Ireland are top of the group with two games to play - starting with a tough tie in Switzerland on Tuesday.

It didn’t take long at Mick McCarthy’s pre-match press conference for the visitors present to learn that Aaron Connolly’s fever had already reached Tbilisi.

Mick McCarthy has an acid tongue that is also capable of delivering lines as smooth as velvet.

Former Aston Villa defender Derrick Williams has come out in support of disgraced youth boss Kevin MacDonald after the veteran coach was sacked by the club in August following an investigation into claims of bullying that stretched back over 25 years.

Following his dream debut in the Premier League on Saturday, Aaron Connolly will take his first steps as a senior Ireland international when he trains with the rest of Mick McCarthy’s squad in Abbotstown this afternoon.

Mick McCarthy has named his Ireland squad for the forthcoming European Championship qualifier against Switzerland and the friendly with Bulgaria.

So that’s Friday nearly wrapped up. Here’s some of the stories we published on irishexaminer.com today which we hope will help you make sense of it all this evening.

Ireland's Derrick Williams has spoken out about being on the end of online racist abuse from one of his club's own supporters.

Also included is Aston Villa's Glenn Whelan, who was expected to have played his last game for Ireland after captaining the side in a 36-minute ceremonial cameo against Northern Ireland in November.

Here are all the latest headlines this lunchtime...

Midfielder Glenn Whelan will lead Ireland out as captain against Northern Ireland for what will be his 85th senior appearance. The Aston Villa man will not be part of the squad for the Denmark game.

Martin O’Neill needs firepower up top — and quick, writes John Fallon.

France 2 Rep Ireland 0

Séamus Coleman and Martin O’Neill have called on Ireland’s new breed to lay down a marker against France tonight.

Celtic 2 Republic of Ireland XI 2: This was always going to be a day when the Brown name dominated Celtic Park yet a midfielder with a similarly sounding surname put his stamp on the occasion too.

Shane Duffy was named the FAI Senior Player of the Year for 2017 last night but the big Brighton defender was unable to collect his award in person as the weather took its toll on the annual televised ceremony in RTÉ, with the programme having to be shortened from a scheduled running time of 90 minutes to one hour.

In calling up Declan Rice to his squad for this month’s training camp and friendly in Turkey, Martin O’Neill has stressed that the highly-rated young West Ham defender, who is still eligible to play senior football for both Ireland and England, will not come under any pressure to decide his international future.

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.

First impressions count and it didn’t take Joe Mason long to make his mark on his Burton Albion debut.

It may still be very early days but the Championship table will make very pleasant reading for Chris Hughton this morning. 

Bristol City 0 West Ham 1: FA Cup Fourth Round: Sam Allardyce had warned his players about being another Premier League "victim" as Diafra Sakho’s late goal was enough to secure West Ham a 1-0 victory at Bristol City.

It’s safe to say Darragh MacAnthony has had better weekends.

Goals from Daryl Murphy and Jay Tabb gave Mick McCarthy an early Christmas present on Saturday as a 2-0 win over fellow promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough lifted Ipswich to second in the Championship.

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.

Far away from Cardiff City Stadium tonight, there’s serious business to attend to in the Faroe Islands for Ireland U21s as they start a campaign which manager Noel King hopes culminates at the 2015 European Championships in the Czech Republic.

Republic of Ireland U21 coach Noel King has named his squad for the UEFA Championships qualifier against the Faroe Islands in Toftir on August 14.

Richard Dunne, Eric Lichaj, Andy Marshall, Jean Makoun and Simon Dawkins have been released by Aston Villa, the club have confirmed.

Republic of Ireland Under-21s boss Noel King will test the depth of his squad in tonight’s friendly against Portugal.

Republic of Ireland U21 head coach Noel King has named his squad for a friendly international against Portugal at Tallaght Stadium on Monday, March 25 (7.30pm).

Ireland U21 3 Holland U21 0

Ireland U-21 3 Netherlands U-21 0

Derrick Williams is hoping for further international recognition after fulfilling his dream of playing Barclays Premier League football.

Ireland’s heroic U21 squad were yesterday swapping the euphoria of toppling Italy with a plan to break into the senior squad.

Italy Under-21s 2 Republic of Ireland Under-21s 4

Italy Under-21s 2 Republic of Ireland Under-21s 4

Republic of Ireland U21 team manager Noel King has added Aston Villa’s Derrick Williams to his squad for the forthcoming UEFA Championships qualifiers against Hungary and Italy.

GREG CUNNINGHAM hopes tofinally get his year going tonight when Ireland’s U21s face Liechtenstein in their UEFA Championship qualifier in Eschen (6pm Irish time).

Spain 5-0 Republic of Ireland

Paul Doolin’s Irish U-19s will need a positive result from Tuesday’s concluding Group A game against hosts Romania in the European Championships after they allowed Czech Republic come from behind to inflict the first defeat in nine on Paul Doolin’s side.

HE’S packed a lot into his young career, including rejecting Manchester United and training with Aston Villa’s first team, but Waterford teenager Derrick Williams admits tonight’s test will be one of his toughest.