St Patrick’s Athletic 1 AS Jeunesse Esch 0

St Patrick’s Athletic 1 Sligo Rovers 1: Brendan Clarke kept St Patrick’s in the match at one end before Christy Fagan worked the oracle at the other once again to deprive Sligo Rovers of a first win of the season.

St Patrick’s Athletic 0 Dundalk 4

Drogheda United 1 Cork City 1: Cork City have the FAI Cup final to focus on now after their title challenge ended with a faltering 1-1 draw at United Park

Hot on the heels of Damien Duff joining Shamrock Rovers, comes news of another former Irish international winger arriving in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division, with confirmation Keith Treacy has signed for Drogheda United.

He may have been outshone by clubmate David McGoldrick in Ireland’s 4-1 friendly win over the USA last week but Daryl Murphy remains the star Irishman at Ipswich after his goal earned Mick McCarthy’s men a 2-2 draw at Bournemouth.

Burnley 0 West Ham 2

Cork City 0 Burnley 3

Burnley 0 Hull 1

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.

Shay Given will not add to his 125 caps after announcing his retirement from international football ahead of the Republic of Ireland's friendly with Serbia tomorrow.

Marco Tardelli has confirmed James McCarthy will start for Ireland in Belgrade tomorrow night but whether as part of a two-man or three-man central midfield remains to be seen.

The Republic of Ireland's fringe players have been challenged to prove they can cut it at international level.

Giovanni Trapattoni has expressed complete confidence Robbie Keane, Shay Given, Richard Dunne and Damien Duff will all be available for Ireland’s World Cup campaign, which kicks off in Kazakhstan next month.

At one point during yesterday’s squad announcement for the friendly against Serbia in August, Giovanni Trapattoni said of certain players’ situations “never say never”.

New campaign, same old Giovanni Trapattoni. And, as a result, the World Cup qualifiers will likely see the same old Ireland.

Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni today dispensed with the services of his old guard as he handed some of his younger players a chance to prove themselves.

KEITH TREACY has turned into a leaner, meaner firing machine since joining Burnley in the summer.

Birmingham 2 Burnley 1

REPUBLIC of Ireland winger Keith Treacy celebrated his Burnley debut by rescuing a point in the Clarets’ 2-2 draw against Watford at Turf Moor on Saturday.

The FAI has confirmed a final squad to face Croatia in the Three International friendly on August 10.

BLACKBURN’S Republic of Ireland international midfielder Keith Andrews is expected to join Ipswich Town on a season-long loan prior to the start of the Championship season on Saturday.

Preston have been forced to sell Republic of Ireland winger Keith Treacy to Burnley.

ON a night when Ireland won the Carling Nations Cup, Robbie Keane matched Bobby Charlton’s British and Ireland record of 49 international goals and Paul McShane seemed briefly possessed by the spirit of Lionel Messi, perhaps the best news out of this game for Giovanni Trapattoni is that Shay Given is fit and ready for Skopje.

Republic of Ireland 1 Scotland 0

Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane has warned players to commit fully to the nation’s cause or not play at all.

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni plans to make four changes to his side for tomorrow’s Carling Nations Cup match against Scotland.

IRELAND’S defensive crisis has deepened with the news that Sean St Ledger has lost his battle to be fit for the June 4 European Championship qualifier away to Macedonia.

AT the start last night, the talk was all about those who chose to stay away, from James McCarthy and Marc Wilson to the boycotting Northern Ireland fans to the many thousands of locals who found they had better things to be doing on a sunny evening in early summer than coming to the Aviva Stadium.

Republic of Ireland 5 Northern Ireland 0

LEST we forget, there’s a Carling Nations Cup game between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland at the Aviva Stadium tonight.

James McCarthy has set his sights on forcing his way into the next Republic of Ireland squad after announcing his arrival on the international stage.

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI has been rightly criticised for his poor communication skills but the Ireland manager’s words were music to James McCarthy’s ears after Tuesday’s friendly against Uruguay.

Republic of Ireland 2 Uruguay 3

Preston 2 Coventry 1

Skipper Robbie Keane and veteran defender Richard Dunne were this afternoon both included in the Republic of Ireland squad for the Euro 2012 qualifier against Macedonia and the friendly clash with Uruguay.

Birmingham midfielder Keith Fahey has been called into the Republic of Ireland squad for their Carling Nations Cup clash with Wales.

Leon Best’s exploits for Newcastle have won him a return to the Republic of Ireland squad.

Giovanni Trapattoni today announced a 29 man provisional squad who will take on Wales in the opening game of the Carling Nations Cup in Aviva stadium on February 8 (Kick off 7.45pm).

FOR the Ireland manager, the draw in the hand is always worth more than the win in the bush — until that is you end up with neither.

HE’S back, as bubbly as ever and determined to make up for lost time. But it looks as if Stephen Hunt will have to show some more patience before he gets to pull on the green shirt again.

FOR a moment there yesterday, it seemed that not only had Richard Dunne made a miraculous recovery from injury but the big defender had been reborn as a tricky winger.