In a global football landscape increasingly studded with state-of-the-art academies, you don’t hear too much talk about street football anymore.

Wes Hoolahan has turned down a deal with Cambridge United after a month of training with the club.

Mick and Seamus had done their bit to temper the giddiness. Coach and captain had held up Ireland’s struggles against Gibraltar two months ago as reason for caution ahead of this latest European qualifier, but there was always the sense that the audience were nodding heads out of respect rather than agreement.

To be unkind about it, O’Neill declaring himself a winner in the immediate aftermath of a home defeat to Wales felt a bit like Ozymandias still proclaiming his greatness from amid a pile of rubble in the middle of an empty desert, says Liam Mackey.

Even on the back of a painful hiding, one game into a new campaign might seem a bit too early to be talking about crisis.

Whatever this was, friendly or competitive fare, it was carnage. And who’s to say it will get any better?

Former Republic of Ireland international Wes Hoolahan is wanted by League One outfits Oxford United and Fleetwood Town.

At least we know that the Aviva crowd will definitely have something to cheer about tonight. With the friendly against the USA doubling as a John O’Shea tribute gig, the feelgood factor is already in place.

Ireland return to the familiar surroundings of the Stade de France this evening, caught between feelings of what might have been and what they hope is to come.

Séamus Coleman and Martin O’Neill have called on Ireland’s new breed to lay down a marker against France tonight.

Alan Browne has come into the current Irish squad on the back of a tremendous personal season yet one which still ended in disappointment for promotion hopefuls Preston.

The tears keep on flowing as Wes Hoolahan pays an emotional goodbye to Norwich City.

Emotional, fantastic, amazing. Those were some of the words Wes Hoolahan used as he reflected on his last game as a Norwich player.

Martin O'Neill is hopeful that Jonathan Walters is ready to continue his Republic of Ireland career at the age of 34.

Although absent from this week’s trip to Turkey as he continues his recovery from knee surgery in January, Jon Walters has assured Martin O’Neill that he is not planning to retire from international football.

After the big freeze, the thaw, but you suspect that not even the most advanced computer models could have predicted that the temperature of Irish football would rise as dramatically as it has done over the past few days.

In calling up Declan Rice to his squad for this month’s training camp and friendly in Turkey, Martin O’Neill has stressed that the highly-rated young West Ham defender, who is still eligible to play senior football for both Ireland and England, will not come under any pressure to decide his international future.

If James McClean could replay November’s World Cup game against Demark which ended in such crushing disappointment for Ireland, there’s one thing he’d do differently.

“People were raving afterwards about Tommy Craig. He has great skill and he is strong… When you are watching a game it looks like he’s making a great contribution. But that is on the premise that what he is doing on the ball is what it’s about at that level. And it is not. Maybe it should be. It would be nice if it were.

Although there was no great surprise in news of his retirement, already the cavity in the Ireland team created by Wes Hoolahan’s absence is being sorely mourned.

Ireland won’t be part of the summer World Cup spectacle but there remains some burning issues for the game here in the year ahead.

Liam Brady believes the lack of emerging talent is linked to Kerr’s absence from an active role in Irish football and that he should be brought back into the fold.

Mark Kinsella feels history will repeat itself over the next 12 months when it comes to revamping Ireland’s international squad.

Darren Randolph has admitted his shock at the manner of the Republic of Ireland's World Cup play-off nightmare.

Former Republic of Ireland striker Niall Quinn questioned manager Martin O'Neill's approach after his country's dream to reach next summer's World Cup in Russia was ended following a 5-1 play-off defeat at home to Denmark.

Rep of Ireland 1 Denmark 5

Martin O’Neill didn’t want to deal with questions about his future so soon after last night’s World Cup play-off loss, but such is life for a modern manager and he duly offered a word or two on what may happen next.

Ger McCarthy shares what we learned from Ireland's clash with Denmark…

Average golfers have a saying: ‘It’s not how, it’s how many’.

If they beat us to go to the World Cup, we’ll cry for six months, writes Enda McEvoy

Someone in the Garda Press Office has posted a cheeky joke - with an important message - ahead of Ireland’s match with Denmark on Saturday.

James McCarthy has been named in a 34-man Republic of Ireland squad for next month's World Cup play-offs against Denmark.

Liam Brady believes Ireland’s victory fully vindicates the FAI’s decision to agree a contract extension with Martin O’Neill.

It must be the dawn of a new era when one of Ireland’s great recoveries didn’t require the deft touches of Wes Hoolahan, but this wasn’t an evening for silken skills.

Wales 0 Republic of Ireland 1: This Irish team may rarely if ever command games but they certainly provide magic moments. And sometimes, as on this incredible night in Cardiff, they’re special enough to far outlast the 90.

Daryl Murphy will remember last Friday’s home game against Moldova as the night he trebled his international tally.

Martin O'Neill has challenged the Republic of Ireland to give skipper Seamus Coleman a World Cup incentive as he moves closer to a comeback.

Enda McEvoy reflects on how the game - and punditry - played out on TV.