Martin O’Neill is convinced that Aiden McGeady is still good enough to play in the Premier League.

You can really feel it now, can’t you? I’m talking about the emptiness, the absence, the yearning.

The sight of Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane standing shoulder to shoulder in the Irish dugout is no longer the preserve of fantasy football.

Robbie Keane doesn’t mince his words when he’s asked what qualities he would like to see in the next manager of Ireland.

FAI Chief Executive John Delaney met with headhunters Ray Houghton and Ruud Dokter in Dublin yesterday as the search for a successor to Giovanni Trapattoni kicks into high gear against the background of reports that the Association would ideally like to have the new man installed by November.

Martin O’ Neill believes the second coming of James McClean will triumph over second-season syndrome.

MICK MCCARTHY could hardly wipe the smile off his face.

FOR all the glamour of the occasion, firepower might be somewhat diluted at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow night, with Ireland sweating on the fitness of Kevin Doyle and Carlos Tevez set to sit out the game for Argentina.

The Special Criminal Court in Dublin was today shown a video of three masked men, including one carrying an AK 47 rifle, who told BBC journalists they were the Real IRA and ``capable of waging war against the British state’.

TWO of the most persistent complaints you hear about English football are that (a) it’s too predictable at the top and (b) the clubs are forced to play too many matches.

The treatment of footballer supporters in Europe is this weeks hot topic and our soccer correspondent Liam Mackey has got plenty to say about experiences of friendly local constabularies.

Aston Villa central defender Liam Ridgewell has dismissed speculation linking him with a loan move to Birmingham and has vowed to win back his first-team spot.

SHELBOURNE manager Pat Fenlon wouldn’t rush any decision on his future in football.

TERRY VENABLES has dampened wild speculation that he was about to be named the next manager of the Republic of Ireland - but hasn’t definitively ruled himself out of the running.

IT’S D-Day for Brian Kerr. This afternoon at a Dublin hotel, the ten-man FAI Board of Management will meet to review the performance of the out-of-contract Irish manager, and the expectation is that he will not be given the second chance he craves.

WHAT a week. First it was Cardiff and the FA Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester United and then, two days later, off to Istanbul for the Champions’ League decider between Liverpool and AC Milan.

Celtic could have the title wrapped up by Christmas, a victory over Dundee today would put them 14 points clear at the top of the table.