In 1977, when Henry Ford II, grandson of Henry Ford, visited the Cork factory, he must have felt like Santa Claus.

A man exposed his penis to a “shocked and upset” 19-year-old McDonald’s worker after ordering a double sausage breakfast meal from her.

Tears welling up in his eyes, Robbie Brady paused to reaffirm Ireland’s tendency of thriving in the face of adversity. It’s hardly surprising the trend has surged since his arrival on the scene given the personal history he’s endured in overcoming the odds.

A €6m pier at Doolin which will end an unacceptable boating practice that put lives at risk was officially opened yesterday.

The Republic of Ireland U19 side suffered a heart-breaking loss to hosts Germany in their UEFA U19 Championships Elite Qualifying Round encounter in Sandhausen today.

What summer signposts should we take from the opening rounds of the Allianz Hurling League? Very few.

Paul Doolin has confirmed he’s penned a contract extension to manage Ireland U19s for the next two seasons.

Ireland U19 1 Serbia U19 3

Republic of Ireland U19s 2 Romania U19s 2

Republic of Ireland U19 manager Paul Doolin intends to use the two friendlies against Romania in Cork this week as a dry run for the elite phase of European Championship qualifying.

Ireland U19 0 Slovenia U19 3

Republic of Ireland U19 2 Slovakia U19 2

Ireland U19 manager Paul Doolin wants Uefa chiefs in Serbia next week to protect his players from anything like the racism England were subjected to last October.

This afternoon’s U21 friendly against Holland at Tallaght Stadium (1pm) offers new beginnings for many Irish youngsters and Sean McGinty appreciates the chance presented to him by Noel King.

Republic of Ireland U19 boss Paul Doolin has expressed disappointment at the FAI’s failed bid to host an elite round game in the European Championship.

Ballyduff (Kerry) 2-13 Ballybrown (Limerick) 0-14 (Aet)

Two Kerry football clubs have hit out at the Munster Ladies Council for forcing at least eight players to play two games in a day.

Luxembourg U19 2 Ireland U19 5

While some Englishmen who declared for Ireland over the years may have openly admitted to having tenuous links to their ancestral home, there can be no questioning the agenda of Under-19 captain Tommie Hoban.

Dundalk scrambled a single goal FAI Ford Cup win over their Leinster Senior League opponents at Oriel Park last night.

Ireland U19 boss Paul Doolin admits he’s disappointed Connor Smith feels “too tired” to feature in the upcoming UEFA U19 elite qualifiers in Portugal.

Ireland Under-19 manager Paul Doolin reckons Cork City’s Danny Morrissey can boost his international prospects in Turkey next week.

UEFA U19

MANCHESTER UNITED winger Robbie Brady will be looking to put a disappointing few months at international level behind him tonight when he spearheads Ireland’s attack for the U21 friendly against Austria at the Showgrounds, Sligo (6pm).

AS IRELAND’S defeated U19 European Championship semi-finalists touched down in Ireland in the early hours of Sunday morning, captain John Egan backed the original decision of manager Paul Doolin to leave some big names out for the showpiece in Romania.

Ireland Under-19 0 Spain Under-19 5

COMMANDING centre-back Joe Shaughnessy insists there’s a lot more to Ireland’s game than the physical stereotype emanating from the Spain camp ahead of tonight’s European Championship semi-final.

IRELAND’S U19s will step up preparations for tomorrow’s European Championship semi-final against tournament favourites Spain (kick-off 6:45pm) after yesterday’s rest-day in Bucharest.

IRELAND Under-19 manager Paul Doolin believes there’s no reason why his side should fear Spain after they earned the point required last night from host nation Romania to set up a European Championship semi-final meeting with the aristocrats of World football on Friday.

MANAGER Paul Doolin and defender Matt Doherty are in agreement that a hostile home crowd in Berceni won’t derail Ireland’s prospects of beating Romania and booking a European Championship semi-final spot.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND U19 manager Paul Doolin is convinced victory in tomorrow’s last fixture in the pool will seal them a European Championship semi-final spot.

IT WASN’T just the blonde hair that had Derby County fans comparing Ireland’s U19 regular Jeff Hendrick to Robbie Savage last season.

Following their heroics in the 2-1 victory against Greece in their UEFA Championship finals opener last Wednesday, the Irish U19 team prepare to face Group A opponents, Czech Republic at the Mogosoaia Football Centre in Romania tomorrow at 5pm, Irish time.

IRELAND Under-19 manager Paul Doolin lavished praise on his young guns last night after they kicked off their European Championship finals campaign in Romania with a win.

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.

REPUBLIC of Ireland U19 head coach Paul Doolin has named an 18-man squad for the UEFA Championship finals which take place in Bucharest, Romania from July 20 to August 1.

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI isn’t the only manager of an Irish international team who has problems getting hold of his players.

Republic of Ireland U19 head coach Paul Doolin has named his 18-man squad for the upcoming UEFA Championship finals.

THE IRISH U19s avoided the big guns in yesterday’s UEFA finals draw when they were pitted against hosts Romania, Greece and Czech Republic for the showpiece to be contested from July 20-August 1.

AS the dust settled on his feat of qualifying Ireland for the first U19 European Championship finals in nine years, Ireland manager Paul Doolin will this week start mapping out preparations for the showpiece in Romania in July.

IRELAND U19 manager Paul Doolin lauded his squad last night after they beat Italy to reach the European Championship finals in July.

Republic of Ireland Under-19 coach Paul Doolin has named his squad for the upcoming UEFA Under-19 Championship elite stage qualifiers in Poland from May 24-29.