At Vicarage Road, Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton were drawing 2-2 with Watford and had been reduced to 10 men. They made an immediate substitution, but did not sit back and try and defend their one point.

It was never in doubt. The punishing festive schedule gave managers the perfect excuse to pick weakened teams in the FA Cup, and that didn’t only apply to Premier League clubs.

Nobody in these parts needs telling just how much potential Adam Idah has. But Saturday’s hat-trick in Norwich City’s 4-2 win at Preston in the FA Cup was the first glimpse for a wider English audience of what an incredible prospect he is.

Norwich's injury crisis up front could leave the Corkman in the frame to start against Manchester United the following Saturday.

The schoolboys’ clubs responsible for nurturing exciting starlets like Troy Parrott and Aaron Connolly want the FAI to ditch the U13 National League after just one season.

Daniel Storey breaks down the big talking points of the Manchester Derby.

Stephen Kenny's side given boost as star names report for duty.

After missing two earlier chances, Zack Elbouzedi was relieved to be Ireland’s matchwinner in Armenia to keep their Euro U21 qualification journey on track.

Nathan Collins is confident that decimated Ireland can keep their U21 European Championship challenge on course in Armenia today.

Stephen Kenny has said that he is delighted for Troy Parrott that the 17-year-old Spurs player has received his first senior Ireland call-up even though it means the U21 manager will be without his star striker for next Thursday’s Euro 2021 qualifier away to Armenia.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has had an extra pep in his step recently. Manchester United had finally shaken some of their away-day blues.

Tonight’s Italian job for Ireland’s U21s will be boosted if Conor Masterson can repeat his shackling of Wolves striker Patrick Cutrone.

Following his dream debut in the Premier League on Saturday, Aaron Connolly will take his first steps as a senior Ireland international when he trains with the rest of Mick McCarthy’s squad in Abbotstown this afternoon.

“I’m feeling very well. Obviously I had a stay (in hospital) in Sweden and there is probably not a better health system you could have than in Sweden so it wasn’t the worse place to be not well in.

As Mick McCarthy heaped more praise on Stephen Kenny’s Ireland U21s, striker Adam Idah is adamant the squad are comfortable with the growing hype surrounding them.

Debut U21 call-ups for Troy Parrott, Michael Obafemi and Johnathan Afolabi have reinforced the sense of a rich vein of attacking talent bubbling up in Irish football, something further underlined in Stephen Kenny’s latest squad announcement by a decision to make a distinction on paper between ‘central midfielders’ and ‘attacking midfielder

Bournemouth midfielder Gavin Kilkenny and Danny McNamara, who is currently on loan at Newport County also recieved their first call-ups.

Ireland's most well-travelled professional footballer has made an early good impression with his new club.

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

Mick McCarthy recently admitted Troy Parrott is a ‘shoo-in’ for a call-up to the senior squad if he figures regularly for Spurs this season

Ireland Under-21 striker Adam Idah has signed a new deal at Norwich City, keeping him a the Premier League newcomers until 2023.

Six games into his reign as Ireland U21 manager and Stephen Kenny believes his side are gearing up well to reach a first-ever major tournament.

Stephen Kenny cited a gruelling schedule for Ireland U21s not pushing Brazil harder in yesterday’s Toulon Tournament semi-final.

Stephen Kenny insists his U21 heroes will relish their Toulon Tournament semi-final against Brazil.

Stephen Kenny saluted his Ireland U21 warriors for securing a draw against Mexico which puts them on the brink of reaching the Toulon Tournament semi-finals.

Stephen Kenny hailed his Ireland U21 side’s quickfire start in yesterday’s demolition of China.

There are newish fans who may not fully get the testing faith that is Tottenham Hotspur. But already they recognise the importance of fearing the worst on a daily basis. We must continue to answer the call though, says Enda McEvoy. Audere Est Facere.

It will be the first time since 2002 that Ireland have competed 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.

Manager Colin O’Brien is hoping for the green light from Spurs to allow Troy Parrott to join up with the Irish U17 squad ahead of the Euro Finals which kick off on Friday.

Republic of Ireland 3-0 Luxembourg

The parallels are striking. For Liechtenstein in Vaduz almost 23 years ago read Gibraltar in the Victoria Stadium on Saturday.

New Ireland U21 boss Stephen Kenny insists he’ll put a stylish stamp on his team when they start the Euro campaign against Luxembourg on Sunday.

The only doubt Stephen Kenny has about Troy Parrott’s readiness for U21 action relates to the player’s current injury problems.

Robbie Keane has officially announced his retirement from professional football.

Billy Connolly’s love of football, like a slick passing move from one penalty box to another, can be traced back through the length of his long career, writes Brendan O'Brien

U17 International Ireland 4 Turkey 1

Chaotic scenes marred Ireland’s elimination from the U17 European Championship at the quarter-final stage last night in Chesterfield, England.

Under-17 European Championship finals (Group C)

Ireland U17 striker Adam Idah will once again have his late grandfather Kevin Hayes foremost in his thoughts when they face Bosnia-Herzegovina in today’s pivotal European Championship finals fixture (1pm).

The tears keep on flowing as Wes Hoolahan pays an emotional goodbye to Norwich City.

Republic of Ireland 1 Azerbaijan 0: It took until the last second of the final minute in injury time but U21 defender Shaun Donnellan ensured the good times for Irish underage football continued last night.

Although there was no great surprise in news of his retirement, already the cavity in the Ireland team created by Wes Hoolahan’s absence is being sorely mourned.