FAI boss John Delaney is confident Ireland can still set up what he calls “a big October” in their current European Championship qualifying campaign.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) is treating with “extreme seriousness” an alleged assault on the manager of a soccer team playing in an All-Ireland final in Tralee, Co Kerry.

NOEL HUNT has admitted that his two-year international exile has left him feeling “hard done by” but the Reading striker hasn’t given up hope of securing a place in the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2012 squad.

The following pre-season friendlies have been authorised by the eircom League.

This weekend sees the kick off of the third season of the eircom League Under-21 division.