Two more days until the dawn of a new era for the Republic of Ireland senior men’s team and, with Mick McCarthy’s hand back on the tiller, there has been an inevitable focus on the contrast between his current rank and file and those under his command when he first roamed international waters with the Boys in Green.

Fraser Robertson covered Ireland games regularly during Mick McCarthy's first stint in charge of the national team.

The parallels are striking. For Liechtenstein in Vaduz almost 23 years ago read Gibraltar in the Victoria Stadium on Saturday.

Gaizka Mendieta might have been the man who ended the World Cup dream of Ireland and Robbie Keane in 2002 but these days he has nothing but sympathy for the country’s thankless task in trying to locate a successor to our now retired record goalscorer.

Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane have parted company with the FAI by mutual agreement.

Very few of us paid attention when Greg Cunningham’s transfer from Preston to Cardiff City went through in June.

Damien Duff is clearly sick of Saipan.

It was entirely in keeping with John O’Shea’s self-effacing character and career-long commitment to the concept of the ‘team player’, that the elegant defender’s farewell address to the Irish supporters seemed to be about everyone but himself, writes Liam Mackey.

Cork was a big winner at last night’s Bord Gáis Energy Book Awards, as the critically acclaimed history tome Atlas of the Irish Revolution picked up the Best Irish Published Book of the Year.

This is Ireland’s ninth time to be involved in a play-off for the right to participate at a major tournament.

Shay Given is Ireland’s all-time longest serving player, having played from 1996 to 2016, as he amassed 134 caps. His last competitive game saw him carried off injured in the famous 1-0 win over Germany. Now 41, he’s a free agent.

Former Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy has revealed that the memory of guiding the country to the World Cup finals still burns as brightly as the fires that illuminated the night sky in Tehran following their triumph in Iran.

‘To the left, to the right, he’s our midfield dynamite,’ goes the song Spurs fans sing about Christian Eriksen.

David Walliams will also recive the ‘Bord Gáis Energy International Recognition Award on the night.

He’s been described as many things during this changeable World Cup campaign but ‘Mystical Martin O’Neill’ could be one label Ireland’s manager is content with as he predicted this strange predicament facing his team in next month’s concluding qualifiers.

Shay Given is considering approaches from Premier League and Championship clubs as well as from as far away as India, as he looks to extend his long goalkeeping career for at least one more season.

Niall Quinn believes there is a way back for Darron Gibson at Sunderland, just so long as the player does his talking on the pitch rather than in a bar.

Former Premier League stars Shay Given, Alex Bruce and Wes Brown are training with Vanarama National League side Macclesfield.

Seamus Coleman has not set himself any targets for a possible return following the injury that looks likely to keep him out for the remainder of the Republic of Ireland’s qualifiers for next year’s World Cup in Russia.

Packie Bonner has no concerns about Darren Randolph retaining the goalkeeper’s jersey for Ireland despite recently losing his place at West Ham.

Jeff Hendrick’s journey from fringe squad member to cog in the Irish midfield was all but completed at last summer’s European Championships in France but the Burnley player couldn’t help but baulk yesterday at the suggestion that he is some sort of ‘senior’ pro now.

Stoke have completed the permanent signing of Derby goalkeeper Lee Grant for £1.3million following his impressive loan spell at the Premier League club.

Far from being out of World Cup contention by Christmas, as Martin O’Neill feared in the aftermath of the Euros, Ireland find themselves blazing a trail at the summit of Group D after four games.

Darren Randolph has revealed that he would be reluctant to seek a transfer away from West Ham United should his lack of first-team action at the Premier League club threaten his spot as Ireland’s first-choice goalkeeper.

Martin O’Neill yesterday acclaimed the role Ireland fans played in Thursday night’s defeat of Germany, when the Aviva Stadium rediscovered the old Lansdowne Roar.

Lunacy, he said. That’s a strong word. An emotive word, writes Brendan O’Brien.

Worries for Roy Keane, Rashford makes case, Cesc freeze - our writers chew on the weekend's talking points.

Robbie Keane announced yesterday that Wednesday's game against Oman was to be his last.

Man City have earned more penalties in three games than some teams manage in a season.

Martin O’Neill reckons Robbie Keane could flourish when he transitions into coaching, but has cautioned his players about the perils of becoming a boss.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today

The sad news came through yesterday that soccer legend Shay Given had decided to retire from the Republic of Ireland after a 20-year international career.

Ireland boss Martin O’Neill hailed Shay Given as one of Ireland’s greatest goalkeepers after the Stoke City star last night confirmed his exit from the international arena.

It’s taken seven years, but the Republic of Ireland will finally avail of the opportunity to exorcise some of the ghosts from the infamous ‘Hand of Gaul’ game at the Stade de France this day week when they open their Euro 2016 account against Sweden.