CRAIG HOPE: For a country who have long since struggled for goalscorers, to unearth three news ones made this friendly entirely worthwhile for Mick McCarthy's men.

The 'Special One', who left Manchester United ten months ago, has named the Brazilian Ronaldo as the greatest player he has worked with, having coached him at Barcelona.

CRAIG HOPE IN TBILISI: Ireland were compared to Lord of the Dance's Michael Flatley by Georgia's coach on the eve of the game. That, though, was certainly not a reference to fine footwork.

After Belgium, Italy, Russia, Poland and Ukraine had already booked their places in the latest edition of the European Championship, Spain also achieved the feat on Tuesday night.

Burnley midfielder Robbie Brady and Newcastle defender Ciaran Clark have been included in the finalised squad for the Republic of Ireland's clashes with New Zealand and Denmark.

CRAIG HOPE AT THE AVIVA STADIUM: In setting up the goal that completed Ireland's comeback, Troy Parrott gave Mick McCarthy something to think about ahead of facing Denmark.

The Republic of Ireland fell to third in Group D in Euro 2020 qualifying after tonight's fixtures and now know they must beat Denmark in Dublin on Monday night to make the finals next summer.

Robbie Keane has challenged his Republic of Ireland. players to make themselves heroes as they look to seal Euro 2020 qualification with victory against Denmark on Monday night.

CRAIG HOPE AT THE AVIVA STADIUM: Ireland headed for March's play-offs in their bid to avoid the ignominy of missing out on a tournament for which they are one of 12 hosts.

Mick McCarthy is hoping that the four-month break before Ireland's Euro 2020 playoff could see the likes of Troy Parrott and Aaron Connolly return with more Premier League experience.

England and Ireland are set to stage a joint bid in hope of securing the hosting of the 2030 football World Cup, and are reported to be confident of pulling it off.

Republic of Ireland international Daryl Murphy has admitted to taking cocaine on a night out that led to him being banned by the Football Association.

Adam Idah may have put himself on the fast-track to the Ireland squad after his FA Cup heroics for Norwich. Cork-born teenager striker Idah scored a hat-trick against Preston in the third round.

Mick McCarthy's future as Republic of Ireland manager is uncertain amid the impact of coronavirus on the fixture calendar. The 61-year-old's contract runs until the end of the Euro 2020 campaign.

Terrified Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy has been made to go into full isolation after his close neighbours tested positive for coronavirus.

Mick McCarthy says he is 'hugely disappointed' after being replaced by Stephen Kenny as Republic of Ireland manager with the delay to Euro 2020 having brought forward the bizarre succession plan.

The country's record goalscorer - who has two years to run on his £220,000-a-year contract - had assumed he would be part of Kenny's coaching staff having served under Mick McCarthy.

Robbie Keane, who is also Jonathan Woodgate's assistant at Middlesbrough, is furious he has been left in the cold despite having two years to run on his £220,000-per-year Ireland contract.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY IAN LADYMAN: There was a time when Mick McCarthy thought football was straightforward -but it didn't last very long into his career.

The former Republic of Ireland international, who became a famous football pundit in Spain, revealed he had metastatic cancer in December 2018 but has now tragically lost his battle.

It may have marked Glenda Jackson's return to television after 27 years, but the fact is, you'd never know it

Sticks And Stones is the latest drama from Mike Doctor Foster Bartlett, who also, less successfully, wrote Trauma and Press. Ultimately this was a standard melodrama that stretched credulity

The Christmas special of Gavin & Stacey, which marked the return of the sitcom after a ten-year absence, carried the weight of all our seasonal TV expectations

The Trial Of Christine Keeler not only failed to live up to the billing that, admittedly, may only have been in my head, but was also frequently incoherent due to all the jumping about in time

Deadwater Fell is set in a small community nursing big secrets. (I blame Broadchurch for this.) It stars David Tennant at his most sinisterly bearded and relies heavily on our old friend: flashbacks

Let us talk our way though the first episode of COBRA , Sky's new political drama about Britain during a time of national emergency.

