Mick McCarthy insists that Seamus Coleman will retain his place in the Irish side — and the captaincy — regardless of his varying fortunes at Everton this season.

Drawing opposition as formidable as Legia Warsaw was hardly the dream date Cork City had in mind in the Champions League but, while John Caulfield is not hiding from the difficulty of the challenge thrown up by yesterday’s First Round draw in Nyon – “probably got the toughest that was there” was his initial reaction yesterday – the City manager is still hoping that his side can subject the three-in-a-row Polish champions to something of a “nightmare” in the first leg at home.

Tony Cascarino has become the latest former Ireland international to criticise Roy Keane’s actions as Ireland assistant boss – stating that the former Man United great was ‘anything but a professional’.

Forget VAR. Forget writing off Germans. Forget In-ger-land. Forget Fifa conspiracies and dodgy Bob Marley cover versions. The World Cup takes a back seat tonight as the League of Ireland springs back to life with a top-of-the-table clash at Oriel Park.

L'Ami Serge was ultimately impressive in beating Supasundae in the Betway Aintree Hurdle.

The optimist in “Sos” Dowling doesn’t need any invitation to draw parallels between the Leinster club title he led Moorefield to in 2006 and what he hopes will be their second crown tomorrow afternoon.

With Austria four points behind joint leaders Serbia and Ireland in Group D, the conventional wisdom has it that nothing less than a victory in Sunday’s game at the Aviva will be enough to resuscitate the visitors’ flagging World Cup qualifying hopes.

Another game and another night to remember for Cork City, but this time their swaggering winning margin masked the fact they also had to show spirit in coming from behind to beat a Shamrock Rovers who were reduced to 10 men with the score at 1-1.

As zombie series The Walking Dead wraps up for the season, Norman Reedus tells Ed Power how keeping it real has resulted in phenomenal success

The conventional picture of Irish wingers at the start of this season would have had Daryl Horgan on his way up passing Aiden McGeady on his way down.

Kevin O’Connor believes Cork City’s home form will be the X factor which can bring the league title to Leeside.

League of Ireland fans might justifiably be relishing the sight of Daryl Horgan hitting the ground running at Preston but Martin O’Neill is probably even more gratified by the resurgent impact one of the older wingers in town is having at Deepdale.

Daryl Horgan’s first start for Preston proved a memorable one, the former Dundalk star creating the second goal and nearly scoring a third as North End beat Chris Hughton’s Brighton 2-0 in Saturday’s Championship clash at Deepdale.

There isn’t a seat to be got at Deepdale for today’s FA Cup tie but Preston North End’s Cork native Alan Browne feels the middle of pitch is the best possible place for him against Arsenal’s galaxy of stars.

A year that featured the glorious high of scoring Ireland’s winner against Italy in Lille ended in frustrating fashion for Robbie Brady as the Dubliner was sent off in Norwich City’s 0-0 Championship draw at Brentford on Saturday.

Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny insists his side remain in a “good position” to qualify for the knock-out stages of the Europa League despite being left cursing their luck for the second time in a fortnight after losing out to Zenit St Petersburg in a snow-covered Petrovsky Stadium last night.

Dundalk’s trip to Russia received a welcome boost yesterday with Daryl Horgan and Andy Boyle included in Martin O’Neill’s provisional 35-man squad for next week’s World Cup qualifier against Austria.

As Stephen Kenny was delivering his post-match team talk in the dressing rooms of Oriel Park on Tuesday night, he turned and asked “Where’s Daryl?”.

The former Black Cat who became a Tractor Boy is now a Magpie.

Niall Quinn believes that Jeff Hendrick, the biggest Irish mover in the transfer window, has got what it takes to become the main man in the national team.

Daryl Murphy has set his sights on promotion after completing his move from Ipswich to Newcastle yesterday.

A group of elderly women travel to Amsterdam to try marijuana in A Granny’s Guide To The Modern World on Wednesday at 11pm on Channel 4.

FROM The Walking Dead to the Walking Dad? Norman Reedus was spotted on a beach last week, clutching a baby in his arms, while covered in oil and dusty handprints. He was naked and surrounded by dead sea creatures.

Annie Power may have been supplemented for the Stan James Champion Hurdle but Nicky Henderson still intends to run all five of his entrants in Tuesday’s feature race.

Triumph Hurdle winner Peace And Co appears to face a straightforward task as he attempts to get back to winning ways in today’s Betfred Racing “Follow Us On Twitter” Contenders Hurdle at Sandown.

It was near midnight on Sunday when Robbie Keane went silently into the record books.

“Thanks for your time,” someone says, as Roy Keane sits down to do his media briefing at Abbotstown.

Stephen Kenny hailed 2015 as “an epic season” for Dundalk after his back-to-back champions did the double by beating Cork City 1-0 in the FAI Cup final yesterday.

Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy intends to continue disappointing pursuers of his hitman, Daryl Murphy, unless they get realistic with their bids.

If it was all about form, then Daryl Murphy would walk straight into the Irish team for the crunch European Championship qualifier against Scotland.

Mouse Morris is increasingly confident First Lieutenant will give Nina Carberry a “great ride” in the Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.

Rockwell 22 Glenstal 3: Rockwell cruised into their fifth SEAT Munster Schools’ Senior Cup final in six years at Thomond Park yesterday.

Two men who tied up and robbed a woman carried out the raid after watching a video, a sentencing hearing has been told.

Manager Mick McCarthy has warned potential suitors a "bonkers offer" will be required if Daryl Murphy is to leave Ipswich.

Pineau De Re will not run over fences again before he defends his crown in the Crabbie’s Grand National next April.

Martin O’Neill and his men had long since dispersed from the Aviva Stadium on Sunday evening by the time Robbie Keane began his day’s work with LA Galaxy, who were hosting Philadelphia Union at the StubHub Center.

Kildare boss Jason Ryan has dismissed reports that experienced midfielder, Daryl Flynn has left the county panel.

The wife of angler Daryl Burke, 30, who drowned after a sudden storm capsized a boat on Lough Ree eight weeks ago, gave birth to the couple’s only daughter on Saturday.

Sam Twiston-Davies is to replace Daryl Jacob as stable jockey to champion trainer Paul Nicholls next season.

A body which was recovered from Lough Ree in County Westmeath yesterday has been formally identified as missing angler Daryl Burke.