Prior to taking charge of the national team Stephen Kenny had a strong record of domestic footballing success. All of which currently means very little. Ireland were beaten last night by Luxembourg, one of the minnows of European soccer.

In the wake of the game Irish captain Seamus Coleman and manager Kenny gave very frank television interviews where they pulled no punches. It just wasn’t good enough. From ashes sometimes comes a fire and the Irish team badly need to find a Phoenix like persona very soon. If not the hot seat of Irish football will soon be searching for a new occupant.

In the world of the oval shaped ball Leinster ran out surprisingly easy winners over Munster in yesterday’s Pro 14 final. The glory days of the men in red seem a long time ago.

Stephen Kenny and Munster rugby are not ordinarily mentioned in the same sentence. Today they have things in common, similar wounds to heal.

Across in the high octane world of Formula One motor racing, a certain Mick Schumacher, son of seven time world champion Michael, makes his debut this afternoon in the Bahrain Grand Prix. Schumacher senior is still suffering the affects of a skiing accident in December 2013.

Sport can be a cruel business.