Mick McCarthy expects both James McClean and Enda Stevens to be available for Ireland’s Euro 2020 play-off game away to Slovakia.

Shamrock Rovers' early-season surge continued at The Showgrounds on Saturday night when they defeated an understrength Sligo Rovers 3-2.

Having left his seat in Tallaght just before the winning strike, the Ireland manager says he had already seen enough of the midfielder’s performance to give him “plenty to think about” as he ponders his squad for the Euro 2020 play-off against Slovakia.

Jordan Flores may have wrapped up goal of the season award.

It might be way too early to try to predict the ultimate destination of the 2020 title, but Shamrock Rovers certainly made a convincing statement of their intent in that direction with this best-of-five win in what was a thrilling game against reigning champions Dundalk.

NEWCASTLE in New South Wales is a coastal, coal city a few hours north of Sydney.

It was a dream debut for Rhys Marshall as he scored and assisted in the two goals that gave Shamrock Rovers an easy victory over 10-man Waterford FC in last night’s SSE Airtricity Premier Division clash at the RSC.

It was a night of undiluted misery for the visitors who suffered their worst-ever League defeat.

Aaron Greene scored a dramatic stoppage time winner to break 10-man Bohemians’ resolve to win the big Dublin derby in horrendous conditions at Dalymount Park.

Dundalk might not begin the defence of their league title until they play Derry City next week, but midfielder Jordan Flores insists he doesn’t regard tomorrow’s President’s Cup game against Shamrock Rovers at Oriel Park as a preliminary event.

Shamrock Rovers chairman Jonathan Roche says that he has been surprised by the level of opposition to a Hoops ‘B’ team participating in the First Division this season.

Amber Barrett doesn’t miss a beat when asked how realistic it really is for the Irish women’ team to think of taking a point or points off Germany in their quest to qualify for the 2021 European Championship finals.

Though a player of his quality will inevitably find himself repeatedly linked with a move back to England, Shamrock Rovers playmaker and Irish international Jack Byrne appears happy to be settling in for the long haul with the Hoops this season.

Ireland legend Packie Bonner has said that admits he would be open to working at making a comeback to the crisis-hit FAI again.

Vinny Perth has been crowned ‘Personality Of The Year’ at the annual SSE Airtricity/ Soccer Writers Association of Ireland banquet held in Dublin.

The longlist was revealed on RTÉ 2FM show Game On with the final shortlist to be announced on Radio 1's Sunday Sport.

In the clamour for football ‘content’ we are now flies on every wall, forever ‘behind the scenes’.

Well, yes, and here we go again… But before we get into ‘Dane-ja vu’ or even ‘Oh, Dane-ger here’ territory, a word of two about the headlines that got away on account of Troy Parrott being so inconsiderate towards us hacks as to refrain from crowning his senior debut, at the ridiculously tender age of 17, with the goal or two or even three which we were all demanding.

'He has not been that talkative (in camp this week) but he stood up and sung last night.'

Who was your man-of-the-match?

Ger McCarthy picks out the key lessons learned as the Republic of Ireland defeated New Zealand 3-1 in tonight's friendly.

The Ireland boss was speaking at the PFAI awards which saw Dundalk boss Vinner Perth and Shamrock Rovers man Jack Byrne pick up the manager and player of the year awards.

Spurs teenager Troy Parrott and Celtic's Lee O'Connor both make the move up from Stephen Kenny's U21 squad

John Fallon picks his League of Ireland team of the season.

They finished ahead of the Swipe Right team of Anthony Fildes and the trio of William Kellett, Max Hart and Jack Byrne, all nominees for the Young Racing Driver of the Year award

Alan Mannus: Not a save to make until the 38th minute as Rovers enjoyed the majority of the ball. But dealt ably with Gartland’s downward header to push it out for a corner. Saved well from Cleary in the shootout. 7

A match between two teams who have provided nine of the 11 players in the 2019 PFAI team of the year.

Seamus Coleman will miss out as he serves a two-game suspension but will be invited to join up with the squad in Dublin for the final Euro 2020 qualifier.

That result, coupled with Derry City's 4-0 win at home to Finn Harps means it's the Candystripes and not Pat's that secure the final Europa League spot.

Sean Gannon, Sean Hoare, Chris Shields, Patrick Hoban and Michael Duffy all make the cut.

Barring one adventurous run in which he cut inside a couple of Georgian defenders into their penalty box, Matt Doherty made little impact during the stalemate in Tbilisi.

A stunning strike from Greg Bolger condemned Finn Harps to a relegation play-off following a turgid game at Tallaght Stadium.

Damien Delaney's football journey has taken him from Cork to the Premier League and back to Cork again. And along the way, he's encountered remarkable characters and learned valuable lessons that shaped his professional career.

Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley wants the FAI to properly promote and market next month’s Cup final in the hope of filling the Aviva Stadium. Rovers face cup holders and league champions Dundalk on November 3 in the decider.

Blackburn Rovers defenders Darragh Lenihan and Greg Cunningham have been called up for the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2020 qualifiers this month.

Shamrock Rovers hunt for their first FAI Cup win in nine years remains alive as they sealed a first final in eight years with a 2-0 win over Bohemians in an ill-tempered derby at Dalymount Park.

Shamrock Rovers are through to the FAI Cup final after beating local rivals Bohemians.

Jack Byrne is in his Shamrock Rovers strip at the Aviva Stadium but there’ll be no football kicked here today.

A look at the Republic of Ireland's player performances against Bulgaria tonight.

John Egan will captain the Republic of Ireland for the first time tonight when Bulgaria visit the Aviva for an international friendly.

In a global football landscape increasingly studded with state-of-the-art academies, you don’t hear too much talk about street football anymore.

In a spirit of, as he put it,“nothing ventured, nothing gained”, Mick McCarthy has made the left-field decision to play Conor Hourihane atleft-back against Bulgaria at the Aviva Stadium tonight.

Shamrock Rovers have struck up a sponsorship agreement with the Clondalkin Towers Direct Provision Centre to bring residents to home games at Tallaght Stadium. Ciarán Kennedy boarded the bus with the newest fans of domestic football and got a taste of their restricted experience of Irish life.