Delaney advises Euro caution

FAI chief executive John Delaney has cautioned that Ireland’s second seeding for next month’s Euro 2016 draw is a help — but not a guaranteed ticket — to reaching the finals in France.

Uefa last week confirmed the breakdown of nations for the February 23 qualifying draw in Nice, placing Martin O’Neill’s charges in Pot Two alongside Ukraine, Croatia, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Belgium, Czech Republic and Hungary.

Avoiding some of those nations during Ireland’s quest to feature at the expanded 24-team showpiece heartens Delaney, yet he was swift to apply a rider on the optimism it imbues.