First called up for the Ireland senior team late in 2018, it was two years before the Southampton man made his debut and he is still to breach the 20-cap mark all this time later

Qualification would end a 40-year wait for Hungary since they participated in the 1986 World Cup. Ireland’s drought of 24 years is mild by comparison.

The continuing absence of a sports psychologist has generated headlines in the build-up to Saturday’s World Cup qualifying opener against Hungary.

'I was very surprised by the standard. It’s the lifestyle as well. A lot of lads do HYROX or whatever, just really into fitness'

Keane’s Ferencváros side have the largest presence in Marco Rossi’s squad for the World Cup qualification opener on Saturday.

The 52-year-old had been linked with the director of rugby role at Newcastle Red Bulls

The 2017 Masters champion pulled out when he was overlooked for the Ryder Cup

Surely now for international sport, there cannot be a wrong argument when it comes to the need to do something, anything, symbolic, meaningful or otherwise to condemn what is happening in Gaza?

Clever club officials brokered a 20% sell-on clause when Liverpool snapped up their graduate a decade ago, a clause triggered by Brentford’s €16m purchase in June.

An emotional, strategic, plot-driven entertainment product was all wrapped up in a single epic three-month tracking shot

Lawal scored six times from an advanced midfield position for Fleetwood and he has also had a stint at right-back in the club game so he can do different jobs. He seems destined to be a major player for his country, but where?

Brendan O’Brien and John Fallon sit down to tee up the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign, starting with the visit of Hungary to Dublin on Saturday.

Irish rugby internationals Johnny Sexton, Josh van der Flier and Dan Sheehan will also play the pro-am. 

While his world ranking has taken a hit, the Newtownabbey man has a chance over the next two months to put himself in a position to be considered a potential Ryder Cup player at Adare Manor

“To be fair, it’s been a whirlwind. I just try and take every day as it comes. Now we’re five, six weeks in, I try to get used to not seeing my son every day. We’re getting used to it.” 

“I hope that in the men’s game there’s some lessons or observations made of that. That it doesn’t have to be a performance inhibitor. If something is engaging fans, and creating joy for the players, maybe it’s something that can actually be a performance enablement."

Lawal was compared to the German Kaiser after a pre-season friendly for Stoke City and it was his club manager at The Potteries, one-time Manchester United striker Mark Robins, who delivered the killer line

The Cork-born goalkeeper made his international debut against Hungary four years ago but his 24th cap against the same nation on Saturday will carry far more significance

Ireland’s games in the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup on Friday will be broadcast on the TG4 Player and app.

They did succeed in quietening him 15 months ago in a friendly win that ended Hungary’s 14-match unbeaten run, but this is competitive fare.