The English Championship is to the Premier League what Puma is to adidas. Well regarded in its own right — at last count the third most-watched league in Europe — it will always exist in the shadow of its bigger brother, writes Brendan O'Brien.

From the cold shoulder in Ireland to the warm embrace of Nottingham, Martin O’Neill is surfing a wave of enthusiasm, expectation and, of course, nostalgia on his return to the City Ground.

The former Republic of Ireland boss helped Forest win the European Cup twice as a player.

At first glance the subtitle might seem a tad overblown: Dublin – The Chaos Years: How the Dubs Made A Mess of Things For So Long – and How They Turned It Around.

Avoiding compulsory military service has a long and honourable history — from cross-dressing Corporal Klinger in MASH to Donald Trump’s bone spurs — and the recent plight of Tottenham’s South Korean striker Son Heung-min showed that the art of draft-dodging remains highly relevant, writes Tommy Martin.

When Limerick trailed Cork by six points with almost as many minutes of normal time to go in the All-Ireland semi-final, John Kiely would have been forgiven if he started to think like most Limerick supporters undoubtedly and understandably were at the time.

The Anyone-But-England brigade will be up bright and early tomorrow, whistling a merry tune and flexing the brims of their Panama hats.

The Anyone-But-England brigade will be up bright and early tomorrow, whistling a merry tune and flexing the brims of their Panama hats.

Burnley’s impressive start to the campaign is this season’s ‘Cinderella’ story but the stereotype of the Lancashire club led by a gruff ‘old-school’ manager disguises the very effective method behind their rise.

Martin O’Neill is far from a one-trick pony but his team is, writes Brendan O’Brien.

Roy Keane has heaped high praise on Martin O’Neill, saying he has no hesitation about mentioning him in the same breath as managerial greats Alex Ferguson and Brian Clough.

If not always the football, then the results continue to flow in the World Cup qualifiers. writes Liam Mackey

JOSE Mourinho has found his new Didier Drogba. Even if Manchester United didn’t deserve this victory, on the balance of play, the dream now is that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has only just started his trophy collection at Old Trafford.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes winning trophies gets better with age after firing Manchester United to success in the EFL Cup final.

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has a chance of starting the EFL Cup final but Jose Mourinho insists sentiment will not play any part in his decision.

England and Wales. Two countries steeped in rugby history with a rivalry to match.

David Moyes has called for managers to be given time to implement their plans as he plots the way forward at Sunderland.

So Leicester lost away at newly promoted Hull, and this weekend we were the better side in a 0-0 draw with Arsenal. Had it not been for a couple of questionable penalty decisions that didn’t go Leicester’s way from referee Mark Clattenburg, most fans would have been delighted to have taken a point from the mighty Arsenal. So we only drew with Arsenal. Only!

Despite being billed by many as among the favourites to win Euro 2016, Belgium currently find themselves off the pace as the only team in Group E with no points and no goals following their 2-0 defeat to Italy.

We are the Boys in Green, the best you’ve ever seen

Kevin Keegan knows a bit about fairtytale endings except, that for him, there was to be no happy ever after when English football’s greatest tale of the unexpected — until Leicester City came along — reached its climax on a famous night in Madrid in 1980.

Cian Ó Cíobháin is originally from west Kerry, but has been living in Galway since his college days. This week, his electronic music show on Raidio na Gaeltachta, An Taobh Tuathail, is marking 17 years on air. It’s broadcast Monday to Friday at 10pm.

Ronan O’Gara looks forward to a European Cup semi-final weekend. At the home of Nottingham Forest and Brian Clough.

There are 12 weeks to go to the Irish Examiner Cork City Marathon.

We knew about the Nottingham Forest, Celtic, and Sunderland connection but, now, on Super Bowl weekend, comes confirmation that Roy Keane and Martin O’Neill have something else in common — a passion for gridiron.

In the publicity for the recent film and book I Believe in Miracles, the author Daniel Taylor regularly opted for a certain comparison to help people grasp the scale of Brian Clough’s magnificent achievement with Nottingham Forest in the late ‘70s.

Will his stint as assistant to Martin O’Neill be Roy Keane’s last job in management? Doubtful. Do I see myself going back into management? Yeah. And I think there will be a job out there for me.

The All-Ireland hurling race takes on a different tone when the previous season’s finalists come back to the circuit.

It’s off, in ways we wouldn’t have expected under a manager of Martin O’Neill’s standing.

Some of us felt this golden age of controvassy might have peaked the morning we learned Roy Hodgson had been found wanting on the tactical half-time comedy front, and had landed in the ‘race-hate mire’ for telling a joke about a monkey in space.

Former Sunderland player Danny Higginbotham has provided a unique insight into life under Roy Keane’s management.

Alex Ferguson has hailed the fantastic career of Dave Mackay as the tributes came in for the former Tottenham and Scotland midfielder, who died on Monday night aged 80.

Tributes have been paid to former Tottenham, Hearts and Scotland midfielder Dave Mackay, who has died aged 80.

Check out our guide to what to watch on TV tonight.

After all the months hearing about them, reading about them and buying them, finally, over the last few days, we’re guessing you got round to actually reading some sports books.