The family of an Irish sporting legend who died in the UK 13 years ago said they're delighted he's finally home after scattering his ashes on a famous Cork cricket ground. 

Man United and Spurs, should they progress, were also handed away draws.

The Football Association of Ireland could be about to lose Martin O’Neill from their grasp after the Ireland manager last night held what was understood to be a productive meeting with Stoke City about their managerial vacancy.

Cyrus Christie knows the score. The Middlesbrough defender isn’t harbouring any illusions about a long-term residency on the right side of Ireland’s back four.

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

After their summer heroics, Iceland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson hopes his team can use tonight’s friendly against Ireland to further rid themselves of the hangover which followed.

Ex-footballer and manager of Republic of Ireland Steve Staunton filed for bankruptcy in the UK in April of this year.

Prepared statements “on the occasion of” can often come across as bland, off-the-peg affairs, a poor substitute for facial expression and the spoken word.

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

If Cyrus Christie gets told his biggest obstacle in life is dislodging the best right-back in the Premier League to further his international career, then he’d have every reason to chuckle.

Stars from the world of football and beyond paid tribute to the former footballer and presenter Jimmy Hill who died at the weekend aged 87.

I’m still trying to figure out the point your correspondent, Martin Collins, was attempting to make by comparing the various qualities of two quite different field sports from his anecdotal observation of two particular games. (Letters 22 August).

Five years after being wound up in the high court, a reborn Cork City return to European football tonight as they welcome Iceland’s KR Reykjavik to Turner’s Cross for a Europa League first round qualifying tie that is sure to attract a bumper crowd to the Curragh Road venue (7.45pm).

Tom Mohan has told his Republic of Ireland Under-17s to simply go and compete at next week’s UEFA championship finals in Bulgaria.

The family of an Irish sporting legend said they are deeply moved after a walkway near his childhood home was named in his honour.

The battle between two of Mick McCarthy’s former sharp-shooters, Robbie Keane and Steven Fletcher, could prove decisive in Friday’s Euro 2016 Group D tie at Celtic Park.

Scotland manager Gordon Strachan has compared himself and Ireland boss Martin O’Neill to late comedic double-act Morecambe and Wise ahead of Friday’s pivotal Euro 2016 qualifier.

Corkman Conor Hourihane has admitted that life at Barnsley couldn’t have started any better after he was named League One’s player of the month for August.

Luke Shaw faces an extended wait to make his competitive debut for Manchester United after he was ruled out for up to four weeks with a hamstring injury.

A win, a draw and two defeats. Not the greatest of starts to the bright new era, then.

No one who went to a football match in England on Saturday, April 15, 1989 is likely to forget what happened that day.

Eleven years on from digesting the words of rejection from Martin O’Neill, Michael Doyle stands on the cusp of becoming the first Irish FA Cup final captain since 2008.

Arsenal 4 Coventry 0

Recently-appointed Ireland manager Martin O’Neill has revealed he thought his players would be “concerned” about the addition of Roy Keane to his managerial ticket.

Chris Coleman must feel like a broken record, through no fault of his own, these past few days.

Aiden McGeady got “cold feet” about joining Wigan at the last minute, the Irish Examiner understands.

Tottenham Hotspur 3 Coventry City 0

Ireland U21 international Conor Henderson has joined League One side Coventry City on loan for three months.

Hungary U21 2 Ireland U21 1

For the first time during the 24 years of the U21 Uefa championship, Ireland approach the tail-end of their qualifying campaign in contention.

Robbie Brady maintains he’d rather be in Sligo than Serbia tonight.

Irish left-back Greg Cunningham hopes his move to Championship outfit Bristol City can re-ignite his Ireland career.

Southampton secured promotion to the Barclays Premier League with a 4-0 win over Coventry City in front of a jubilant sell-out crowd at St Mary’s.

HAVING acquired one Republic of Ireland international already this summer, Niall Quinn says he would love to persuade John O’Shea to join Sunderland as well.

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI has been rightly criticised for his poor communication skills but the Ireland manager’s words were music to James McCarthy’s ears after Tuesday’s friendly against Uruguay.

THIS is it. The day every Irish soccer fan has dreaded. The nightmare scenario.