Excuse me while I remove this bit of grit from my eye.

Packie Bonner fears that managing Celtic may have come a little too early in the career path of Roy Keane — but he believes if he was in the Corkman’s shoes, he’d take the job.

I suppose with all the hype in the media and the growing pressure on Giovanni Trapattoni since the European Championships last summer, it didn’t come as a huge surprise to anybody to see him relieved of his duties less than a day after the defeat to Austria in Vienna which effectively made it impossible for Ireland to qualify for the World Cup in Brazil next summer.

For 25 years, there has been a question that Ronnie Whelan has always meant to ask Tony Galvin.

Pascal McConnell was convinced his love affair with Croke Park had come to an end. Having lost his place as Tyrone’s first choice goalkeeper, ‘Packie’ was a permanent fixture on the bench.

Niall Morgan believes he owes his unlikely ascent to the Tyrone first team to opposing Allianz Football League final goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton.

Goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly has insisted the Republic of Ireland's preparations for Euro 2012 could hardly be more different to the campaigns in which he played a part.

STUTTGART, June 12, 1988. Ray Houghton’s goal. Packie Bonner defying Gary Lineker and everything else England could throw at him. The full-time scoreboard reading ‘England 0 Rep of Ireland 1. And, beneath it, the Green Army going positively bonkers.

With less than a week to go, we are still mired, rear wheels spinning, in nostalgia.

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI’S pay cut as Ireland manager is estimated to represent a reduction of some €100,000 in the Italian’s €1.8 million salary. And it has emerged that it took him just half a minute to agree the wage reduction.

THE worst-kept secret in Irish sport this week has been officially confirmed with the announcement from the FAI that Packie Bonner is to leave his position as Technical Director when his contract expires on December 31.

WINNING back-to-back Ulster titles was satisfying in its own right for Ryan ‘Ricey’ McMenamin and Tyrone last Sunday, but so too was the fact they have managed to avoid the back door.

IT’S 20 years today since Packie Bonner pulled off that memorable penalty save to deny Daniel Timofte, which proved paramount for Ireland’s cause in reaching the quarter-finals of the 1990 World Cup.

NOTWITHSTANDING the one about the risen Lord, it is perhaps the greatest story ever told.

ANYONE doubting the importance of Munster Senior Cup would be advised to talk to Conor Twomey and Mike Prendergast, the respective coaches of UCC and Young Munster who clash in today’s Musgrave Park decider (4pm).

ON the day of the draw for the World Cup play-off, a few of us found ourselves in the company of a brace of Irish football heroes of yesteryear.

BERNARD DUNNE may no longer be the WBA world super bantamweight champion but he is still Dublin’s favourite son and if he wanted reassurance, he got it at Dublin City Hall yesterday when he was given a standing ovation by representatives of more than 200 sporting organisations from around the city.

Legendary trainer Freddie Roach isn’t allowing a battle with Parkinson’s Disease curtail his development of a new era of boxing superstars. Simon Lewis spoke to him in Los Angeles.

YOU can already hear people humming the theme tune to The Odd Couple.

JACK CHARLTON is to manage a team one last time at Lansdowne Road, 11 years after his highly successful decade in charge of Ireland came to an end.

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.

IF Packie Bonner runs for Fianna Fáil in the European Elections, as is rumoured, it will be the political stroke of the year. And further proof that ‘location, location and location’ is as important in politics as it is in property.

Georgia 1 Ireland 2

AFTER Roy Keane’s decision to quit Ireland, it will come as no surprise if Brian Kerr invests major responsibility in the youthful but substantial frame of Keane’s Manchester United colleague John O’Shea as he embarks upon a mission to create a bright new era when they play Scotland at Hampden Park tonight (8 p.m ).

PACKIE Bonner was yesterday handed responsibility for continuing the development of the national coaching structure of the FAI when he was appointed technical director.

By Bill George

GOALKEEPER Shay Given is ready to come to the rescue for Ireland when next they take part in a penalty shoot-out — but as a goalscorer.

THE fans needed smelling salts and stiff drinks and fresh air and hugs for support. They shut their eyes tight, dropped their jaws wide, held their heads in agony and threw up their hands in delight.

By Liam Mackey, Seoul

Shay Given not only hopes to save spot-kicks if the Republic of Ireland’s game against Spain goes to penalties, he wants to take one as well.

Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy insisted the Roy Keane bombshell will not affect the rest of his squad’s preparation for the World Cup finals.

Roy Keane sensationally pulled out of the Ireland’s World Cup campaign last night - then changed his mind hours later.