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

Greg Cunningham has known more than a few hard knocks in his career but learning to roll with the punches didn’t make a doubly unrewarding season with Cardiff City — one which saw the club relegated from the Premier League and appearances in short supply for the Galway full back — any less easy to take.

The call-up will be a boost for Connell after his club, Bolton Wanderers, went into administration following their relegation from the Championship.

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.

Glenn Whelan will be given the honour of leading Ireland out against Northern Ireland in the friendly at the Aviva in November.

It's back!

Very few of us paid attention when Greg Cunningham’s transfer from Preston to Cardiff City went through in June.

The fee has not been disclosed but is thought to be in the region of £4million.

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

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

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.

Darren Norris looks at how the Irish in England got on this weekend.

Sean Maguire, who scored an eye-catching solo goal on his debut for Preston in a friendly against Burnley on Wednesday night, has expressed delight that he was able to take up at Deepdale where he left off at Turner’s Cross.

Cork City will lose their leading scorer Sean Maguire at the end of July after it was confirmed this morning that the striker has agreed a deal to join Preston North End.

Olivier Giroud scrambled a late winner as Arsenal came from behind to survive an FA Cup scare with a 2-1 win at Championship Preston.

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.

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.

Having upped sticks from Malahide, the Irish squad will get a first taste of their new Dublin base when they step out on Pitch Number One at the National Training Centre in Abbotstown this morning, to begin preparations for the European Championship double-header away to Gibraltar in Faro on Friday and at home to Georgia in the Aviva Stadium on the following Monday.

How the Irish fared...

Robbie Brady looks set for a swift return to the Premier League after Steve Bruce yesterday confirmed that relegated Hull have accepted a bid from newly-promoted Norwich for the Republic of Ireland international.

Ireland U17 manager Tom Mohan, who has led the squad to next month’s European finals in Bulgaria, has defended the FAI’s pursuit of English-born players eligible for the Republic.

Jeff Hendrick made a compelling case to start Friday’s crucial Euro 2016 qualifier against Scotland by scoring two sublime goals to help Derby to a 5-0 win over Wolves on Saturday.

How the Irish fared

History has taught Republic of Ireland U21 boss Noel King to be cautious about forecasting big futures for his bright young things.

Richard Keogh has admitted his disappointment at his omission from the Republic of Ireland squad for the crucial World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Austria.

Two years to the day from ‘the miracle of Moscow’ Richard Dunne will complete another miraculous recovery by playing against Sweden in Friday’s World Cup qualifier at the Aviva Stadium.

Bristol City defender Greg Cunningham has been called into the Republic of Ireland squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Austria.

There was a painful inevitability about Arsenal and Chelsea releasing their last Irish players recently, continuing a trend which adversely reflects on this country’s reputation for producing talent capable of cutting it at the very top level.

Giovanni Trapattoni is backing his defenders to keep Zlatan Ibrahimovic at bay as the Republic of Ireland attempt to take a step towards World Cup qualification in Sweden.

Midfielder Glenn Whelan admits next month’s double-header against Sweden and Austria could make or break the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup qualifying campaign.

Rep of Ireland 2 Poland 0

Giovanni Trapattoni last night admitted he had overlooked Wes Hoolahan’s claims for an Irish jersey in the past but, in the next breath, appeared to play down the player’s chances of featuring in next month’s World Cup qualifier in Sweden.

It was smiles all round amongst the Irish players after they racked up a morale-boosting victory over Poland last night.

ASKED if Robbie Keane would come back into the team for the World Cup qualifiers in March, Giovanni Trapattoni yesterday gave one of his patented long rambling answers which left none of his audience any the wiser.

Derby striker Conor Sammon will be handed his senior Republic of Ireland debut against Poland tomorrow night.

Darron Gibson has turned down a late request to join the Irish squad for tomorrow’s match against Poland after David Meyler’s withdrawal with a knee injury left Giovanni Trapattoni short of midfield options.

Ahead of today’s concluding Uefa qualifier against Italy in Casarano, Ireland U21 boss Noel King has admitted he’s disappointed with some of the withdrawals from his squad.