Even in the teeth of crisis, a feelgood factor has emerged

Crisis, what crisis? Well, excuse me while I extract my tongue from the deepest recesses of my cheek but, having done so, I’m sure I’m not the only one to have noted a distinct irony in the fact that, while all hell has been breaking loose in Abbotstown, Ireland’s elite international teams are otherwise engaged in training their eyes on lands of milk and honey.

Certainly, it’s been a long time since there’s been anything like the current level of excited interest in impending games involving, not only the senior men’s team, but also the U21s and the senior women’s team. As ever in football, results will dictate whether or not the feelgood factor remains intact but, just for now, it’s heartening to be heading into a ten-day period in which all three sides in green are contesting important qualifying matches, all from varying positions of strength and all with everything to play for.