IT MIGHT, in reality, be the Airtricity League versus the Football Conference but any meeting of Ireland and England comes with added spice and tonight’s International Challenge Trophy game at the RSC in Waterford (7.30) is no exception.

WHAT a week of snarling, no-holds barred, edge of the seat, competitive drama – and, no, I’m not talking about the Irish senior side taking on Paul Doolin’s Irish U23s.

TO say that Greg Cunningham has been plucked from obscurity might be to misrepresent the case of a player who, after all, makes his home amongst the would-be galacticos of Manchester City.

DARRON GIBSON was the most high-profile casualty as a decimated version of Ireland’s developmental squad gathered for the first day of their training camp in Malahide yesterday.