It is over 15 years since Eoin Hand last managed an Irish soccer team. His last game in charge was the 4-1 World Cup defeat by Denmark in Lansdowne Road in November 1985.

But the former Republic of Ireland boss returned to the managerial role last Monday week and led the FAI team of golfers to victory in the annual Forte Posthouse Hotel charity outing at Malahide. Over £12,000 was raised on the day for the St Francis Hospice in Raheny and in his victory speech Eoin paid glowing tribute to the fine work of this organisation.

And on the golf course, Eoin carried out his 'work' pretty well too as he led his team, which included FAI safety officer Declan McCluskey, press officer Brendan McKenna and Senior Council member Alan Duncan from the St Francis club, to a total of 92 stableford points.

That gave the FAI team a winning margin of four points ahead of the Finn Taylor team of Larry Cullen, Leo Bermingham, Frank Bermingham and Finn Taylor. In third place, also on 88 points, was the Forte Posthouse team of Brian Thornton, Conor Cahill, Jim Murphy and Ingrid Lonergan.