#republic-of-ireland-v-portugal

#republic-of-ireland-v-portugal

Next month marks the 15th anniversary of that surreal Sunday when James Horan made his first summer statement as Mayo manager. The start of a riotous, roller-coaster decade embracing seven All-Ireland finals, one draw, six defeats and an infinity of 'what ifs'.

This crew - smallish in number but sufficiently large to assault the eardrums of the management and players - are an odd bunch. It's true that Scotland should be beyond the point of just being happy going to the World Cup - and these players are way past that notion.

If there is one thing we should take as a life lesson from football's transformation over the last 18 months or so, it's that the wheel really does turn.

Gabriel Adebambo is on the hunt for a golden ticket to see Ireland in Prague on Thursday night, joining thousands of supporters making the trip.

The Republic of Ireland earned a spot in their UEFA play-off path by finishing second in qualifying Group F. Troy Parrott's sensational hat-trick in Budapest ensured that the Boys in Green clinched second ahead of Hungary.

Ireland are comforted to the return of full fitness of Courtney Brosnan, even if her side had successfully negotiated the Belgium promotion play-offs without her, albeit not without some fraught moments for Grace Moloney. The other two changes from that last-gasp aggregate success in Leuven saw Megan Connolly displace Ruesha Littlejohn, who has played effectively no football since, while Anna Patten came in for Jess Stapleton.

Connor Parsons of Bohemians, right, celebrates with teammates Dayle Rooney, left, and Patrick Hickey after scoring their side's first goal during the SSE Airtricity Premier Division match against Shamrock Rovers at Dalymount Park.

The UEFA Conference League is considered Europe's third-best continental tournament, and through four seasons it's delivered titles to four clubs from three countries. Three-quarters of the finalists have come from three of the top-four leagues in the world while 2023-24 champion Olympiacos of Greece and 2021-22 finalist Feyenoord of the Netherlands have also reached competed for the crown.