There is a certain irony in the fact that while the shifting sands of political progress have brought both parts of this island closer together over the past few days, in sporting and cultural terms they seem to be drifting further and further apart.

This finds its most graphic expression in the stark contrast that can be drawn between the current respective football fortunes of Northern Ireland and the Republic. And as the Euro 2000 bandwagon rolls on tonight into Turkey the point is being driven ever more forcibly home.

That is why all the doom and gloom coverage of last Saturday night's 1-1 draw at Lansdowne Road was received here with more than a little amusement and bemusement. Just a few months ago Turkey breezed into Belfast during the qualifying campaign and coasted with embarrassing ease to a facile win. And that was just a repeat trick of what they had done at home in Istanbul late last year. Alright, Northern Ireland were particularly directionless at Windsor Park that afternoon under the tutelage of a manager, Lawrie McMenemy, who was fast losing interest in the whole escapade. But the fact remains that Turkey looked a top-class international side and, given the way they more than matched Germany home and away, probably should have qualified automatically for next year's finals.

That is the context into which the Republic's first-leg draw must be put. They played with a degree of composure and willingness to pass the ball that would make even the casual Northern Ireland observer squirm. Nor did they look at all out of place against one of the formidable teams in Europe. And, in truth, it has been thus for most of the last decade. The legacy of the Charlton years was the ingraining of a winning habit and that has been more than consolidated by Brian Kerr's achievements at under-age level and Mick McCarthy's steady senior progress.

Regardless of what happens tonight in Bursa, this entire qualifying series has been further proof that there is now a chair for the Republic at European football's top table. The consistency of the performances over the past 10 years have earned that right and it has been copper-fastened by the impact and injection of real quality that Roy and Robbie Keane have brought.

The same can hardly be said for Northern Ireland. Their recent record has been fairly dismal, illuminated only by the occasional backs-against-the-wall showing against one of the major powers. But that alone should not have everyone reaching for the sackcloth and ashes. With an incredibly small pick of players, all but a few of whom ply their footballing trade outside the English Premiership, international success for Northern Ireland is always more likely to be sporadic than consistent.

The root of repeated failure can be traced right back to the Irish Football Association which retains the slightly detached air of a semi-exclusive gentleman's club at a time when most other football governing bodies, the FAI included, have reinvented themselves into progressive and ambitious business organisations.

Life in the North trundles on from one international match to another and one unsuccessful qualifying campaign to the next but very little ever changes. While the Republic's youth teams have put down some very strong foundations for the future, Northern Ireland has made next to no impact at under-age level in the recent past. As a consequence, it is becoming increasingly difficult to imagine the decline of the senior international team being halted never mind reversed.

There are little, telling counterpoints everywhere which highlight the IFA's plight compared to the rude health of its southern counterpart. While the newspapers, television and radio were churning out reams of Euro 2000 play-off coverage all last week, there was the barely-noticed news that a shortlist was being drawn up for the vacant Northern Ireland manager's job and that an appointment could be made by Christmas.

THIS REVELATION was hardly ever going to set the pulses of the international sporting public racing. But when it was then leaked that, with no big names in the frame, the favourite for the job was former international and current Macclesfield manager Sammy McIlroy, any possible level of interest fell off the bottom of the scale.

This is no disrespect to McIlroy because he will surely try to imbue his players with a degree of passion and commitment that was noticeably absent under Lawrie McMenemy. But the calibre of candidates likely to be attracted by the Northern Ireland job is a pretty damning indication of the freefall in which football here finds itself.

In all of this it is impossible not to feel some sympathy for the players. At club level here the abuse and vitriol they have to endure from the hardcore of supporters is nowhere near commensurate with their meagre rewards. It is even more acute for the international players. Representing Northern Ireland over the past decade has become a joyless experience and it is little wonder that some of the genuinely talented individuals like Keith Gillespie seem to approach games at Windsor Park with all the enthusiasm they would generate for a firing squad.

In contrast to the situation with the Republic where reasonably ordinary players clearly benefit from the oxygen of international recognition and being part of well-drilled team, a culture of mediocrity surrounds Northern Ireland football. In that type of environment the journeyman always prevails and succeeds in dragging those around him down to his level.

It is scarcely believable that only five or six years ago television programmes, fuelled by the hints of political change, were being made here about the possibility of an All-Ireland football team in the short to medium future. To suggest the idea now would be to invite ridicule because with an evolving and exciting international team there would be absolutely no benefit in such a move for the FAI. Add to that the very real possibility that no Northern Ireland player would make the starting 11 and you have a telling indication of where the balance of Irish footballing power rests. So when the Republic of Ireland go out to face Turkey this evening, Northern Ireland supporters here can only look on enviously and wistfully. This is truly the island of the tortoise and the hare.