A timeline of the most recent saga in Irish football.

He’ll be back on the stage he belongs tonight when Everton visit Oakwell in the Capital One Cup but whether Conor Hourihane can stay there while at Barnsley remains to be seen.

The Republic of Ireland U19 side suffered a heart-breaking loss to hosts Germany in their UEFA U19 Championships Elite Qualifying Round encounter in Sandhausen today.

Ireland U19s 6 Azerbaijan U19s 0

Paul Doolin has confirmed he’s penned a contract extension to manage Ireland U19s for the next two seasons.

Cork City FC’s climb back towards the summit of Irish football this season hasn’t gone unnoticed in Irish football circles.

Ireland U19 1 Serbia U19 3

Cork City were left to kick their heels straight back onto their team bus at Tallaght Stadium last night and head home after their EA Sports Cup quarter-final with Shamrock Rovers was postponed just 90 minutes before its scheduled kick-off.

Former Ireland international Kevin Kilbane is in advanced negotiations with the FAI about taking up a coaching role with the Ireland’s youth teams.

Republic of Ireland U19 manager Paul Doolin intends to use the two friendlies against Romania in Cork this week as a dry run for the elite phase of European Championship qualifying.

Making move from Ireland to a Premier League club only first step on long and often painful journey.

All adventures must come to an end, yet Eoghan O’Connell isn’t too downbeat about his Uefa Champions League ride fizzling out in Barcelona.

Ireland U21 manager Noel King may have delivered a glowing epitaph of Giovanni Trapattoni’s impact but his deputy, Harry McCue, yesterday laid bare the Italian’s disinterest in any tier beneath the senior fold.

Drogheda United boss Mick Cooke says he has had several approaches already following the shock announcement by the club last week that they would not be offering him a new contract for 2014.

Reality television is renowned for supplying bursts of fame but Mullingar native Connor Smith has bucked the trend by holding his own for Championship club Watford and the Ireland U21s.

Ireland U19 0 Slovenia U19 3

Drogheda United return to the European stage tonight for the first time since 2008 when they host Swedish giants Malmo in Tallaght Stadium (kick-off 7.45pm).

Republic of Ireland U19 2 Slovakia U19 2

Stephen Hunt admits he could leave English football behind as he mulls over an offer to join a German second division club.

Ireland U19 manager Paul Doolin wants Uefa chiefs in Serbia next week to protect his players from anything like the racism England were subjected to last October.

Gareth Bale may be prised away from White Hart Lane but Spurs have a new edition ready — and he hails from Waterford.

Ireland U19s 1 Czech Rep U19s 1

This afternoon’s U21 friendly against Holland at Tallaght Stadium (1pm) offers new beginnings for many Irish youngsters and Sean McGinty appreciates the chance presented to him by Noel King.

Republic of Ireland U19 boss Paul Doolin has expressed disappointment at the FAI’s failed bid to host an elite round game in the European Championship.

Irish bookmaker Paddy Power has today suspended the betting on Giovanni Trapattoni’s reign as Ireland manager ending before 2013 following a torrent of bets.

Luxembourg U19 2 Ireland U19 5

Republic of Ireland under-19 team manager Paul Doolin has been forced to make two changes to his squad for the UEFA U19 Championships qualifying tournament this week.

St Patrick’s Athletic 5 UCD 0

Derry City and Dundalk meet in the Airtricity Premier League at the Brandywell tonight (7.45pm), with both sides bound to be keeping an eye on their respective FAI Ford Cup semi-final dates on Sunday.

Raheem Sterling (Liverpool, 17)

Giovanni Trapattoni has been handed another defensive headache with the news that Sean St Ledger is a doubt for the friendly game away to Serbia on Wednesday week.

Ireland’s young guns experienced the cruel side of football against Portugal on Saturday but today’s duel with Ukraine (4pm) presents a chance to resurrect their U19 UEFA finals aspirations.

Republic of Ireland under-21 manager Noel King has announced his squad for the forthcoming internationals against Denmark and Italy.

Ireland U19 boss Paul Doolin admits he’s disappointed Connor Smith feels “too tired” to feature in the upcoming UEFA U19 elite qualifiers in Portugal.

Cork City duo Danny Morrissey and Jason Forde featured for Ireland’s U19s yesterday as they lost to Turkey in their final friendly before the UEFA elite stage qualifiers in May.

Ireland Under-19 manager Paul Doolin reckons Cork City’s Danny Morrissey can boost his international prospects in Turkey next week.

Ireland’s U18s suffered late heartache against Wales in last night’s friendly at Ferrycarrig Park in Wexford.

THE Football Association of Ireland’s High Performance Director, Wim Koevermans, believes the new U19 national league can help stem a talent drain from soccer to Gaelic football.

GREG CUNNINGHAM hopes tofinally get his year going tonight when Ireland’s U21s face Liechtenstein in their UEFA Championship qualifier in Eschen (6pm Irish time).

IRELAND U19 boss Paul Doolin admitted his charges were beaten 2-0 by a superior Bosnia and Herzegovina side in Plovdiv, Bulgaria on Saturday which leaves them needing to beat Russia tomorrow to clinch their place in the elite phase.

UEFA U19

AS Cork City prepare to host Derry City in the EA Sports Cup final at Turner’s Cross tomorrow, Ian Turner needs no reminding it was the Candystripes who also provided the opposition when he made his senior debut for the Leesiders at the start of last season.

IRELAND’S U19s last night forgot about Tuesday’s hammering by Serbia as they won the second game of this week’s double-header friendly in Belgrade.