The Faroe Islands has around 30% of the population of Donegal, but its mackerel quota is now 30% bigger than that of Ireland, said Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation chairman Martin Howley.

The argument for an All Ireland soccer team has a long history. In the 1930s and well into the late 1940s and early 1950s, Northern Ireland selected players from the south.

UEFA U21 CHAMPIONSHIP

Fresh from his own brief tenancy in charge of the Ireland senior team, U21 boss Noel King delivered positive tidings yesterday when he met new manager Martin O’Neill for the first time.

For Sami Khedira, it is a question of quantity, not even qualification.

Faroe Islands 0 Germany 3

Robbie Keane goes in search of his 60th goal for his country tonight in a rich vein of form, the LA Galaxy striker having been selected by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) as the MLS Player of the Week following his brace in the 3-0 win over San Jose on Saturday.

Far away from Cardiff City Stadium tonight, there’s serious business to attend to in the Faroe Islands for Ireland U21s as they start a campaign which manager Noel King hopes culminates at the 2015 European Championships in the Czech Republic.

Republic of Ireland U21 coach Noel King has named his squad for the UEFA Championships qualifier against the Faroe Islands in Toftir on August 14.

Spain 2 Republic of Ireland 0

I watched the qualifier against the Faroe Islands a long way from home — and yet it still felt very much like home.

WORLD CUP QUALIFIER GROUP C:

In a game where the only element that was ever really going to be remembered was the numbers, Robbie Keane duly obliged.

Giovanni Trapattoni labelled Robbie Keane the best Irish player he has seen in 30 years after the striker’s hat-trick earned the Republic of Ireland a World Cup qualifying victory over the Faroe Islands.

Republic of Ireland 3 Faroe Islands 0

WORLD CUP QUALIFYING GROUP C:

Perhaps it was Giovanni Trapattoni seemingly on his way to the sack that caused Faroe Islands Lars Olsen to downplay his side’s hopes before they hosted Ireland last October.

Lars Olsen has admitted it would be a sensation of epic proportions if the Faroe Islands ruined Robbie Keane’s party tomorrow night.

Confirmation will only come later today when Giovanni Trapattoni names his team but, on the basis of training at Malahide yesterday, it looks like Richard Dunne will miss out and Simon Cox will start against the Faroe Islands tomorrow night.

Having missed the squad session on the pitch, David Forde emerged from the gym at Gannon Park yesterday sporting a smile as sunny as the weather.

Marco Tardelli has ordered the Republic of Ireland’s players to forget about the euphoria of their performances against England and Georgia as they prepare to return to World Cup battle.

We’re used to football managers giving it “110%” but yesterday Giovanni Trapattoni wasn’t even prepared to go the ton.

The FAI performed their own version of the loaves and fishes at Lansdowne Road last night, announcing an official crowd of 21,100 for this friendly against Georgia when a head count would have stopped some distance short.

There were no adverse reactions in the immediate aftermath of his 25-minute cameo, but Richard Dunne last night admitted he’s not sure whether he will be fit enough to participate in Friday night’s qualifier at home to the Faroe Islands.

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni will not throw his young players in at the deep end as he attempts to nurse a new generation through to the senior international stage.

Aiden McGeady has admitted Spartak Moscow may look to cash in on him this summer as he enters the final year of his contract in Russia.

Giovanni Trapattoni says that Seamus Coleman has the potential to deliver at the highest level in football and could even go on to merit comparison with two of Italy’s most celebrated full-backs, the 1982 World Cup winning pair of Claudio Gentile and Antonio Cabrini.

Robbie Keane is hoping the Republic of Ireland and England can enjoy a healthy rivalry for years to come as they prepare to resume hostilities.

If, as their famous motto has it, Barcelona FC is more than a club, then I think we are equally entitled to bill Ireland v England as more than a friendly.

The Champions League final traditionally ends the football season across Europe, but it doesn’t feel that way this year.

Giovanni Trapattoni has challenged his Republic of Ireland players to prove they are every bit as good as England’s in Wednesday night’s friendly at Wembley.

Giovanni Trapattoni is planning to uncage his Canaries against England at Wembley.

Giovanni Trapattoni will attempt to plot a route to the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil when his Republic of Ireland squad meets up later this month.

We chroniclers of the round ball game can surely be forgiven just a touch of schadenfreude as we watch our oval ball counterparts a-swingin’ their picks and a-hollerin’ those ol’ managerial succession blues.

While not defeated, the Irish players left the Aviva last night deflated.

Asked immediately after the game if he was considering resigning, a bemused Giovanni Trapattoni replied: “Why? We are not Germany, we are not England, we are Ireland.” And he insisted his team were very much in contention for qualification in Group C.

Keith Andrews, looking on from afar because of injury, on the urgent need to make the most of the result in Sweden with a winning performance against Austria tonight.

By Alan Smith

Ireland are set for another meeting with Spain — this time in the United States.

After Giovanni Trapattoni confirmed yesterday that injury had ruled Keith Andrews out of the squad for the World Cup games against Sweden and Austria, it has now emerged the midfielder faces a race against time to be fit for the June qualifier against the Faroe Islands.

The Republic of Ireland will face Georgia in a friendly in Dublin as they prepare for their World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands in June.

Giovanni Trapattoni has hinted that Anthony Pilkington could be called up to the Ireland squad for February’s friendly against Poland in Dublin.

Republic of Ireland striker Simon Cox has warned Germany not to expect a repeat of their World Cup demolition job when the sides meet again next year.

Republic of Ireland skipper John O’Shea has tipped young winger Robbie Brady to make the grade at Manchester United.