Liam Brady provides necessary dose of realism

Liam Brady’s dose of realism amid the current euphoria surrounding the European Championship-bound senior team is a timely reminder of the ticking time bomb for Irish football.

When Wes Hoolahan, 34 by the time the Euros kick off in June, is so relied upon to carry the nation’s hopes in France, as Robbie Keane was four years ago, the penny has to drop about the paucity of ready-made replacements.

Shane Duffy and Eunan O’Kane demonstrated their credentials over the friendly double-header but both are in their mid-20s and products of the Northern Ireland system.