Joe Hodge proved the coolest man in scorching Yerevan by striking a sweet equaliser in Ireland’s Euro U19 finals opener against Norway last night.

Slapping countries with fines for missing climate change targets does not work and only creates a sense of "doom" the Taoiseach says.

While an Olympic play-off place was achieved, Ireland’s FIH Series finals campaign ended on a deflated note as Korea struck three times in the closing quarter to silence a soldout crowd at Banbridge.

Ireland’s Road to Tokyo took a big leap forward as they saw off the Czech Republic with plenty to spare in their FIH Series’ semi-final at a drenched Banbridge.

Anna O’Flanagan’s brilliant four-goal salvo propelled Ireland’s women to within touching distance of an FIH Series Finals semi-final berth as they blitzed the Czech Republic 8-1 in Banbridge.

Colin O’Brien has heaped praise on the efforts of his U17 players after a 1-1 draw with Belgium in Tallaght on Thursday saw Ireland fall short of claiming a quarter-final berth in the European Championships.

There will be no quarter-final place for Ireland in the U17 European Championships for a third year in a row after the hosts could only manage a third draw in a row and bowed out of this year’s tournament.

Having watched the epic unfold on television in the squad’s City West base, Irish U17 international Josh Giurgi took an important lesson away from Liverpool’s staging of the ‘Miracle Of Merseyside’ against Barcelona on Tuesday night and, in particular, the fact they pulled it off without any input from two of their most important players, Mo Salah and Roberto Firminho.

Colin O’Brien says that his young Irish players are fully focused on tomorrow evening’s deciding Group A game against Belgium in Tallaght.

The Republic of Ireland Under-17s have earned another draw in the European Under-17 Championships.

Twelve months after an injustice undid them at the Euro U17 finals, Ireland were again left fuming by a refereeing decision in the tournament.

Ireland manager Colin O’Brien is talking about the progress being made by Gavin Bazunu, the precocious goalkeeping talent who joined Manchester City from Shamrock Rovers earlier this year, when he offloads a timely reminder of the still tender years of all the players who are now busily gearing up to represent their country in the U17 European Championship finals which kick off in Dublin on Friday.

Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling has been hailed as an “inspiration” to young players after being voted the 2019 Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association.

This was the day when England and former Republic midfielder Declan Rice found out whether Dexit was really worth all the aggro and, unlike the current political shenanigans haunting London, his strategic exit turned out rather well.

England manager Gareth Southgate would have no hesitation unleashing teenagers Jadon Sancho and Callum Hudson-Odoi against the Czech Republic tonight.

As the future relationship of Ireland and Britain is battled over in the fraught anterooms of Westminster and Brussels, this week also saw an escalation in the real Anglo-Irish conflict of our time.

The FAI have confirmed that Declan Rice has been named Ireland’s Young Player Of The Year, the announcement coming, with crushing irony, on the eve of what is expected to be his first call-up for England.

What this World Cup could really do with is a team to capture the imagination, says Brendan O’Brien.

European Council president Donald Tusk has said 14 member nations have expelled Russian diplomatic staff over the poisoning of an ex-spy in the UK.

Ryan Giggs is determined to promote young talent in his new role as Wales manager after playing his part in the rise of Marcus Rashford.

Former Celtic, Manchester United and Republic of Ireland midfielder Liam Miller, who died last night at the age of 36 after suffering from pancreatic cancer, fulfilled two boyhood dreams.

What a multi-talented man!

Mark Kinsella feels history will repeat itself over the next 12 months when it comes to revamping Ireland’s international squad.

Northern Ireland 0 Switzerland 1

Seldom will a ridiculous 23-0 result in the Oceania Cup mean so much to those 17,000 kilometres away but Australia’s crushing of Papua New Guinea proved the outcome that confirmed the Irish women’s team will go to the 2018 World Cup.

Northern Ireland celebrated a World Cup qualifying play-off place despite a 1-0 defeat in Norway as Scotland's bid ended in heartache.

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill's team selection against Norway will not change even if their play-off place is confirmed before kick-off in Oslo.

Record-breaking Poland striker Robert Lewandowski scored a hat-trick in a 6-1 win over Armenia on his way to becoming his country's all-time leading scorer.

One place off top spot in the group, highly respected Eastern European opposition in town, and a second successive qualification for a major tournament on the line. Yep, Belfast must have been rocking on Monday evening.

Northern Ireland have beaten Czech Republic 2-0 in their World Cup qualifying Group C match at Windsor Park.

Josh Magennis wants the current group of Northern Ireland players to leave a lasting legacy after achieving their latest slice of history in San Marino on Friday night.

Northern Ireland are on the brink of securing second place in their World Cup qualifying group after beating San Marino 3-0 to record their fourth successive victory.

Michael O'Neill expects his Northern Ireland players to treat Friday's World Cup qualifier with San Marino as if they were playing Germany.

Here's your lunchtime news bulletin.

Captain Manuel Neuer has been left out of the Germany squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Czech Republic and Norway.

As World Cup qualification reaches the business end we look at how things stand in every group. 

George Soros says Europe is facing an existential crisis that goes far beyond Brexit and must reinvent itself to generate the buy-in from states and citizens to hold it together.

The prime minister of the Czech Republic plans to formally submit the resignation of his government in the second half of May.

Ireland failed to challenge a classy Spanish side in the Boys U18 Eurohockey Championship as they were whitewashed 5-0 yesterday at Garryduff. The hosts now face Italy today in a must-win clash.

The pressure has resumed on Irish firms that depend on selling their goods and services to Britain.

Cristiano Ronaldo is ready to take Euro 2016 by storm, according to his Portugal strike partner Nani.