Stephen McGuinness, secretary of the Players’ Football Association of Ireland (PFAI), is adamant that serious barriers have to be broken down to facilitate players coming out as gay.

The fleet of flashy sports cars and SUVs parked adjacent to the lush Carton House sports pitches give the impression Ireland’s Rugby elite are in camp at their training base.

Drogheda United defender Shane Grimes is said to be “distraught” after testing positive for a banned substance.