Gordon Manning

Gordon Manning

Gordon Manning is a sports journalist, specialising in Gaelic games, with The Irish Times

Team-by-team guide to Ireland’s potential World Cup playoff opponents

Czech Republic have been in turmoil, while Wales end their campaign on a high

‘Of course Kilkenny will be contenders’: Walter Walsh backs Cats to cope with exits

Huw Lawlor and Billy Ryan may miss all of 2026 campaign as they set off travelling

World Cup playoff: Ireland to face Poland, Wales, Czech Republic or Slovakia

Republic of Ireland to face away playoff semi-final

World Cup playoff draw: What needs to happen for Ireland to make Pot 2 on Thursday?

There’s a number of variables in play ahead of Thursday’s draw as the final qualifier groups are completed

Five things we learned from Ireland’s World Cup qualification campaign

Positives vastly outweigh the negatives but goal-shy midfield remains a concern

Troy Parrott cries tears of joy after fairytale hat-trick books World Cup playoff place

Three days after scoring a brace against Portugal, Ireland forward went one better in Budapest

Ireland player ratings: No prizes for guessing who got full marks. But who else stood out?

Hat-trick hero Troy Parrott and goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher the standout performers

Nathan Collins: ‘I always thought we had a win like this in us’

Troy Parrott is stuck for words about the feeling of scoring twice against Portugal

From Portugal to France: Famous victories for Ireland at Lansdowne Road over the years

Victory last night was the first time Ireland beat elite opposition at home in a competitive match in 10 years

How can Ireland still qualify for the World Cup? Here are the permutations

Topping the table is highly unlikely but Heimir Hallgrímsson’s could still claim a playoff spot

Josh Cullen and Ireland aiming for more goals from midfield against Portugal

Lack of goals from men in the middle is a long-standing problem to which Heimir Hallgrímsson has yet to find a solution

New recruit Kevin O’Toole ready to be of service in Ireland’s remaining World Cup qualifiers

New York City FC player qualifies for Ireland through his grandfather

Munster Council confirm deferral of new football championship seeding

Officials agree to defer plans to 2027

Ireland sticking to game plan despite outcome of Armenia-Hungary fixture, says John O’Shea

If Hungary win then Ireland must beat, or draw with, Portugal to have something to play for in last set of matches

Nathan Collins wants Aviva Stadium to be a fortress for Portugal game

Centre-back has been enjoying his football under Keith Andrews at Brentford

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