Nurtured in him by his parents, religion has always been part of the right-back’s life.

Forty-five years after making my Ireland debut, 55 years after watching my country play for the first time, I’m struggling to think of a week when we produced back-to-back performances as poor as these.

It became a recurrent theme, on John Delaney visits to 2,000 clubs during his 14 years as FAI chief executive, to conclude by reciting the salutary advice of his mother Joan about always bringing something for his hosts.

There were times when this would have felt just like old times for Glenn Whelan. And everyone watching.

Ireland's most well-travelled professional footballer has made an early good impression with his new club.

They were known as the superb six, a cohort ready-made to complement Ireland’s golden generation of Robbie Keane and Damien Duff, but the tribulations of those bright young things should temper the hype attaching to the latest sextet.

He has previously played for clubs in Scotland, England, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Poland, and New Zealand.

At the half-way point in Euro 2020 qualifying, the good news for Ireland is that they sit atop the group table with a healthy haul of ten points from four games.

Mick McCarthy couldn't work it out.

As the majority of the Irish squad for next month’s Euro 2020 qualifiers begin work at their training camp in Portugal today, Mick McCarthy says he has no fears that the 17-day-long run-up to the game against Denmark on June 7 will see any of his players fall victim to cabin fever.

His 30 Ireland caps already a distant memory, Simon Cox takes a break from Southend United's relegation scrap, talking to David Sneyd as he recalls what feels like someone else's life.

Former Cork City player Derek Coughlan argues that the rebirth of the League of Ireland has to be a priority for a reformed FAI.

From Saipan to the sports committee, Joe Leogue looks at the former CEO’s career in the FAI

It’s the second coming of Mick McCarthy and upon this Rock he will build his church.

“Behave yourself. Keep your head down. Stay out of his way.”

Who is the best fit for the role?

Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane have parted company with the FAI by mutual agreement.

He will become full-time Player Identification Manager for the FAI.

Whatever this was, friendly or competitive fare, it was carnage. And who’s to say it will get any better?

Mickey Harte has always sweated the small stuff.

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

It was entirely in keeping with John O’Shea’s self-effacing character and career-long commitment to the concept of the ‘team player’, that the elegant defender’s farewell address to the Irish supporters seemed to be about everyone but himself, writes Liam Mackey.

Two Irishmen were on fire in the 'You Know The Drill' slot.

As the domestic game’s big two go head to head again tonight, former Cork City player Neal Horgan argues for greater recognition of the League of Ireland at international level.

The former Chelsea midfielder and Ireland call-up's ban ended this month.

Although there was no great surprise in news of his retirement, already the cavity in the Ireland team created by Wes Hoolahan’s absence is being sorely mourned.

With Martin O’Neill’s position as Ireland manager moving closer to the brink than it’s ever been before over the last 48 hours, the question of who might succeed him — whether that’s sooner or later — has gained fresh momentum.

A couple of months after Martin O’Neill took a sabbatical from football management to help look after his then ill wife Geraldine, this writer interviewed someone who had played minor inter-county Gaelic football with one of O’Neill’s great foot soldiers at Parkhead, Neil Lennon.

Are our hearts truly in these inquests any more, asks Larry Ryan.

Martin O’Neill is far from a one-trick pony but his team is, writes Brendan O’Brien.

This is Ireland’s ninth time to be involved in a play-off for the right to participate at a major tournament.

Robbie Brady is often a man of few words in the public arena, but sometimes less is more.

Shay Given is Ireland’s all-time longest serving player, having played from 1996 to 2016, as he amassed 134 caps. His last competitive game saw him carried off injured in the famous 1-0 win over Germany. Now 41, he’s a free agent.

Denmark stand between the Republic of Ireland and their dreams of a trip to the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia.

He’s taken a lead role in developing a cultural shift for Irish football but Damien Duff won’t complain should Martin O’Neill’s old-fashioned approach propel the country to a first World Cup since 2002.

Martin O’Neill probably had the best quote on the size of Ireland’s play-off challenge before he even learned the identity of his team’s opponents in Zurich yesterday.

John Fallon breaks down the strengths and weaknesses of Ireland’s potential opponents...

Job done, for now, Martin O’Neill’s Republic of Ireland players turn their attention back to domestic matters for the next four weeks, all too aware of the need to impress with their clubs before the World Cup play-offs swing around.

Where were you on the evening of November 18, 2014?

Martin O'Neill has agreed a contract extension and will continue as the Republic of Ireland manager for the EURO 2020 campaign

John Giles discussed Ireland’s World Cup rescue mission with John Fallon

When Martin O’Neill named three uncapped strikers in his latest squad at a press conference in Dublin on Tuesday, almost lost in the discussion about Ireland’s need to locate a cutting edge was the manager’s low key reference to Kevin Doyle “suffering a bit from concussion”.

Any honest assessment of Martin O’Neill’s stewardship of the Irish team has to begin with the acknowledgement that he has not been dealt a great hand in terms of the quality of the players at his disposal, writes Liam Brady.