‘We are not going to force people out of their homes,’ says Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy, whose plans to target ‘stranded assets’ may include tax write-offs or grant incentives, writes Political Correspondent Juno McEnroe

James McClean has been added to the Irish panel for next week’s game in the US against Mexico — at his own request.

Despite seeing ‘Red Dirt’ rejected by 14 publishers, EM Reapy stuck with the writing and it’s finally paid off, as her debut novel garners the plaudits. She talks to Sue Leonard.

“Thanks for your time,” someone says, as Roy Keane sits down to do his media briefing at Abbotstown.

TOM DUNNE is fizzing with energy. 

Seamus Coleman has admitted the Republic of Ireland must learn from their mistakes if they are to keep alive their hopes of making it to the Euro 2016 finals.

The hip thing to do in recent times at any mention of the romance of the FA Cup is to scoff, but is anyone else uplifted that for all the talk about a fitting Wembley send-off for Stevie G, the termination of that possibility has simultaneously opened up the prospect of a fairytale story for a Shay G?

For some reason, I was never overly fond of the word ‘mobility’. 

Daryl Murphy’s importance to the Ipswich cause was brought into sharp focus at the weekend.

Interstellar *****

We learned in July that Ireland would have to take on world champions in Group D of Euro 2016 qualifying.

Before Kerry faced Galway in Croke Park, their coach was scraped up, stretched out, then eased across the back seat of a car.

Steve McClaren hailed Jeff Hendrick as a player who has "everything" after the Republic of Ireland international struck a late winner to hand Derby a 1-0 victory over Rotherham on the opening day of the Championship season.

This time it won’t quite feel like walking on eggshells with Roy around.

Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy hopes new signing Jack Doherty will follow in the footsteps of another player he signed from Waterford United — Daryl Murphy.

Kilkenny 0-20 Tipperary 1-14

Newstalk has been rocked by the departure of the award-winning team behind the acclaimed Off the Ball sports show in a row over the programme’s start time.

The Yellow Birds

Heroic Championship displays aren’t all about getting off to a good start; often they’re about getting over a bad one

MARK MURPHY departs for America tomorrow, hoping his victory on the Golf Channel’s Big Break will provide him with the impetus to become Ireland’s latest golfing star.

EVERY now and then Irish sports journalists of a certain vintage get wistful.

He turned his back on a promising GAA career but tonight Billy Dennehy can become only the second Kerryman to win Irish soccer’s biggest prize. He spoke to Liam Mackey.

WHEN the advance word came through that Shay Given didn’t want to talk about Manchester City, I was reminded of comedian Ardal O’Hanlon’s dream of interviewing Neil Armstrong on a chat show – and never once mentioning the moon.

ROY KEANE has hit out at the Republic of Ireland’s international selection policy, claiming that some players get picked regardless of whether they are involved with their clubs, while others – including some of his Ipswich squad – are always overlooked.

In a six-part series appearing all this week, a number of our leading sportswriters reflect on their own favourite haunts and how they’ve changed over the years.

TOMMY GRIFFIN spends enough summer Sundays at the coalface of championship action that in his downtime he opts to steer away from Gaelic football.

Kerry will defend their All-Ireland football title without their last, and most experienced, line of defence. And for keeper Diarmuid Murphy, there’s no going back. He spoke to Tony Leen.

THIS was a whole lot better than Munster had managed a week previously in Glasgow, but they were still far from impressive in defeating Cardiff Blues in front of a half-full Thomond Park last evening.

CARLOW football could be celebrating on the double this week as two of its top players could be set for a return to the county squad next season.

ROY KEANE says that he hopes Ipswich Town’s visit to Turner’s Cross tomorrow will be a financial boost for embattled Cork City.

ROY KEANE reckons the media have whipped up a storm over Andy Reid’s omission from the Republic of Ireland side – because of Giovanni Trapattoni’s impressive start in charge.

SUNDERLAND manager Roy Keane has underlined the importance of leaders as he welcomes back captain Dean Whitehead for today’s game at Everton and admits he would also love to have Goodison skipper Phil Neville in his ranks.

ROY KEANE has baulked at suggestions of a united Ireland side after this week’s north-south Euro 2008 qualifying misery.

ROY KEANE says that he is relishing pitting his wits against other managers in the Premiership but expects that the rivalry in the top-flight will be more lethal than it was in the Championship.

ROY KEANE is calling on Irish strike duo David Connolly and Daryl Murphy to provide the firepower for a concerted Sunderland promotion push.

KERRY may need a Plan B or even Plan C to win Sunday’s All-Ireland final. B might be Brosnan.

Young Irelands 1-18 Tullaroan 1-9

IT could easily have been a miserable return to his roots for George O’Callaghan.