This show's USP appeared promising as it was a Willy Wonka-ish 'completely edible set', from which the three competitors must 'forage' their ingredient

My maternal grandmother lost siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles - more than 220 relatives, we have worked out - to the camps and also the shootings in the woods. They must be remembered

This week, a new thriller and a competitive reality show seeking a hot new fashion designer that, in its first moments, comes over as a cross between The Great British Sewing Bee and The Apprentice

The screenwriter Sarah Phelps has been taking liberties with Agatha Christie murder mysteries for quite some time. Plots are revised. Characters are redrawn or may be ejected

As a rule, I don't like to beg, but in this instance I am desperate, so: if you understood The Pale Horse could you please, please offer an explanation and tell me what the hell went on?

The latest domestic thriller is Flesh And Blood , and already it's getting mixed up in my head with Liar, Cheat, Trust Me, Trauma, Gold Digger , etc. Their formats are so similar

Noughts + Crosses is an adaptation of Malorie Blackman's novel for young adults, so why it's being shown on a Thursday at 9pm rather than in the Doctor Who slot, I cannot say

As Miriam Margolyes said at the outset of Miriam's Big Fat Adventure : 'I'm happy with who I am. I'm happy with my face. I'm happy with my life. I'm disgusted with my body. I loathe it

This week not one but two new series from Julian Alexander Kitchener-Fellowes, Baron Fellowes of West Stafford, and you do wonder if he can be stopped

The one show we all really need right now, at this most difficult time, has to be one of my personal favourites, The Repair Shop

Jamie Oliver's Keep Cooking And Carry On is a concept that was turned around in record time, specifically for the Covid-19 era, but even so, we're all watching in a new way. Aren't we?

Quiz, which told the story of Charles Ingram, who was convicted of cheating on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? in 2001, was a joy and a hoot. And also deeply fascinating

I've given this (a generous) three stars because I know those who like this sort of thing will like this, so it works in that sense, but there's nothing new here

Normal People is terrific, absolutely gorgeous, up there with the best TV dramas of recent years, like Patrick Melrose and My Brilliant Friend, but possibly not Belgravia

At the end of a busy week in which she had to entertain Donald Trump, the Queen found time to 'hang out' in Notting Hill with her beloved cousin Lady Elizabeth Anson who turned 78 the next day.

The monarch arrived by an open-top carriage for Ladies' Day at Royal Ascot, alongside Prince Andrew and Princess Anne. Zara and Mike Tindall were also back for day three of the meet.

Ingrid Seward, royal editor, claims that the Queen is not impressed with Prince William and Harry's apparent feud and won't interfere - she also said the Queen likes to keep out of family disputes.

SEBASTIAN SHAKESPEARE: The Queen is not given to displays of emotion, but I hear that she held a poignant final formal meeting with Theresa May this week.

The Queen, 93, welcomed the new Prime Minister to Buckingham Palace yesterday afternoon, shortly after accepting Theresa May's resignation. But it was her bag that drew attention.

A royal expert has claimed that the Queen will take Meghan under her wing when she celebrates her 38th birthday at Balmoral Castle on the 4th August.

The Queen has 'earmarked' Sophie Wessex to be an 'secret ally' to the Duchess of Sussex, according to Grazia.

Prince Andrew joined the Queen and his daughter Beatrice today at church in Balmoral, after his former friend Jeffrey Epstein was found hanged in his jail cell.

Boris Johnson today opted for the nuclear option of suspending Parliament in a bid to stop MPs trying to block the UK leaving the EU on October 31 as he declared war on the 'Remain Alliance'.

The Queen has agreed to Boris Johnson's plan to suspend Parliament as the Prime Minister tries to stop MPs blocking the UK leaving the EU on October 31.