Martin O’Neill departs - Rugby success is model to follow

It may be unfair, yet it is inevitable that Irish sports fans will contrast the winning ways of our all-island rugby squad and its coach Joe Schmidt with the abject failure of the Republic of Ireland soccer team and the combined skills of Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane.

During O’Neill’s tenure, there have been highlights along the way, none more so than Euro 2016 in France, beating world champions Germany in the process. But the lowlights have dominated his five-year reign.