Preston boss Alex Neil saluted the quality of forwards Callum Robinson and Lukas Nmecha after they tore already-relegated Ipswich apart in a 4-0 hammering at Deepdale.

Spring is in the air. The cold hand of the previous year’s winter, which resulted in heavy snow and fixture cancellations as late as March was conspicuous by its absence but as April begins no one is taking the warm weather for granted just yet.

Mick McCarthy confirmed potential Ireland recruit Patrick Bamford has agreed to meet him in the coming weeks.

A glance at the opposition dug-out at Deepdale will send Sean Maguire’s thoughts back to Turner’s Cross and turn him into a star-struck schoolkid, momentarily at least, when he continues his return to fitness with Championship side Preston this afternoon.

The encouraging phone calls from Mick McCarthy helped, as did the support of his fellow Irishmen in the Deepdale dressing room and the countless monotonous, gruelling hours he has spent in the gym.

Damien Delaney said the lure of Europe and Champions League football helped seal the deal as he made the move from England’s Premier League back to his hometown club Cork City.

John O’Shea last night spoke of his delight after putting pen to paper on a one-year deal with Championship outfit Reading.

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

Sean Maguire is dreaming of a first Republic of Ireland start and promotion to the Premier League as his career continues to soar.

Former Cork City star Sean Maguire came off the bench to score Preston’s winner against Bristol City at Deepdale and keep North End’s play-off challenge firmly on course.

The Irish football year was book-ended and overshadowed by the tragic deaths of Derry City skipper Ryan McBride and the young Shelbourne striker Izzy Desu, writes Liam Mackey.

Sean Maguire’s tantalising taste of international football has left him ravenous for more.

With the changing of the Preston managerial guard which has seen Alex Neil replace Simon Grayson, game time at Deepdale has proved harder to come by for Daryl Horgan this season.

Two goals and regular starts for Preston in the Championship and a League of Ireland winner’s medal virtually in the post — all Sean Maguire needs now to complete a heady 2017 is to get the nod from Martin O’Neill to play his part in an Irish redemption song as the World Cup qualifying campaign reaches its conclusion.

Hell hath no fury like a player scorned! Last season Aiden McGeady re-ignited his club career during a loan spell at Preston, finishing the season as their player of the year. That form earned him a permanent move to Sunderland in July.

Cardiff were knocked off the top of the Sky Bet Championship table after they were beaten 3-0 by Preston at Deepdale to end their unbeaten start.

At the Irish team’s hotel in Castleknock yesterday, a few of the senior players told Martin O’Neill about how much of a challenge they think Saturday’s World Cup qualifier in Tbilisi is going to be — and the manager was delighted to hear of their concern.

New surroundings, same narrative. Sean Maguire has got used to that winning feeling this year; his goals ensuring Cork City have turned this season’s Airtricity League Premier Division title race into a procession.

Sean Maguire, who scored an eye-catching solo goal on his debut for Preston in a friendly against Burnley on Wednesday night, has expressed delight that he was able to take up at Deepdale where he left off at Turner’s Cross.

Cork City might be out of Europe for another 12 months and looking forward to Champions League football next summer but despite the hefty costs of away trips to Estonia and Cyprus, the club coffers are ticking over nicely.

AEK Larnaca 1 - 0 Cork City (AEK win 2-0 on agg.): Cork City boss John Caulfield had to accept a heartbreaking defeat and Europa League exit in the heat and humidity of Larnaca in Cyprus last night.

THE heat and humidity of Larnaca and the AEK Arena proved to be too much for FAI Cup holders Cork City as they bowed out of the Europa League here in Cyprus tonight.

A second-half goal from Joan Truyois saw AEK Larnaca take control of this Uefa Europa League second qualifying round tie as they defeated a gallant Cork City in front of a packed Turner’s Cross last night.

Official confirmation that Kevin O’Connor has become Simon Grayson’s last signing as Preston North End manager now gives way to speculation about who the Cork City player – as well as his teammate Sean Maguire and fellow League of Ireland exports Daryl Horgan and Andy Boyle – will be playing under at Deepdale next season.

It’s fair to say Alan Browne and Aiden McGeady are at different ends of the international football spectrum.

Brighton reclaimed their place at the top of the Sky Bet Championship with a 3-1 win over Birmingham.

The conventional picture of Irish wingers at the start of this season would have had Daryl Horgan on his way up passing Aiden McGeady on his way down.

League of Ireland fans might justifiably be relishing the sight of Daryl Horgan hitting the ground running at Preston but Martin O’Neill is probably even more gratified by the resurgent impact one of the older wingers in town is having at Deepdale.

Daryl Horgan’s first start for Preston proved a memorable one, the former Dundalk star creating the second goal and nearly scoring a third as North End beat Chris Hughton’s Brighton 2-0 in Saturday’s Championship clash at Deepdale.

Olivier Giroud scrambled a late winner as Arsenal came from behind to survive an FA Cup scare with a 2-1 win at Championship Preston.

There isn’t a seat to be got at Deepdale for today’s FA Cup tie but Preston North End’s Cork native Alan Browne feels the middle of pitch is the best possible place for him against Arsenal’s galaxy of stars.

A year that featured the glorious high of scoring Ireland’s winner against Italy in Lille ended in frustrating fashion for Robbie Brady as the Dubliner was sent off in Norwich City’s 0-0 Championship draw at Brentford on Saturday.

Reading maintained their automatic promotion push in the Sky Bet Championship and piled more pressure on Alex Neil with a 3-1 victory over Norwich.

Aiden McGeady began the latest chapter of his career by scoring on his Preston debut on Saturday but his fine strike from 25 yards wasn’t enough to earn his new employers anything in their Championship clash with Barnsley.

It was fitting that Alan Browne’s winner in Preston’s 2-1 Championship win over Huddersfield came late on. A few hours earlier the former Cork City man had been stranded on a motorway en route to Deepdale due to a puncture.

Newcastle head coach Steve McClaren has vowed to field the strongest team he can as he bids to end Newcastle’s 46-year trophy drought against Northampton in the Capital One Cup second round tonight.

Cork native Alan Browne believes his Preston North End side are capable of figuring in the Championship promotion race after penning a new three-year contract with the club yesterday.

Preston goalkeeper Thorsten Stuckmann has claimed that Wayne Rooney apologised for the way he won a penalty against him in Monday’s fifth round FA Cup tie.

Jonny Evans admits Manchester United have failed to produce the kind of attractive football their fans have become accustomed to this season. 

“It will be a good game, a great game. Against Arsenal is always a great game.”