A chance meeting with Stephen Hunt after an Ireland training session this week reminded Jonny Hayes of one of his career turning points.

If things had worked out a little differently, Cork City defender Ryan Delaney could have been preparing for a trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United next month.

It’s only day two in Galway and already the temperatures and the celebrity count are rising as fast as wallets are emptying.

Once you have the first 24 hours under your belt in Galway, the rest of the week should get easier - but it doesn't, writes Conall Ó Fátharta.

When the FAI brought in ‘summer football’ to the League of Ireland, it wasn’t in the script for the season to be over by autumn. Still, with Cork City 15 points clear going into tonight’s latest meeting of the League of Ireland’s ‘New Firm’, that’s a scenario which could arise unless Dundalk can put a stop to Cork’s march at Oriel Park.

Kevin Doyle can’t be sure. It has been 10 years, after all.

Liam Mackey of the Irish Examiner highlights five things to take from Ireland's win over Austria.

FAI chief executive John Delaney is confident the momentum generated by the Republic of Ireland’s memorable Euro 2016 campaign can carry the team through the World Cup qualifiers.

Danny O’Carroll A.K.A. (Buster Brady) has raised a staggering €50,000 for the victims of the Buncrana Pier Tragedy and Pieta House after an incredible fundraising night in Co Donegal.

A personal phone call to Coventy City manager Tony Mowbray earned former Ireland international Stephen Hunt a short-term contract with the Sky Blues.

Anticipating the great wave of ennui that would sweep the land following another Kilkenny All-Ireland win, telly chiefs were good enough to distract us with a welter of sporting fare this week, largely uncontaminated by on-field action.

Here's what to watch on tonight's TV.

Après Match of the Day has the comedy crew delving into Ireland’s glorious soccer history on Monday.

Republic of Ireland international winger Stephen Hunt had an unique reason for not appearing in court to answer a speeding charge — he didn’t what it to affect his focus for the second leg of Ipswich Town’s Championship play-off semi-final against Norwich City.

In a decorated international career, Kevin Kilbane defied some of his club physiotherapists to bolster the Irish cause, and he feels James McCarthy may have to do likewise next month.

Ipswich 0 Southampton 1: Shane Long starred as Southampton progressed to the FA Cup Fourth Round last night.

Ipswich 0 Southampton 1

Stephen Hunt is not taking this season’s FA Cup lightly, despite Ipswich Town side’s main focus being on securing promotion to the Premier League.

Southampton 1 Ipswich Town 1

Petr Cech insists his padded helmet saved him and Chelsea team-mate Kurt Zouma from serious injury.

GAA players are professional in everything but name and professional everywhere but pocket, suggests John Fogarty.

Former Cork City defender Brian Lenihan has had to cut short his loan spell at Blackpool and return to Hull City after suffering a patella tendon knee injury.

Not many, if any, of the current Ireland squad have encountered Mick McCarthy and Roy Keane more in the past decade than Daryl Murphy and Ipswich Town’s Irish striker realises the pair of adversaries are integral to his future.

Former Ireland boss Mick McCarthy and his assistant Terry Connor have agreed new three-year deals with Championship side Ipswich Town.

Troubling times — a new international superstar and nobody’s sure what to call him.

For the golfing agnostic, it’s easy at Fota to spot the pros from the amateurs — the paid guys have the best tans.

A teenage girl is to appear in a British court over the death of a fireman in a shop blaze there.

Martin O’Neill’s mantra that age is no barrier to an international career has fallen kindly for Ipswich Town striker Daryl Murphy ahead of his Ireland re-launch tonight against Serbia.

Republic of Ireland international winger Stephen Hunt hopes he is doing enough to convince Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy to hand him a new contract.

DICTIONARY CORNER

Martin O’Neill will be without Robbie Brady and Ciarán Clark for his first games in charge as Ireland manager.

If Mick McCarthy is feeling some relief that he won’t have any more of his Ipswich Town press conferences hijacked by questions about the Ireland job, he wasn’t showing it yesterday.

WORLD CUP QUALIFIER GROUP C:

Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane has said that Giovanni Trapattoni is "a credit to the country".

Cork claimed the throne as the new Kings of Ballybrit as the Mick Winters-trained Missunited romped home to make it back-to back Galway Hurdles for the rebel county.

Darren Potter may be the forgotten man when it comes to the Republic of Ireland set-up, but he is hoping to follow Wes Hoolahan’s example by taking the long road back.

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

Giovanni Trapattoni is planning to uncage his Canaries against England at Wembley.

Five Republic of Ireland players, including Kevin Doyle, Stephen Ward, Stephen Hunt, are the prospect of life in the third tier of English football today.

Charlton 2 Wolves 1

Birmingham 2 Wolves 3