Two Irishmen were on fire in the 'You Know The Drill' slot.

The Irish football year was book-ended and overshadowed by the tragic deaths of Derry City skipper Ryan McBride and the young Shelbourne striker Izzy Desu, writes Liam Mackey.

A former professional footballer is to be sentenced for a sex attack on a young woman as she slept in her bed.

New Limerick boss Neil McDonald wants his side to lay down a marker against defending Premier League champions Dundalk at the Markets Field tonight.

Eoghan O’Connell hopes he can catch the eye of Ireland boss Martin O’Neill after proving he can perform in front of a packed Aviva Stadium.

Footballer Ched Evans’s conviction for raping a 19-year-old woman has been referred to the Court of Appeal, the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has said.

Ireland U21 striker Conor Wilkinson is hoping to put the advice he’s received from Neil Lennon and Emile Heskey at Bolton Wanderers to use for his country tonight at the Waterford RSC (7.45pm).

Deadline Day Moves in Bold

The UK's Attorney General has ordered the Crown Prosecution Service to investigate whether criminal offences have been committed in relation to identifying the victim in the Ched Evans rape case.

The head of the footballers’ union apologised after he compared the Ched Evans controversy to the Hillsborough disaster.

Oldham’s deal to sign convicted rapist Ched Evans has collapsed, a senior Oldham source has confirmed.

Footballer Ched Evans has issued an apology following the events that led to his conviction for raping a woman in a hotel room but has maintained his claim that he is innocent of the offence.

One of Oldham’s sponsors has severed ties with the club ahead due to the “imminent signing” of convicted rapist Ched Evans.

Talks on convicted rapist Ched Evans signing for Oldham have concluded for the day without a decision being taken on his future.

Oldham manager Lee Johnson says it will be a “board decision” if the club opts to sign convicted rapist Ched Evans, as a sponsor threatens to abandon the club if it goes through.

Former Oldham midfielder Rick Holden does not see how convicted rapist Ched Evans “can survive” if he returns to football with his old club.

Angry protests are expected to grow today in a backlash over rapist Ched Evans’ return to football.

Rapist footballer Ched Evans could be about to return to the English game after holding talks with Oldham Athletic about joining the club, it is understood.

A League One club will hold a press conference on Monday in relation to the signing of convicted rapist Ched Evans, the Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive Gordon Taylor has revealed.

Oldham have denied they have offered convicted rapist Ched Evans the chance to train with the club.

Phil Jones admits Manchester United are still learning Louis van Gaal’s new system but the defender believes their 100% record in pre-season shows they are ready for the new Premier League campaign to start.

Six people remain in custody after being arrested in connection with a second investigation into football spot-fixing following allegations that a player rigged a Championship game for cash.

Ireland U21 manager Noel King may have delivered a glowing epitaph of Giovanni Trapattoni’s impact but his deputy, Harry McCue, yesterday laid bare the Italian’s disinterest in any tier beneath the senior fold.

I see a lot of ink, or air, or gigabytes, being expended on a new book by David Peace, Red or Dead, about Bill Shankly, who once managed Liverpool.

The Premier League without Alex Ferguson: it will be like looking out your window one day to savour a familiar view and discovering a whole mountain has disappeared.

Everton 3 Oldham Athletic 1

So, all’s well that ends well, then, right?

Notts County footballer Lee Hughes has been fined after admitting assaulting a woman at a hotel, Britain's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

A lot can happen in Fergie time.

BIRMINGHAM midfielder Wade Elliott stunned Wolves with a second half winner to earn Chris Hughton’s side a shock FA Cup third round replay win at Molineux last night.

YOUNG Liverpool right-back Jon Flanagan is understood to be on the verge of declaring for the Republic of Ireland.

FIVE months ago, Aidan White was at the crossroads of domestic and international football.

MANCHESTER UNITED avoided further humiliation after their derby drubbing as they breezed through last night’s Carling Cup fourth round clash at Aldershot, winning 3-0.

REPUBLIC of Ireland striker Simon Cox admits that Giovanni Trapattoni’s side will have to adapt quickly to the Luzhniki Stadium’s artificial surface tomorrow evening.

MANCHESTER United skipper Rio Ferdinand put himself in contention for a Premier League comeback against Everton on Saturday week (September 11) after ending his 89-day knee injury lay-off with an outing for the club’s reserves last night.

Rio Ferdinand will make his long-awaited comeback for Manchester United in a reserve team game against Oldham Athletic tonight.

Leeds United face an away tie against Oldham Athletic in the first round of the FA Cup.

England and Manchester City footballer Micah Richards was arrested over an alleged assault outside a nightclub.

THERE’S something about a double-act that fascinates in any walk of life.

JOHN SHERIDAN had few regrets during a distinguished playing career which included representing the Republic of Ireland at both the 1990 and 1994 World Cups.

Oldham boss John Sheridan admits he was disappointed to be drawn against Huddersfield and Latics legend Andy Ritchie in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

DAVID CARNEY’S career has been filled with more drama than an episode of Home and Away, but by scoring Sheffield United’s winner, the Australian winger justified his decision to pursue a career in the game after the massive disappointment of being released by Everton.

JOHN SHERIDAN is the new manager at Oldham Athletic.

Joe Royle’s Ipswich hope to take another step back to the premiership tonight - and fulfil Royle’s last remaining ambition in football. Simon Lewis reports.