Paul Smyth made an instant impact on his Northern Ireland senior debut and then dismissed the notion he might have switched his allegiance to the Republic of Ireland.

Republic of Ireland footballer Darron Gibson is to appear in court next month after he was charged with drink-driving, UK police have said.

"For me, eligibility is not, and should not, be a political issue. Nor should it be a religious issue."

Martin O'Neill has expressed his surprise at Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill's claim that the Republic of Ireland are targeting Catholic players from across the border.

"Now we've lost him for eight weeks, 10 weeks possibly, and that's a big blow. It's a tough one," said manager Chris Coleman.

John Fallon looks back on Irish soccer’s 2017

Niall Quinn believes there is a way back for Darron Gibson at Sunderland, just so long as the player does his talking on the pitch rather than in a bar.

Sunderland have started an internal disciplinary process against Darron Gibson after footage emerged of the midfielder criticising team-mates in a bar.

Burnley finished the season with four Irish starters: one of the few highlights for Irish players in the Premier League this season, says John Fallon 

Ronald Koeman has accused Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill of mishandling James McCarthy after the Everton midfielder played all but nine minutes of last week’s victories over Georgia and Moldova.

With the post-Robbie Keane era now fully under way, much attention will be paid to the strikers in Martin O’Neill’s latest squad announcement today and, in particular, whether he sees fit to include Brentford’s Scott Hogan who is currently joint-top scorer in the Championship with six goals this season.

Robbie Keane has been included in Ireland’s squad of 23 for the European Championship finals despite a calf injury having ruled him out of the match against Belarus at Turner’s Cross.

Republic of Ireland 1 Belarus 2: It might have been 2-1 to Belarus on the scoreboard at full time but, of course, the really big result of the night still hung in the balance after the final whistle had blown at Turner’s Cross, as the 11th hour approached and, with it, the revelation of the Irish squad which will represent the country at the European Championship finals in France.

They started last night’s match in unison but as the friendly against the Netherlands progressed, it became evident Harry Arter and Stephen Quinn were battling against each other for a ticket to France.

Leicester celebrated the greatest day in their 132-year history in style as the newly-crowned Premier League champions comprehensively beat Everton before lifting the trophy.

Jon Walters capped a memorable weekend and a memorable year when, having scored for Stoke City in their 2-1 win at Watford on Saturday, he was last night named Ireland’s Player of 2015 at the annual FAI/3 International Awards.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez is determined to embrace the challenge the additional pressure the club’s new billionaire investor Farhad Moshiri will demand.

Martin O’Neill has firmly placed Damien Delaney’s international future in the player’s hands by suggesting he won’t rule the Corkman out of his Euro plans if “he’s an interest in playing” for Ireland.

It was a pretty uneventful weekend for the Irish on the pitch, but today could be a key day for a number of Boys in Green off it.

David Silva believes Manchester City have the resilience to overcome the absence of captain Vincent Kompany as they look to maintain their title challenge.

Casting an eye over those battling to be on the plane for the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2016 adventure...

Martin O’Neill believes Roy Keane is prime club manager material again after two years as his assistant, but the Republic of Ireland manager is also of the view that the Manchester United legend is in “no mad rush” to swap his national role for a day-to-day brief in the UK.

Martin O’Neill believes his team’s Euro qualification prevented a pre-Christmas gloom descending on the Irish public given the disappointment of the recent Rugby World Cup.

At the Irish team hotel in Castleknock yesterday, Roy Keane was asked how he was feeling on the morning after the night before.

Seamus Coleman last night reported for international duty despite his Everton manager Robert Martinez all but ruling the full-back out of Ireland’s Euro qualifier against Germany on Thursday.

Having seen his side take over 45 minutes to get going against Georgia, Martin O’Neill wants his team on the front foot for the visit of world champions Germany next month.

Given that Gibraltar have shipped 34 goals in six games and can’t even claim proper home advantage in these European Championship qualifiers, it’s fair to say that, balmy weather conditions apart, Ireland won’t exactly be walking into a footballing hothouse in the Estadio Algarve on Friday night.

Martin O’Neill has expressed concern about the psychological impact on Darron Gibson of the injury problems which have sidelined him for much of the last two years.

Republic of Ireland and Everton footballer Darron Gibson was yesterday given a 12-month community order and banned from driving for 20 months after he ploughed into three cyclists and drove off.

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez confirmed Darron Gibson has undergone a successful procedure on his groin injury but is set to remain on the sidelines for a further two weeks.

There is never any shortage of narratives when the Premier League season begins.