John Fallon: Gender balance challenge only starting for tardy FAI

Never a dull moment in Zefi's Italian job and Hungary friendly an untimely coincidence for in-demand Szmodics.

FAI board candidate Niamh O'Mahony during the annual general meeting of the Football Association of Ireland at Clayton Hotel Liffey Valley in Dublin. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

On the football side, League of Ireland clubs have started playing friendlies, talks with prospective candidates for the men’s team manager’s vacancy have restarted while there’s also ongoing preparations for another bruising visit to the Oireachtas for a Public Accounts Committee hearing.

Simultaneously, the FAI are actioning the mandate received by members to have six females on their next expanded board of 14 directors.