New Ireland deals for O'Neill and Keane

Martin O'Neill has agreed a new two-year deal to stay on as Ireland manager until the end of the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign.

Roy Keane has also agreed a new two-year deal with the Football Association of Ireland to continue as O'Neill's assistant manager.

"I spoke to [FAI chief executive] John [Delaney] very recently and he said on behalf of the board he would like to extend my contract for another couple of years, obviously with the Euros coming up, and I've agreed to do so," former Celtic boss O'Neill told FAI TV.

"I'm delighted. I've enjoyed it immensely. International football was something I didn't know whether you'd get used to or not, but obviously with qualification for the Euros made it all worthwhile - and we're still in this competition also.

"We've some younger players coming through who will take over from the older players who will retire naturally from old age as much as anything else, so it's exciting times."

O'Neill led Ireland to the Euro 2016 finals last summer, where they beat Italy on a memorable night in Lille to progress to the last 16.

Ireland started the World Cup qualification impressively with an away draw in Serbia and a win in Austria, but their Group D campaign faultered in September with a draw in Georgia and defeat to Serbia at home.

Ireland now probably need to win both their games, at home to bottom-of-the-table Moldova on Friday and away to Chris Coleman's Wales on Monday, to have any chance of securing second place in Group D and a possible play-off spot.

"We have shown in the past great resilience, great courage to come and fight back from some adversity - that's what we have been very, very strong at - and tomorrow night [against Moldova], we will need all of that," O'Neill continued.

"But it's not about bringing things over to Cardiff. If we win the game, that will be enough confidence to take us to Cardiff regardless.

"This is it - we must win tomorrow night."

The Republic of Ireland's Under-21 European Qualifier Group 5 qualifier against Israel at Tallaght Stadium on Monday, 9 October will be shown live on eir Sport 1 from 3.25pm [KO 3.30pm].

Photo Inpho/ Gwendoline Le Goff

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