These are difficult times for Mick McCarthy but Ipswich eased the pressure on their beleaguered manager by claiming a 2-1 Championship win at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

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The ins and outs from all the Premier League clubs during the transfer window.

Everton have been given a major boost ahead of next week’s crucial Capital One Cup semi-final second leg at Manchester City with midfielder James McCarthy and defender Seamus Coleman likely to be fit.

Holders Arsenal must entertain Burnley in the fourth round of the FA Cup while Northampton’s reward if they can get past MK Dons in a third-round replay will be a visit from Chelsea.

Cristiano Ronaldo hit a second-half hat-trick as Real Madrid opened their Champions League campaign with a 4-0 victory over 10-man Shakhtar Donetsk in last night’s Group A showdown at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

Republic of Ireland international David McGoldrick came off the bench to score and send Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich top of the Championship last night.

The final day of the Championship brought contrasting emotions for the Irish as the title and the identity of the last two teams to reach the play-offs was decided.

It was an eventful day for the Irish at The Den on Saturday as Derby continued to stumble towards a play-off spot after twice coming from two goals down to draw 3-3 at struggling Millwall. 

Two of Brentford’s Irish players were in flying form on Saturday but their best efforts were not enough to earn the Bees three desperately-needed points.

Eoin Doyle has targeted an Ireland call-up after English football’s current top scorer finalised his €1 million move to Cardiff City last night.

Yeovil Town 0 Manchester United 2

A stunning finish from Ander Herrera helped Manchester United edge past a resolute Yeovil and into the FA Cup fourth round.

When lowly Yeovil Town seek to rekindle FA Cup romance tomorrow by plotting Manchester United’s downfall, their playmaker Sam Foley will have international ambitions with Ireland stored in his mind.

A Galway man has won €421,587.08 from Paddy Power bookmaker when all 20 selections on his €5 accumulator came in on Stephen’s Day.

Hull will have an opportunity to exact a measure of revenge for their FA Cup final defeat to Arsenal after drawing the holders in January’s FA Cup third round.

Hull will have an opportunity to exact a measure of revenge for their FA Cup final defeat by Arsenal after drawing the holders in January’s FA Cup third round.

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.

It wouldn’t have been surprising if Shane Duffy’s international debut after four tumultuous years under the microscope would have weighed heavily on the Derry youngster.

Martin O’Neill will seek a clear declaration of Stephen Ireland’s willingness to return to international duty before he considers recalling him to the Ireland squad.

Brighton grabbed a last-minute winner to beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 and snatch the last play-off spot on a dramatic final day in the Sky Bet Championship.

Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, son of Man United legend Peter, was the unlikely hero as he earned his team a Sky Bet Championship point against Yeovil.

Forward Steven Naismith believes Everton have no reason to fear Arsenal, as the Toffees have proved this season they are a match for the big teams.

Leeds’ owners are understood to be poised to open talks with another consortium as Italian businessman Massimo Cellino’s takeover bid floundered.

Italian businessman Massimo Cellino’s bid to take control of Leeds appears to be in danger after it emerged yesterday that his legal representatives had been escorted from the club’s Elland Road premises.

Brian McDermott revealed the Leeds team he had prepared on Friday for the match with Huddersfield was changed overnight following his apparent dismissal.

Juan Mata has been handed his first Manchester United start for their Barclays Premier League encounter with Cardiff – and Robin van Persie returned too as David Moyes’ men looked to kick-start their season.

Alan Hansen suggested this week that tonight’s Merseyside derby at Anfield is the biggest in the league in almost 30 years.

The Premier League big boys have all been kept apart as the draw for the fourth round of the FA Cup was made today.

Another potentially thrilling clash between Barclays Premier League leaders Arsenal and Tottenham is in the pipeline after the north London rivals were drawn against each other in the FA Cup third round.

League leaders Arsenal were handed a mouthwatering tie against north London rivals Tottenham in the third round of the FA Cup.

Fresh from his own brief tenancy in charge of the Ireland senior team, U21 boss Noel King delivered positive tidings yesterday when he met new manager Martin O’Neill for the first time.

Three points against Romania in today’s Uefa Championship U21 qualifier is the birthday present of choice for Ireland winger Sean Murray.

The summary of this summer's transfers after deadline day, club-by-club.

The latest club-by-club transfer guide of all the happenings in the transfer window.

A club-by-club transfer guide of the happenings on transfer day so far.

Aiden McGeady’s difficulty could turn out to be Anthony Pilkington’s opportunity, as the winger’s withdrawal from the Irish squad is sure to prompt some deep thinking by Giovanni Trapattoni ahead of next Friday’s World Cup clash with Sweden.

The worrying sight since the weekend of Jeff Hendrick “hobbling around on crutches” in the words of his manager Nigel Clough was followed yesterday by the expected confirmation from the FAI that the Derby County midfielder is now out of the Irish squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Austria.

Daniel Sturridge scored twice as Liverpool survived a major scare against Notts County at Anfield to book their place in the third round of the Capital One Cup, winning 4-2 after extra-time.

Giovanni Trapattoni believes his side’s goalless draw with Wales served as excellent preparation for next month’s crucial World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Austria.