John Fallon: Reasons for Irish fans to be cheerful on tournament roadmap

Farrugia's prophecy meets reality at Stamford Bridge and a clean FAI departure for Gleeson despite fallback option.

REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL: Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie

Heimir Hallgrímsson seemed overly confident after Friday’s World Cup qualifying draw and Séamus Coleman will be entitled to feel likewise when he bumps into Dominik Szoboszlai.

The pair are neighbours in a leafy Liverpool suburb but adversaries across the Mersey divide; both are now on the hunt for a place at the Stateside 2026 extravaganza.