Cork Alpine Hardy Plant Society will host Alan Street of Avon Bulbs to talk on “The Magical Mystery Tour: Why bulbs are so special; Which to choose and how to get the wow”.

Jermain Defoe’s hat-trick spared Sunderland’s blushes as they defeated Exeter 6-3 in a thrilling Capital One Cup clash last night.

After the rugby heroics on Saturday, Martin O’Neill last night admitted that his Irish team have "a lot to live up to" as they begin a week of preparations ahead of the meeting with Poland next Sunday.

Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter is the only newcomer in a provisional 34-man Irish squad for the Euro qualifier against Poland but Martin O’Neill has sprung something of a surprise by including injured Hull City winger Robbie Brady.

Even now in this country that he used to captain and manage with such pride, we still don’t or can’t give Mick McCarthy due credit.

Martin O'Neill has named a provisional 36-man squad for Ireland's upcoming games against Scotland and USA.

He may have netted twice but Daryl Murphy still cut a frustrated figure after Nottingham Forest struck late to deny Ipswich victory in yesterday’s Championship clash.

Injured midfielder James McCarthy will be monitored after being left out of the Republic of Ireland squad for the Euro 2016 qualifiers against Gibraltar and Germany because of injury.

While next month’s European Championship qualifiers against Gibraltar and Germany might be just three days apart, the gulf in standard between Ireland’s opponents is about as wide as it gets in international football, running all the way from unranked minnows to the champions of the world.

Republic of Ireland boss Martin O’Neill has named a provisional 37-man squad for next month’s Euro 2016 qualifiers against Gibraltar and Germany.

Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill's sweeping changes left his team a little "disjointed", he admitted after Friday's draw against the ten men of Costa Rica just outside Philadelphia.

Martin O’Neill has expressed his delight at Roy Keane’s decision to stay on with Ireland and, rather than surrender to another round of speculation, is determined to leave the subject of a possible role for his assistant at Aston Villa "on the back burner" until the completion of the team’s short American tour.

Paul Green believes there will be nothing friendly about the Republic of Ireland’s forthcoming games as players are fighting for their future.

Boss Martin O’Neill has named his final 29-man squad for the Republic of Ireland’s end-of-season friendlies, with James McCarthy among those from the provisional party to be left out.

Stephen Ireland could yet be added to the Republic of Ireland squad for their end-of-season friendlies.

Leonardo DiCaprio will star in 'The Revenant'.

Martin O’Neill believes Stephen Ireland is “warming” to the idea of an international return but the manager says he wants to sit down with the player to discuss his seven-year exile and his current intentions in more detail.

Kevin Doyle could be on his way out of Wolves before the 11pm transfer window deadline tonight, with Middlesbrough the favourites to land the Wexford man.

Melissa doesn't like Rihanna’s clothes they’re selling in River Island and Miwa thinks it's hard to make leggings work.

Monitoring players, scouting new ones, finalising his backroom team and looking into the possibility of a pre-World Cup friendly or two in the United States — all of this and more will be on Martin O’Neill’s agenda between now and Ireland’s next game, at home to Serbia, in March.

Paul Green

A stiffer test, a less stellar game, but at least a reassuring steadiness.

Poland 0 Republic of Ireland 0

Jon Walters has been handed the captain’s armband as Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill makes seven changes for the friendly clash with Poland in Poznan.

A 27-man squad Republic of Ireland has been named for the upcoming friendlies against Latvia and Poland.

Skipper Robbie Keane was missing as the Republic of Ireland attempted to upset the odds by denying Germany World Cup qualification in Cologne.

Everton boss Roberto Martinez is surprising pleased to see Darron Gibson return to the Republic of Ireland set-up.

Of all the missionaries seeking redemption in Cologne tomorrow night, Darron Gibson’s case jumps to the forefront.

Noel King will take charge of the Republic of Ireland team for the first time later today.

Jon Walters has been forced to withdraw from Ireland’s squad to face Germany and Kazakhstan after a negative assessment on a groin problem following his substitution in Stoke City’s 1-0 loss to Fulham on Saturday.

Newcastle keeper Rob Elliot has been called into the Republic of Ireland squad for the first time for the World Cup qualifiers against Germany and Kazakhstan.

Andy Reid, Darron Gibson and Anthony Stokes have been recalled to the Republic of Ireland squad in the wake of Giovanni Trapattoni’s departure.

Our columnist responds to Darron Gibson’s headline-grabbing interview this week before lifting the (toilet) lid himself on an odd prelude to Brighton’s game against QPR

You could sum it up quite simply, really: Darron Gibson wants to play for Ireland again but he couldn’t play for Trap.

Luke Varney’s first-half header past Paddy Kenny saw Leeds condemn Bolton to their fourth successive defeat in the Sky Bet Championship.

Yes, says

Austria 1 Republic of Ireland 0

Austria 1 Republic of Ireland 0

Given that the obituaries have already been written, the essential challenge facing Giovanni Trapattoni and the Ireland team here in Vienna this evening might properly be said to belong to the realms of the paranormal: to somehow prove that, in football at least, there can be life after death.

Anthony Pilkington will make his first start for the Republic of Ireland as coach Giovanni Trapattoni attempts to breathe new life into the World Cup qualifying campaign.

Glenn Whelan’s withdrawal from the Ireland squad with a hamstring injury means there will be at least one significant change in the team to face Austria in the potentially last-gasp World Cup qualifier in Vienna tomorrow night.

Wales 0 Republic of Ireland 0

Quinn is a name that’s synonymous with the last time Ireland played England at Wembley, Niall being the hero of the night in 1991 when his superbly taken goal ensured a share of the points in one of the most celebrated games of the Jack Charlton era.