Having left his seat in Tallaght just before the winning strike, the Ireland manager says he had already seen enough of the midfielder’s performance to give him “plenty to think about” as he ponders his squad for the Euro 2020 play-off against Slovakia.

James McClean is hoping that intensive rehab work he is undertaking in Dubai will help speed up his recovery from a knee injury in time to make him available for Ireland’s Euro 2020 play-off game against Slovakia on March 26.

Jimmy was diagnosed with dementia in 2009, a condition his family believes was directly related to his football career.

James McClean has emerged as a major injury doubt for Ireland’s Euro play-off against Slovakia next month after sustaining a medial knee ligament injury.

It took an own goal from Ro-Shaun Williams to seal the tie, and a questionable VAR decision to rule out a Shrewsbury opener to make it happen.

Anthony Knockaert struck in the sixth minute to secure Fulham’s 1-0 home victory against Middlesbrough and move Scott Parker’s side up to third in the Sky Bet Championship.

Making 23 substitutions throughout an entertaining and at times tense O'Byrne Cup semi-final encounter, the Dessie Farrell era ultimately got off to a losing start for Dublin.

Mick McCarthy says that Adam Idah has put himself “right into our thoughts” with his sensational hat-trick for Norwich in their 4-2 FA Cup win at Preston.

Adam Idah’s brilliant hat-trick in Norwich’s 4-2 win at Preston may have grabbed the majority of the headlines but the Cork native wasn’t the only Irish player to shine in the FA Cup third round.

We all enjoy feasting on football over the festive period, but the congestion of the last fortnight has forced a dagger into the heart of the FA Cup third round.

How very West Ham. The club’s owners twice gave Manuel Pellegrini an ultimatum that he must win his next match to avoid the sack, and twice saw their side win.

Allegations of racism again marred the weekend’s football schedule, with Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger the victim during his side’s win at Tottenham.

Colin O’Brien’s Republic of Ireland U17 side maintain their perfect record as they rounded off the first phase of qualifying for the European Championship with victory over Israel at Turner’s Cross yesterday.

England and the Czech Republic both qualified for the Euro 2020 finals with wins over Montenegro and Kosovo respectively to take the top two spots in Group A.

Seamus Coleman will miss out as he serves a two-game suspension but will be invited to join up with the squad in Dublin for the final Euro 2020 qualifier.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 700th career goal as Portugal fell to a 2-1 defeat to Ukraine, who became the fifth team to qualify for Euro 2020.

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

Tom Cairney’s superb long-range strike capped Fulham’s 2-0 home victory over Wigan which ended a run of five games in all competitions without a win for Scott Parker’s side.

Leeds’ Achilles heel hurt them once more as the Sky Bet Championship leaders were held 1-1 at home by Derby.

A look at the Republic of Ireland's player performances against Bulgaria tonight.

Four players have withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland squad for Thursday's Euro 2020 qualifier against Switzerland due to fitness issues.

The song lyrics famously remind us that Spurs always win when the year ends in one but, as Mauricio Pochettino’s side face their north London derby rivals at the Emirates this weekend, Arsenal’s lucky nine could carry just as much weight.

He scored the first in 2-1 win away to Bristol Rovers in round 2 of the EFL Cup.

Mick McCarthy is considering delaying a decision on the make-up of his final squad for the Euro 2020 qualifier against Switzerland and the friendly against Bulgaria, amid concerns about the impact of injuries and the amount of game-time some of those in contention are getting with their clubs.

Mick McCarthy is considering delaying a decision on the make-up of his final squad for the upcoming Euro 2020 qualifier against Switzerland and the friendly against Bulgaria, amid concerns about the impact of injuries and the amount of game-time some of those in contention are getting with their clubs.

The striker, on loan from Arsenal, struck just four minutes after his introduction as a 77th-minute substitute.

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

QPR have called for action to be taken “at every level of our game” after the club’s under-18 side walked off the pitch during a friendly in Spain following alleged racist abuse by opposition players.

The draw was made after completion of 33 first-round fixtures last night and includes all the top-flight clubs who are not involved in European competitions.

Baby steps but significant ones. That was Mick McCarthy’s assessment after witnessing James McCarthy’s first appearance in a Crystal Palace shirt.

The squad for the Euro 2020 qualifier against Switzerland will be announced on Friday.

Liverpool return to Istanbul, scene of one of their greatest triumphs 14 years ago, for Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup clash with Chelsea.

As Fulham found out last season, spending is no guarantee of survival in the Premier League.

It’s fair to say that Arsenal have under promised and over delivered in the transfer window

In days gone by, a winger wasn’t a winger unless the soles of his boots were covered in white paint from spending so much time standing on the touchline; and that’s a tradition which might be making a return in 2019-20.

Stephen Kelly, who played under Roy Hodgson at Fulham, believes the former England manager is just the man to get the best out of James McCarthy at Crystal Palace and help the midfielder refloat his international career.

Republic of Ireland midfielder Harry Arter has joined Championship side Fulham on loan for the season.

Promotion favourites Fulham suffered a blast of Championship reality with a shock opening-weekend 1-0 loss at Barnsley.

Manchester United may have finished only sixth in the table last season but they comfortably retained their position as the leading developers of Premier League talent.

Liverpool have completed the signing of 16-year-old winger Harvey Elliott from Fulham.

Manchester United fans were involved in more football-related arrests where racism was an aggravating factor or a feature than any other club in England in the four seasons up to 2017-18, data from the UK Home Office shows.

As we know from experience, a conversation with James McClean can only rarely, if ever, confine itself to what he calls “the finer things” in the game.

Daniel Storey hands out the end of season awards.

Mick McCarthy has said that it’s a straightforward case of lack of game time at Everton which has cost James McCarthy his place in the Ireland squad.