Tommy Martin: Dope Dreams - it's time for Ireland to sign up for the Enhanced World Cup 

One of Heimir Hallgrimsson's strengths is his ability to identify Ireland's shortcomings in post-match interviews. Unfortunately, he seems unable to do anything about them. It's time for radical thinking. 

An Enhanced World Cup would end the unfair exclusion of countries like Ireland from major tournaments on the arbitrary basis that they are no good at football. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

It’s typical of this Republic of Ireland qualifying campaign that even the victories are gruesome.

You’d think Ireland’s first home win in World Cup qualifying in eight years would get the celebratory Walkinstown roundabout treatment. Instead, fans trudged home on Tuesday night looking forward to November’s Group F conclusion as if it was an appointment for an unpleasant medical procedure involving tubes and the adopting of the prone position.