League next season.

Premier League

Euro 2016 Group D

Ireland captain Robbie Keane has taken another step towards carving out a future career in coaching by completing his Uefa B course.

Unlike her rivals for the Fifa Puskás Award, James Rodriguez and Robin van Persie, Ireland’s Stephanie Roche will be taking the rocky road to Zurich for the prize-giving ceremony on Monday week.

Ireland duo Daryl Murphy and David McGoldrick were among the goals as in-form Ipswich crushed Charlton Athletic 3-0 in front of their biggest crowd of the season to maintain the pressure on Championship leaders Bournemouth.

FORMER Republic of Ireland midfielder Matt Holland played with such clubs as Ipswich Town and Charlton Athletic before his retirement in 2009. He now works as a video analyst and pundit with Setanta. Here's waht matters to him when it comes to a question of taste.

Phil Jones admits Manchester United are still learning Louis van Gaal’s new system but the defender believes their 100% record in pre-season shows they are ready for the new Premier League campaign to start.

Stephen Hunt admits he could leave English football behind as he mulls over an offer to join a German second division club.

Motherwell have confirmed that goalkeeper Darren Randolph has agreed a move to npower Championship side Birmingham City.

This afternoon’s U21 friendly against Holland at Tallaght Stadium (1pm) offers new beginnings for many Irish youngsters and Sean McGinty appreciates the chance presented to him by Noel King.

Keith Costigan is still on Dublin time, having just returned to Los Angeles from a trip home.

There’s a story around Arsenal that, when one of the old foreign players was first told of the demanding Christmas fixture list, he genuinely thought it was a wind-up.

The first African-born player to captain Ireland, Cameroon native Noe Baba, will lead out the Under-17s tonight against Azerbaijan in his new home of Castlebar (6pm).

He could potentially be sacked by the time the transfer window closes if comments from the club’s global adviser are to be believed but Blackburn manager Steve Kean is on the lookout for a new striker and is looking for players close to these shores.

MANCHESTER UNITED avoided further humiliation after their derby drubbing as they breezed through last night’s Carling Cup fourth round clash at Aldershot, winning 3-0.

Newcastle managing director Derek Llambias has defended the club’s failure to sign a striker on the final day of the transfer window.

NORWICH suffered a stunning 4-0 home defeat at the hands of npower League One leaders MK Dons as the three newly-promoted Premier League clubs exited the Carling Cup at the second-round stage last night.

Leeds United face an away tie against Oldham Athletic in the first round of the FA Cup.

Republic of Ireland 1-3 Poland

REPUBLIC of Ireland U-19 manager Sean McCaffrey has named an 18-man squad for next week’s friendlies against Slovakia in Bratislava — their final preparatory games before the UEFA Championship Elite phase qualifiers in June.

Zabeel Investments, the company who have lodged a bid to buy Charlton, have rejected claims they are interested in purchasing West Ham.

Finn Harps manager, Paul Hegarty, has made his first signings of the July transfer window by welcoming Neil McCafferty and Austin Friel to Finn Park.