Four prospects for the World Cup qualifiers...

The world of football has grown used to Cristiano Ronaldo’s self-absorbed fits of pique but he appears to have met his match after making the mistake of criticising Iceland after the Euro 2016 minnows held out for a fairytale draw against his Portugal side in St Etienne.

No one likes a show-off. You either love them or hate them.

He’ll be back on the stage he belongs tonight when Everton visit Oakwell in the Capital One Cup but whether Conor Hourihane can stay there while at Barnsley remains to be seen.

Five years after being wound up in the high court, a reborn Cork City return to European football tonight as they welcome Iceland’s KR Reykjavik to Turner’s Cross for a Europa League first round qualifying tie that is sure to attract a bumper crowd to the Curragh Road venue (7.45pm).

When so many young players spend more effort chasing fortunes instead of footballs, it is refreshing to discover that Anthony O’Connor does exactly the opposite.

Corkman Conor Hourihane has admitted that life at Barnsley couldn’t have started any better after he was named League One’s player of the month for August.

The return of Jonathan Ross to Britain's Radio 2 six years after the Sachsgate scandal has been branded “a disgrace” by a fellow BBC DJ.

He could potentially be sacked by the time the transfer window closes if comments from the club’s global adviser are to be believed but Blackburn manager Steve Kean is on the lookout for a new striker and is looking for players close to these shores.

A goalkeeper in Britain jailed for killing two young boys in a car crash while drink-driving has been offered the chance to restart his career after he is released from prison.

The Carling Cup may be derided in certain quarters but for Dirk Kuyt, a losing finalist in the World Cup and Champions League, his first winners’ medal with Liverpool is special.

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.

IRELAND U21 boss Noel King has given one-time senior squad member Terry Dixon, 21, an international lifeline in tomorrow’s European Championship qualifier against Liechtenstein in Eschen.

CHELSEA midfielder Conor Clifford thought his Under-21 boss Noel King was joking with him yesterday when delivering the news of his senior call-up.

Crisis-torn Plymouth have gone into administration and will now step up their search for new owners.

WIGAN midfielder James McCarthy has been named in Noel King’s 19-man squad U21 for their friendly international against Cyprus in Larnaca on February 9.

OUR football correspondent LIAM MACKEY is back in top form and full of energy.

Two more Airtricity League players have been drafted into the Republic of Ireland Under-21 squad ahead of tomorrow’s UEFA European Championship qualifier against Turkey.

Everton have dismissed as “ludicrous” claims they did not want to keep departed midfielder Dan Gosling.

LAURENT KOSCIELNY needed no persuasion to join Arsenal and has set his sights on helping them reclaim the Barclays Premier League title.

Striker Terry Dixon has been named in the Republic of Ireland U21 squad to take on Armenia in the Tallaght Stadium on March 3.

Republic of Ireland Under-21 manager Don Givens today named his squad for the two UEFA Under-21 European Championship qualifying matches to take place in October.

Republic of Ireland U-21 manager Don Givens today named an 18-man squad for next month’s European Championship qualifier in Tallinn against Estonia on September 9 (kick off: 3pm Irish time).

DON GIVENS yesterday branded Eamon Dunphy a “clown” for the pundit’s charge that his period in charge of the Irish U-21s has been “disastrous and he should be shown the door”.

Eddie Nolan will captain the Republic of Ireland U21 side in his native Waterford tonight.

REPUBLIC of Ireland U-19 manager Sean McCaffrey has named an 18-man squad for next week’s friendlies against Slovakia in Bratislava — their final preparatory games before the UEFA Championship Elite phase qualifiers in June.

Republic of Ireland Under-21 manager Don Givens has announced an 18-man squad for this month’s matches against Spain and Turkey.

NEWLY-CROWNED Republic of Ireland U21 player of the year, Owen Garvan, is hoping he can replicate his club form for Don Givens in his last year at this level with the qualifying campaign for the 2011 European Championship approaching fast.

STEVEN Thompson struck twice as Burnley wrote another glorious cup chapter by dumping West Brom out of the FA Cup to book a fifth-round trip to Cardiff or Arsenal.

Ipswich Town boss Jim Magilton said today that he had come “very close” to leaving midfielder David Norris out of the squad for Saturday’s trip to Doncaster after Norris gestured his support to a jailed friend while celebrating a goal.

An under-fire championship soccer player today changed his explanation of the meaning of a controversial goal celebration.

IRELAND boss Stephen Staunton has been checking out Plymouth Argyle midfielder David Norris who could be set for an international call-up this month.

PLYMOUTH have released Nigerian central defender Taribo West.

A footballer arrested two months ago on suspicion of raping a 20-year-old woman will not face charges, it was confirmed today.

GrimsBy Ross Heppenstall

Former Republic of Ireland international Dave Worrell is being tracked by Cork City, Shelbourne, Longford Town, Drogheda United and Bohemians.

THE FAMILY is still back home in Cork - though he spends six days a week in Dublin - and there are those who contend his heart still lies in Munster.

CELTIC manager Martin O’Neill has hailed the courage and determination of his players following their European failure.

NON-LEAGUE Exeter were yesterday handed a glamorous trip to Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup.

Graeme Le Saux’s season could be over and his future at Southampton plunged into doubt as new manager Paul Sturrock starts to redesign his squad for next term.

Brentford are top of Division Two after today's Nationwide League matches while Rushden & Diamonds top Division Three.

Watford have trounced Coventry City 5-2 in their Division One clash today.