These are difficult times for Mick McCarthy but Ipswich eased the pressure on their beleaguered manager by claiming a 2-1 Championship win at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

With Robbie Keane expected to retire from international football, Martin O’Neill’s need to unearth a striker who regularly finds the net grows ever more urgent.

It may prove too little, too late but David McGoldrick served a timely reminder to Martin O’Neill after scoring his first goal since August in Ipswich’s 3-2 championship win over MK Dons on Saturday.

Remember when Eoin Doyle was scoring for fun? 

In-form Stephen Gleeson returned to haunt MK Dons on Saturday, scoring the opening goal as Birmingham maintained their unbeaten start to the season to climb to seventh in the Championship.

Republic of Ireland international David McGoldrick came off the bench to score and send Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich top of the Championship last night.

The opening weekend of the Championship season was a pretty uneventful one for the Irish.

Jeff Hendrick should have been sent off for a “shocking challenge” before playing a central role in Derby’s last-gasp equaliser in their 1-1 draw against fellow playoff hopefuls Brentford on Saturday.

Daryl Murphy continued the season of his life on Saturday but there’s now a real danger his goals — 23 and counting — will count for little at the end of the campaign.

It was a case of no pain, no gain for Daryl Murphy this weekend as the Republic of Ireland striker broke his nose scoring Ipswich’s opening goal in their 2-1 Championship win at Fulham.

FA Cup Third Round

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.

25-year-old Dubliner and former Galway United winger Jay O’Shea had a weekend to remember as his second-half brace earned Chesterfield a 2-0 win at Burton Albion and promotion to League One.

All the comings and goings for every Premier League club.

Keith Fahey has promised there is more to come from him after announcing himself on the international stage as a match-winner.

Republic of Ireland Under-21 manager Don Givens today named an 18-man squad for next month’s double-header UEFA Under-21 European Championship qualifying matches away to Georgia and Armenia.

Republic of Ireland Under-21 1 Switzerland Under-21 1

Midfielder Jay O’Shea is convinced the Republic of Ireland's U21s can kickstart their European Championship qualifying campaign if they can find a killer touch in front of goal.

Republic of Ireland Under-21 manager Don Givens today named his squad for the two UEFA Under-21 European Championship qualifying matches to take place in October.

Republic of Ireland U-21 manager Don Givens today named an 18-man squad for next month’s European Championship qualifier in Tallinn against Estonia on September 9 (kick off: 3pm Irish time).

Galway United and Drogheda United go head-to-head in League of Ireland Premier Division clash at Terryland Park tonight (kick-off 7.45pm).

CHAMPIONS Bohemians can open an eight-point gap at the top of the League of Ireland Premier Division, if only for a day, if they can overcome a recently resurgent Drogheda United tonight.

COLIN HEALY last night signed a two-year deal with Roy Keane’s Ipswich Town and will be unveiled later this morning after moving to the Championship side for a reported €70,000 fee.

Galway United manager Ian Foster is without the suspended Jay O’Shea, Michael McGrath and Shane Guthrie for the visit of Dundalk to Terryland Park on Friday night, kick-off 7.45pm.

St Patrick’s Athletic 1 Galway United 2

Shamrock Rovers 1 Galway United 0

Finn Harps 0 Galway United 3

Galway United 1 Drogheda United 1

Galway United 3 Bray Wanderers 0

Galway United 2 St Patrick’s Athletic 1

Cork City 1 Galway 0

AS Don Givens pointed out afterwards, the scoreboard reads badly but even so, he will be wondering this morning how Ireland did not manage to eke out a point from an entertaining opening salvo in Group Two of the European Championship qualifying campaign.

Republic of Ireland Under-21 0 Turkey Under-21 3

DON GIVENS yesterday branded Eamon Dunphy a “clown” for the pundit’s charge that his period in charge of the Irish U-21s has been “disastrous and he should be shown the door”.

Republic of Ireland Under-21 manager Don Givens today named his starting XI for tomorrow’s European Championships qualifying match against Turkey, which will take place at Turner’s Cross (kick-off 7.45pm).

Rep of Ireland U-21 2 Spain U-21 1

Republic of Ireland Under-21s 2 Spain Under-21s 1

Eddie Nolan will captain the Republic of Ireland U21 side in his native Waterford tonight.

Galway United will be looking to stay top of the table as they welcome near neighbours Sligo Rovers to Terryland Park.

Bray Wanderers 2 Galway United 2

Republic of Ireland Under-21 manager Don Givens has announced an 18-man squad for this month’s matches against Spain and Turkey.