Eileen Gleeson defends Republic of Ireland’s play-off focus amid calls for a better pathway to the national team [Video]

EILEEN GLEESON said when leaving her press conference: “Good, glad you asked lots about the play-offs!”

It was sarcastic as there had been very few. 

A Euro 2025 play-off semi-final with a Georgia team that Ireland beat 11-0 and 9-0 in the 2023 World Cup qualifiers is a tough sell. 

And that does not just go for grumpy journalists; the FAI have chosen Tallaght rather than the Aviva Stadium for the October 29 second leg. Ticket sales are going “well.”

Instead, the Ireland boss faced questions relating to interviews done by league winning Athlone Town manager Ciaran Kilduff this week in advance of Sunday’s FAI Cup final.

Kilduff bemoaned what he viewed as a disconnect between the League …