Celtic were not at their best but still proved too good for Partick Thistle in a 1-0 Ladbrokes Premiership win at Firhill.

The last step is always the hardest. Just ask Chris Hughton. Two weeks ago he saw his Brighton side secure promotion to the Premier League after a 2-1 win over Wigan. 

Aiden McGeady maintained his recent fine form as Preston continued their play-off push with a 2-1 win over QPR in Saturday’s Championship clash at Deepdale.

With Robbie Keane expected to retire from international football, Martin O’Neill’s need to unearth a striker who regularly finds the net grows ever more urgent.

Olympic Council of Ireland president Pat Hickey was told by a legal adviser to put Transport and Sport Minister Shane Ross “in his place” on the eve of a crunch meeting in Rio on Sunday night.

It was a weekend of contrasting emotions for Joe Mason as his equaliser for Cardiff in the 2-1 Championship win over Charlton on Saturday was overshadowed by his part in a diving controversy.

Robbie Brady looks set for a swift return to the Premier League after Steve Bruce yesterday confirmed that relegated Hull have accepted a bid from newly-promoted Norwich for the Republic of Ireland international.

A weekend that started in celebration ultimately ended in frustration for Daryl Murphy.

How the Irish fared: It’s a football tradition. Club opts to dispose of player. The player finds new club. The old and the new meet and the player returns to haunt former employers.

Even now in this country that he used to captain and manage with such pride, we still don’t or can’t give Mick McCarthy due credit.

Martin O'Neill has named a provisional 36-man squad for Ireland's upcoming games against Scotland and USA.

Injured midfielder James McCarthy will be monitored after being left out of the Republic of Ireland squad for the Euro 2016 qualifiers against Gibraltar and Germany because of injury.

Republic of Ireland boss Martin O’Neill has named a provisional 37-man squad for next month’s Euro 2016 qualifiers against Gibraltar and Germany.

Shay Given has been recalled to the Republic of Ireland squad ahead of next week’s double-header against Oman and Georgia.

Republic of Ireland boss Martin O’Neill sprang no surprises when he named a provisional squad for his first competitive game.

Stephen Ward is back in the Premier League after he agreed a move to Burnley last night. Ward was out of favour at Wolves but now looks to revive his career at Turf Moor, signing for an undisclosed fee.

Conscious uncoupling has emerged as a recurring sub-plot of Ireland’s summer schedule, though happily of the strictly temporary kind.

John O'Shea has promised the Republic of Ireland will help to soothe Richard Keogh's play-off final heartache.

Teenage Manchester City goalkeeper Ian Lawlor has been drafted into the Republic of Ireland squad for their remaining summer friendlies.

Boss Martin O’Neill has named his final 29-man squad for the Republic of Ireland’s end-of-season friendlies, with James McCarthy among those from the provisional party to be left out.

Former Ireland manager Brian Kerr has expressed his surprise that the saga over the return, or otherwise, of Stephen Ireland has been allowed to drag on this far by Martin O’Neill.

Stephen Ireland could yet be added to the Republic of Ireland squad for their end-of-season friendlies.

Ireland caretaker manager Noel King has revealed he hoped to name Stephen Ireland in his first squad but, having established contact with the player, says he fully understands his reasons for postponing a return to international duty.

Andy Reid, Darron Gibson and Anthony Stokes have been recalled to the Republic of Ireland squad in the wake of Giovanni Trapattoni’s departure.

Former Ireland manager Brian Kerr believes Roy Keane has strong credentials to become Giovanni Trapattoni’s successor.

“They are enthusiasmus,” protested Giovanni Trapattoni before the start, falling back on his favourite word, one more time.

Austria 1 Republic of Ireland 0

Question one: "Thierry Henry is a…?"

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.

Derby 5 Brentford 0

Noel Hunt doesn’t expect a Republic of Ireland recall even if he has the season of his life at new club Leeds United.

Derby County manager Nigel Clough says Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni should only comment on the form of Conor Sammon and Jeff Hendrick and not discuss their club status.

Spain 2 Republic of Ireland 0

Two years ago, Ireland captain Robbie Keane didn’t have much faith in the future of Irish international football.

Seamus Coleman is relishing the next chapter of his career under recently appointed Everton manager Roberto Martinez.

John O’ Shea has withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland squad to face Spain in New York on Tuesday following the death of his uncle.

Wes Hoolahan may have played his way into a regular starting berth after masterminding the Republic of Ireland’s 3-0 World Cup qualifier victory over the Faroe Islands.

WORLD CUP QUALIFIER GROUP C:

Giovanni Trapattoni labelled Robbie Keane the best Irish player he has seen in 30 years after the striker’s hat-trick earned the Republic of Ireland a World Cup qualifying victory over the Faroe Islands.

Republic of Ireland 3 Faroe Islands 0

Captain Robbie Keane will be fit to lead the Republic of Ireland into friendly battle with England at Wembley.

He still gets blamed for Paris nearly as much as Thierry Henry, just because Roy Keane once said he should never have let that ball bounce in the penalty area.