Any honest assessment of Martin O’Neill’s stewardship of the Irish team has to begin with the acknowledgement that he has not been dealt a great hand in terms of the quality of the players at his disposal, writes Liam Brady.

Arsene Wenger admits allowing Alexis Sanchez to see out the final year of his contract could cost Arsenal as much as £140m (€153.2m).

Jose Mourinho believes Manchester United are around £100m (€109.4m) better off for wrapping up moves for Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic before Neymar’s world-record move to Paris St Germain changed the landscape forever.

Robbie Savage is confused. Has been since Monday evening when he heard some bloke on Irish TV going on and on about Wes Hoolahan and how the Republic of Ireland would have beaten Georgia in Tbilisi last weekend had the Norwich City player been picked.

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Out of luck and in need of favours, another critical October beckons for Martin O’Neill but this time it’s different.

Martin O’Neill believes all is not lost despite the Republic of Ireland’s first 2018 World Cup qualifying defeat.

Beneath the crabby exterior beats the heart of an incurable and not yet completely disillusioned romantic. Despite Tbilisi, despite everything, Liam Brady thinks Ireland can win. He realises he ought to know better. He just can’t help himself.

One place off top spot in the group, highly respected Eastern European opposition in town, and a second successive qualification for a major tournament on the line. Yep, Belfast must have been rocking on Monday evening.

Ireland’s World Cup hopes are hanging by a thread after Serbia ended the Republic’s unbeaten record last night at the Aviva to take firm control of Group D.

The victories keep piling up for Justin Thomas, and all that does is make him want more.

Next year’s World Equestrian Games (WEG) have taken on a new perspective for Ireland’s show jumpers following their recent European Championships victory in Gothenburg, Sweden, team member Cian O’Connor said yesterday.

Northern Ireland’s elder statesmen are driven by a desire to feature at a World Cup finals before they call it a day, defender Chris Brunt has said.

Ireland find themselves in a strange position going into tonight’s World Cup qualifier against Serbia at the Aviva.

It has been a year of change for Rory McIlroy, who has switched equipment companies, gotten married, and now split with his longtime caddie JP Fitzgerald.

Keith Andrews has lavished praise on Sean Maguire, saying the in-form striker is exactly what Ireland are crying out for, as Martin O’Neill prepares to name his squad for next month’s games against Georgia and Serbia.