Four prospects for the World Cup qualifiers...

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.

It was a contrasting weekend for the two Irish managers dreaming of pitting their wits against the Premier League elite next season. 

Remember when Eoin Doyle was scoring for fun? 

Scarlets 25 Munster 22: Anthony Foley may find himself scratching his head over this one for some time to come after Munster gave up a 10-point lead to lose a game they did not trail in until the final second.

Paul McShane has often been the subject of senseless ridicule but the whole-hearted defender looks to have found the perfect place to showcase his talents in Reading.

It was a weekend of contrasting emotions for Joe Mason as his equaliser for Cardiff in the 2-1 Championship win over Charlton on Saturday was overshadowed by his part in a diving controversy.

Goals from Anthony Pilkington and Joe Mason broke Huddersfield’s resistance on Saturday and lifted Cardiff to second in the Championship.

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.

It was an eventful day for the Irish at The Den on Saturday as Derby continued to stumble towards a play-off spot after twice coming from two goals down to draw 3-3 at struggling Millwall. 

The murder trial of Graham Dwyer has been hearing more about the CCTV system at the apartment complex of his alleged victim Elaine O'Hara.

TODAY

What team do the Republic of Ireland want to be relegated?

Cardiff 3 Blackburn 0

Republic of Ireland U21 international Joe Mason was the matchwinner as Cardiff stretched their lead at the top of the Championship table to seven points yesterday.

Ian Holloway could hardly have wished for a better start to his new job as Crystal Palace boss as a Glenn Murray hat-trick helped the Eagles soar to the top of the npower Championship with a 5-0 thrashing of Ipswich.

Giovanni Trapattoni has been told that Joe Mason can be a wild card selection this summer.

Mikele Leigertwood scored in the 81st minute to send Reading back into the Barclays Premier League with a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the Madejski Stadium.

Barnsley 0 Cardiff 1

The Carling Cup may be derided in certain quarters but for Dirk Kuyt, a losing finalist in the World Cup and Champions League, his first winners’ medal with Liverpool is special.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish is confident that now his players have experienced that winning feeling they will want much more.

Cardiff’s Anthony Gerrard is devastated after missing the crucial penalty.

His judgement has been questioned over these past four months.

Cardiff 2 Liverpool 2 (after extra-time, Liverpool win 3-2 on penalties)

Liverpool’s Wales international Craig Bellamy has been left on the bench for the Carling Cup final against hometown club Cardiff at Wembley.

THE GOOD

Crystal Palace 1 Cardiff 0

West Brom 4 Cardiff 2

WEST HAM moved level with Southampton at the top of the npower Championship with a 1-0 win over Coventry yesterday.

MANCHESTER UNITED avoided further humiliation after their derby drubbing as they breezed through last night’s Carling Cup fourth round clash at Aldershot, winning 3-0.

Middlesbrough went second in the npower Championship after goals by Rhys Williams and Marvin Emnes guided them to a 2-0 win over Derby.

Republic of Ireland Under-21s boss Noel King admits his side’s European Championship qualifying campaign could be hit by injuries ahead of their Group Seven clash in Turkey tomorrow.

Republic of Ireland under-21 manager Noel King has been forced to make a couple of changes to his squad for the forthcoming UEFA Under-21 Championship Group 7 fixtures against Hungary and Turkey.

Wigan midfielder James McCarthy has been named in Republic of Ireland squad for the forthcoming UEFA U-21 Championships qualifiers against Hungary and Turkey after being excluded from the senior squad yesterday.

Republic of Ireland U-21 team manager Noel King has named his squad for a friendly international against Austria at The Showgrounds, Sligo on Tuesday, August 9 (kick off: 6pm).

Republic of Ireland Under-21s boss Noel King has drafted six new men into his squad for tomorrow’s friendly in Portugal after being hit by a rash of withdrawals.

Republic of Ireland U-21s boss Noel King has handed first call-ups to Coventry keeper Michael Quirke and Preston midfielder Adam Barton.

WIGAN midfielder James McCarthy has been named in Noel King’s 19-man squad U21 for their friendly international against Cyprus in Larnaca on February 9.

Republic of Ireland U21 head coach Noel King has this evening announced a 19-man squad for the upcoming U21 International friendly against Cyprus which will take place on Wednesday, February 9 at the GSZ Stadium in Larnaca (kick-off: 2.30pm, local time).

Turkey U21 1 Republic of Ireland U21 0

Two more Airtricity League players have been drafted into the Republic of Ireland Under-21 squad ahead of tomorrow’s UEFA European Championship qualifier against Turkey.

The Republic of Ireland Under-21s depart for Switzerland today, with four changes to the squad originally announced for the double-header UEFA European Championship qualifying matches against Switzerland and Turkey.