Man Utd 3 ... Stoke 0: Martin O’Neill may well be reflecting today that he has dodged a bullet by turning down Stoke City after the side he would have taken to Old Trafford last night were beaten 3-0 by a Paul Pogba-inspired Manchester United to leave them in serious relegation trouble.

John Fallon looks back on Irish soccer’s 2017

If ever a manager was entitled to indulge in self-congratulation, it was Pep Guardiola after his Manchester City side went to Old Trafford, totally out-footballed their arch-rivals and nearest challengers, and came away with a 2-1 victory which was rather more emphatic than that narrow scoreline would suggest.

Things took an unusual turn, for a Liam Brady column, on the morning of Cardiff.

It’s a decade since soccer made its Croke Park debut when Ireland faced Wales but the occasion didn’t have the same impact as rugby’s appearances at GAA HQ.

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

Premiership footballer Stephen Ireland has told how he refused to let a broken leg stop him walking down the aisle.

Some people think the real battle at Euro 2016 is for the Henri Delaunay trophy? They are wrong.

So he’s finally hit the road, Jack, and he won’t come back no more, no more, no more...

With a hat-trick against Gibraltar already under his belt, and 15 and counting to his credit in the MLS this season, Ireland’s 65-goal record-breaker Robbie Keane looks every inch the man to roll the Rock in Faro tonight.

Any of you mathematicians out there fancy decoding this little baby? (Deep breath): 0000011003210002002054031002651206140004.

Stephen Ireland insists he is happier in his career than he has been for a long time.

There is never any shortage of narratives when the Premier League season begins. 

There was a time when Liam Miller wondered if hailing from Cork would hold him back and block his path to becoming a Republic of Ireland international.

Mauricio Pochettino is planning talks with the Football Association to ensure Harry Kane does not suffer from burnout.

Hull City boss Steve Bruce has hit back at Stoke after a gory picture emerged of a bloody gash in Stephen Ireland’s leg following a challenger by Tigers defender Maynor Figueroa.

Premier League

Stoke striker Peter Crouch came off the bench to snatch a draw at Newcastle with a dramatic late equaliser.

Martin O’Neill was in the Aviva Stadium press room yesterday to mark the announcement of SPAR as the official convenience store partner of the FAI, writes Liam Mackey.

Stoke City 3 QPR 1: Stoke midfielder Stephen Ireland has vowed to do all he can for the rest of the season to fill the void left by Bojan Krkic’s injury.

Rochdale 1 Stoke 4: Bojan Krkic and Victor Moses scored breathtaking goals at Rochdale as Stoke avoided joining the long list of Barclays Premier League teams to exit the FA Cup at the fourth-round stage.

FA Cup: Chris Morgan warned Tottenham will not be able take Sheffield United lightly after the Blades pulled off yet another cup upset, this time humiliating Premier League strugglers QPR 3-0 at Loftus Road.

Substitute Stephen Ireland scored twice as Stoke pulled off a late comeback to beat Wrexham 3-1 at the Britannia Stadium and avoid being the victims of an FA Cup giant-killing.

This year has been a mixed bag for Irish players based in Britain and beyond.

Stoke boss Mark Hughes hopes Bojan Krkic can follow the lead of fellow Spaniard and ex-Barcelona man Cesc Fabregas by developing into an established Premier League star.

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

Welcome to your Thursday morning briefing. Let us ensure you’re up to speed on what’s happening and are prepared for the day ahead.

Roy Keane shares Niall Quinn’s disappointment at Stephen Ireland’s international exile — insisting representing Ireland should rank as the high point of a player’s career.

Premier League Stoke City 1 Newcastle United 0

All the team news from around the grounds ahead of Week 5 in the Premier League - more to follow as it comes in.

Andreas Weimann’s second-half strike proved the difference as Aston Villa won 1-0 at Stoke on the opening day of the Barclays Premier League season.

Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill has reiterated he has no problem with Roy Keane taking up his new role as assistant manager with Aston Villa.

One of Niall Quinn’s greatest feats as Sunderland chairman was recruiting Martin O’Neill but he admitted yesterday an audacious bid to prise Louis van Gaal to Wearside wasn’t so fruitful.

Roy Keane is never short of an opinion but, as Ireland’s number two, he was happy to defer to Ireland’s number one yesterday, when the thorny subject of Stephen Ireland raised its head yet again.

We have to talk about Stephen. Well, actually, we don’t, but it seems that in at least every other encounter with a manager of the Republic of Ireland over the past seven years, we end up talking about Stephen.

Call us, we won’t call you.

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.

Former Ireland manager Brian Kerr has expressed his surprise that the saga over the return, or otherwise, of Stephen Ireland has been allowed to drag on this far by Martin O’Neill.

West Brom 1 Stoke City 2

Martin O’Neill will seek a clear declaration of Stephen Ireland’s willingness to return to international duty before he considers recalling him to the Ireland squad.

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

Stoke City 4 Fulham 1