“Personally I prefer to start the qualification campaign in September,” said O’Neill.

Yes, it's romantic to muse about having your money on a 100/1 winner and to reminisce about Foinavon hunting around Aintree in the swinging sixties but the commercial reality of betting today, as it ever was, is that such a long odds winner is dreamed of only by the bookies.

“I said to him back like ‘I feel like I’ve done enough to get the call-up, considering the form level that we were in, but obviously you’re the manager, you make the decisions, and I respect that totally’."

Ireland defence coach Hugh Hogan said the expectation for his side this weekend in their opening game of the Six Nations is that "we’ll challenge France".

Of the 95 league games so far this year, in 61 the side that was winning at half-time went on to triumph.

For the first since in six years, there are no full-time teams in the League of Ireland First Division. 

After a shaky Six Nations, Irish players must prove themselves before Andy Farrell finalises his Lions squad for Australia

With Aintree now off the table, Inothewayurthinkin could round off his season in the Punchestown Gold Cup, but that is also far from certain.

Senegal will travel to Aviva Stadium in the June international window for the first-ever fixture between two nations although a date has yet to be finalised.

The club recently announced a new partnership with the cinema, as it looks to increase revenue outside matchday

The 37-year-old felt discomfort during his club’s Major League Soccer win at Atlanta.

The Dragons host group favourites Belgium four days after their Wembley trip.

Rugby needs to get creative if it is to take a bigger slice of the sporting pie.

Domestic clubs have raised questions about the national team boss’s impartiality as he double-jobs at Varna-based club Cherno More.

The Wigan defender qualifies for the Mediterranean island nation through his grandfather and was recently awarded Maltese citizenship.

It was a second final defeat for Athenry in three seasons. Galway's 30-year schools famine continues. 

Bring coffee, I beg my loved ones, heading to Thailand from opposite ends of the planet. I don’t know who I am happier to see, them or the bags of Arabica in their luggage

It reminds me of a person who brought fish to work and stunk the place out cooking it during the day. I’d no problem with this person getting their omega 3s, but you need to clean up properly after yourself.

A 12-point lead over Arsenal means five victories will likely be enough for a second title in five years as their rivals would have to win all nine remaining games while also overhauling a goal difference deficit of 13.

The 35-year-old is convinced Gregor Townsend’s Scotland are on the cusp of something “really special”.