Ireland U19 1 Serbia U19 3

Republic of Ireland U19s 2 Romania U19s 2

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.

Three years on from a fruitless effort to recruit Kevin Doyle for Tottenham, Harry Redknapp yesterday succeeded at the second attempt by bringing the Ireland striker to Queen’s Park Rangers on loan.

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 U19 0 Slovenia U19 3

Waterford United 1 Manchester United XI 2

Republic of Ireland U19 2 Slovakia U19 2

Ireland U19s 1 Czech Rep U19s 1

Luxembourg U19 2 Ireland U19 5

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.

TODAY attention turns towards next summer’s European Championships and Ireland’s first presence at a major tournament for ten years.