When, after just six minutes of the second leg of the World Cup play-off against Denmark in 2017, Shane Duffy used his height and his head to put Ireland a goal to the good, the eruption of joy on the pitch and in the stands of the Aviva Stadium suggested that what we’d just witnessed was one of those defining moments which the Derryman might find hard to top for the rest of his career.

If there can be such a thing as an upside for Mick McCarthy in seeing four players succumb to friendly fire on the training pitch — Shane Long having now followed Alan Browne, Mark Travers and Luca Connell out of the squad since preparations for the Euro 2020 qualifiers against Denmark and Gibraltar began on the Algarve — it’s that none would have been likely to start in Copenhagen on Friday night.

David Meyler is convinced the Republic of Ireland will be heading for the World Cup finals in Russia.

After delivering a disciplined display in Copenhagen, Ireland’s players are confident that their record of emerging victorious from must-win games can count against Denmark tomorrow night.

Saturday night in Copenhagen marked my 25th anniversary return to the Parken Stadium and, at one level, it was as if nothing had changed in a quarter of a century.

As excitement builds ahead of tomorrow’s must-win World Cup play-off, Danish police have praised the good behaviour of the 8,000 Irish supporters who travelled to Copenhagen for the scoreless first-leg.

Martin O’Neill has warned his players that they may have to score twice to beat Denmark to a place at the World Cup finals in Russia.

The 2,400 fans singing in the away end of the Parken Stadium were certainly not the only Irish supporters who witnessed yesterday's battling draw in Copenhagen.

Cyrus Christie has challenged the Republic of Ireland to win the World Cup war against Denmark after edging the battle in Copenhagen.

Martin O'Neill has warned the Republic of Ireland they may have to score twice to beat Denmark to a place at the World Cup finals in Russia.

Robbie Brady is often a man of few words in the public arena, but sometimes less is more.

Danish manager Age Hareide was asked to expand yesterday on what he meant when he said recently that Ireland are easy to read but difficult to resist. 

It was the greatest night for at least five years, the night that marked a turning point for the Danish national team.

Kasper Schmeichel is expecting the Republic of Ireland to play in Roy Keane’s image as they attempt to edge past Denmark and reach the World Cup finals.

Kasper Schmeichel is expecting the Republic of Ireland to play in Roy Keane’s image as they attempt to edge past Denmark and reach the World Cup finals.

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

Ye Gods, it can’t be true but somehow it is. When Ireland take on Denmark in the World Cup play-off next month, it really will be 25 years (and a couple of weeks) since I was last in the Parken Stadium watching the two nations go head to head, writes Liam Mackey.

Martin was thrilled with Ireland’s World Cup playoff draw — Leo less so.

Martin O’Neill probably had the best quote on the size of Ireland’s play-off challenge before he even learned the identity of his team’s opponents in Zurich yesterday.

Now we’re back in balmy Ireland it can be revealed: the real winners in Stockholm last night were your bestest friends, the meeja.

Nordsjaelland 0 Chelsea 4

Nordsjaelland 0 Chelsea 4

Roberto Di Matteo last night insisted Frank Lampard’s Chelsea future was “very strong”, despite renewed speculation over whether the midfielder’s glittering Stamford Bridge career might be drawing to a close.

CON HOULIHAN, the Castleisland colossus, cast such a gigantic shadow that it once temporarily obscured one of the most revered figures in English football history.

Madonna has announced her 2012 World Tour. It includes a July 24 date in Dublin's Aviva Stadium.

A DANISH man was yesterday sentenced to pay 1,869,269 kroner (€250,000) in damages to the Danish Football Federation for interrupting a game by rushing the pitch and attacking the referee.

BOSNIA & Herzegovina set up a winner-takes-all Group D decider against France in Paris after coasting to a 5-0 victory over group minnows Luxembourg.

IT’S everything to play for but not quite everything to lose for Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght Stadium tonight as they look to overturn a one-goal deficit against FC Copenhagen in their third round Champions League qualifier.

SHAMROCK ROVERS came into last night’s Champions League qualifier knowing they were facing formidable opposition in Copenhagen, a team studded with full internationals and players with knockout stage experience of Europe’s biggest competition.

SHAMROCK ROVERS go into tonight’s Champions League third qualifying round clash against FC Copenhagen with a massive task. They must overcome a club that made the knockout stages of the competition last year, emerging from the group stages behind Barcelona before being eliminated in the last 16 by Chelsea.

Chelsea 0 FC Copenhagen 0 (Chelsea win 2-0 on aggregate)

John Terry has ordered his Chelsea team-mates to build on their desperately-needed Champions League win at FC Copenhagen by chasing down Tottenham and Manchester City in the Barclays Premier League.

FC COPENHAGEN’S players were yesterday uber-confident of piling on the misery for Chelsea in tonight’s Champions League last-16 first leg.

Fernando Torres, Nicolas Anelka, Michael Essien and Jose Bosingwa will all start Chelsea’s Champions League last-16 first leg at FC Copenhagen tomorrow, Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed.

FABIO CAPELLO believes Jack Wilshere represents the very best of England’s new breed.

England will not be tackling the Republic of Ireland in a friendly at any point in 2011.

A WORLD renowned Irish pitch building company last night claimed they ‘knew nothing’ about the planned work on the Croke Park surface.

A goal from substitute Martin Vingaard on his debut left Manchester City cursing their luck in the UEFA Cup.

Sweden have been awarded a 3-0 victory over Denmark by UEFA following last Saturday’s abandoned Euro 2008 qualifier.

THE EURO 2008 qualifier between Sweden and Denmark was abandoned at 3-3 Saturday after a Danish fan tried to attack the referee for awarding a penalty kick in the 89th minute.

Denmark midfielder Christian Poulsen was full of remorse after his actions sparked a chain of events which led to the Euro 2008 qualifier against Sweden being abandoned when a fan attacked the referee.

BY the time you read this, David Beckham should have made his much-hyped comeback for England against Brazil at Wembley last night and you will know whether it was (a) the greatest resurrection since Lazarus or (b) the most pointless second coming since The Eagles got back together.

Celtic defender Mark Wilson tried manfully to take some positives from an exacting return to first-team action in the 3-1 mauling by FC Copenhagen last night.