Ed Leahy

RTÉ Sport journalist

10 October 2025; Seamus Coleman, centre, with Mikey Johnston, right, and Dara O'Shea, left, during a Republic of Ireland training session at Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Postcard from Lisbon: A Sporting chance for Ireland?

Stanley Park famously separated Liverpool's two great clubs; in Lisbon, just over a mile of motorway and a mazy spaghetti junction sits between Benfica's Stadium of Light and the Jose Alvalade Stadium, home of the green and white hoops of Sporting.

Soccer • 11 Oct

10 October 2025; Finn Azaz and head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson during a Republic of Ireland training session at Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Heimir insists players know their roles in Lisbon

Heimir Hallgrimsson is adamant that his players were well-versed in the challenge of taking on Armenia last month.

Soccer • 11 Oct

10 October 2025; Head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson and Seamus Coleman during a Republic of Ireland training session at Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Near perfect performance needed to get Portugal return

Heimir Hallgrimsson believes that Ireland need to produce a performance that is close to flawless in order to take anything from Saturday evening's World Cup qualifier against Portugal in Lisbon.

Soccer • 10 Oct

8 October 2025; Head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson during a Republic of Ireland training session at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Hallgrimsson's Ireland aim to go cloudbusting in Lisbon

The Ireland team arrived into Lisbon, greeted by clear blue skies across the Portuguese capital, and yet a dark cloud appears to shroud this squad wherever it travels.

Soccer • 10 Oct

7 October 2025; Jake O'Brien during a Republic of Ireland media conference at the FAI Headquarters in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

O'Brien welcomes recall of old-stagers Coleman and Egan

Jake O'Brien believes that the inclusion of Seamus Coleman and John Egan will add vital experience and help to set the standard to take into the tough task of facing Portugal away from home.

Soccer • 10 Oct

8 October 2025; Assistant head coach John O'Shea during a Republic of Ireland media conference at the FAI Headquarters in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Irish ethos paramount against Portugal - O'Shea

Republic of Ireland assistant head coach John O'Shea wants the Boys in Green to show belief that they can get a result against Portugal in Lisbon on Saturday.

Soccer • 09 Oct

7 October 2025; Republic of Ireland players, from left, Adam Idah, Troy Parrott, John Egan and Finn Azaz, during a Republic of Ireland training session at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Azaz: Armenia pain can reignite World Cup campaign

Finn Azaz is convinced that Ireland can use the pain of the defeat in Armenia to help reignite the national team's World Cup qualifying campaign.

Soccer • 09 Oct

8 October 2025; Evan Ferguson during a Republic of Ireland training session at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Ireland boost for Portugal as striking duo declared fit

Evan Ferguson and Troy Parrott could both feature in the Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualifier against Portugal in Lisbon on Saturday.

Soccer • 09 Oct

7 October 2025; Jayson Molumby during a Republic of Ireland training session at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Molumby backs himself to deliver on Ireland return

"Angry, disappointed, gutted"; Jayson Molumby wears his heart on his sleeve when he pulls on the green Ireland jersey, and the emotion is just as evident when talking about the national team.

Soccer • 08 Oct

7 October 2025; Troy Parrott during a Republic of Ireland training session at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

'It's not over' - Parrott says belief remains in squad

It's not over until it's over, was the message that Troy Parrott brought out of the Ireland camp ahead of Thursday's World Cup qualifier against Portugal in Lisbon.

Soccer • 08 Oct