May 2015 date for Ireland England clash

Ireland’s long-awaited friendly against England in Dublin is now set to be played in May 2015.

FAI chief executive John Delaney explained recently that the English FA had agreed to a provisional date of March next year if the nations avoided each other in the Euro 2016 draw.

Although that scenario unfolded, Uefa’s new ‘week of football’ series left scarce room to set the fixture around the respective qualifiers and so an alternative month was sought.

Last night at a function for the Amateur Union League in Dublin, Delaney confirmed a new date had been arrived upon — understood to be at the end of next season.

Of course, a fixture against the Auld Enemy is no ordinary friendly – especially as it will mark the 20th anniversary of the ill-fated last meeting of the nations in Ireland.

Although England hosted Ireland at Wembley last May to end the drought of games between the rivals, it’s the Dublin meeting that has been most anticipated.

Officials of the FAI and English FA discussed the proposed game last Sunday at the Euro 2016 draw in Nice, with more talks due this week.