Hoolahan simply makes everybody else in the Irish team play better and, because they know they can give him the ball, his mere presence takes the pressure off his team mates, writes Liam Brady.

In the run-up to the back-to-back World Cup qualifiers at home to Georgia and away to Moldova, a depleted Irish squad held its first training session of the week at Abbotstown yesterday.

It’s easy to scoff at claims from European stars Dusan Tadic and Robert Lewandowski Ireland are long-ball specialists but the proposition is indisputable according to Uefa’s technical report from the summer European Championships.

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Stephen Quinn is a ‘definite option’ to replace James McCarthy or Glenn Whelan in Ireland’s midfield tonight, writes Liam Brady.

After yesterday's 3-0 defeat to Belgium in Bordeaux, Martin O'Neill will have to hope his players get a win against Italy on Wednesday.

“All good, very good”.

Robbie Keane has been included in Ireland’s squad of 23 for the European Championship finals despite a calf injury having ruled him out of the match against Belarus at Turner’s Cross.

Friday night marked four years almost to the day since Ireland’s last adieu to their Dublin faithful ahead of a European Championship bid and there were moments aplenty to make you wonder at how much has changed in that snapshot of time.

They started last night’s match in unison but as the friendly against the Netherlands progressed, it became evident Harry Arter and Stephen Quinn were battling against each other for a ticket to France.

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It may prove too little, too late but David McGoldrick served a timely reminder to Martin O’Neill after scoring his first goal since August in Ipswich’s 3-2 championship win over MK Dons on Saturday.

Many people are of the opinion that international friendlies at this time of year are meaningless but I have never viewed them that way, writes Liam Brady

Republic of Ireland 2 Slovakia 2: If Friday against Switzerland was a night when the defence showed way, here was a game where all Ireland’s better play came at the other end of the pitch, with the novel strike partnership of Shane Long and James McClean both getting on the score sheet — albeit from the penalty spot — while Wes Hoolahan once again showed how vital he is to the team’s attempts to play a more creative brand of football.

Republic of Ireland 1 Switzerland 0: Amidst the official Good Friday drought, the Aviva Stadium might have seemed an inviting watering hole for some in the attendance of 35,450 but, if not exactly intoxicating, the friendly fare on the pitch certainly provided a lively enough distraction and even some all too feisty exchanges as Ireland edged past Switzerland thanks to a Ciaran Clark goal after just two minutes of the game.

Boro back top after gritty win over Wednesday

Seamus Coleman last night reported for international duty despite his Everton manager Robert Martinez all but ruling the full-back out of Ireland’s Euro qualifier against Germany on Thursday.

Having seen his side take over 45 minutes to get going against Georgia, Martin O’Neill wants his team on the front foot for the visit of world champions Germany next month.

Despite all the soundings emanating from the Irish camp about Gibraltar’s steady improvement over this Euro qualifying campaign, Stephen Quinn cut to the chase when considering the challenge posed by tomorrow night’s opponents in Faro.

Having upped sticks from Malahide, the Irish squad will get a first taste of their new Dublin base when they step out on Pitch Number One at the National Training Centre in Abbotstown this morning, to begin preparations for the European Championship double-header away to Gibraltar in Faro on Friday and at home to Georgia in the Aviva Stadium on the following Monday.

Reading yesterday signed Ireland defender Paul McShane on a three-year contract following his release by Hull City.

A slab table to die for, a heavenly gate and high design from affordable high street brands, Faith Ryan is feeling the love.

The days of Ireland’s starting 11 being alluded to, or even revealed, by Giovanni Trapattoni 24 hours before games are long gone.

Paul McShane has been released from Hull City following relegation to the Championship last Sunday.