Colin Sheridan: The good days are rare for Ireland, we have to find joy in them

The Robinson affair had reached a plateau by the time kick-off arrived on Saturday evening. Even those opposed to his inclusion in the team must have reasoned that his folly would be forgotten if he could only go and nick a goal from somewhere

WINNING FEELING: Ireland manager Stephen Kenny savours victory with defender John Egan on Saturday. Picture: Inpho/Laszlo Geczo

Last week’s Conservative Party conference in Manchester seems an usual starting point for a meditation on the virtues of football, but start with the Tories we will.

It was there that British Home Secretary Priti Patel vowed to fight the immigrant boats at sea and drive them back to Calais, in a kind of a dyslexic take on Dunkirk. She was cheered off the stage like a batsman leaving the crease after knocking a century at Old Trafford.