LOOSE LIPS sink ships and the Republic of Ireland have found themselves battling to stay afloat amid a sea of controversy over the past few days.

The announcement last night that Martin O’Neill, the manager, and his assistant, Roy Keane, have signed contract extensions until the 2018 World Cup could barely have been better timed. It is perhaps the only thing to come out of the Irish camp over the past week or so which could be termed positive.

It also helped calm what had been another difficult day which saw both men placed at the heart of two decidedly different storms.

Perhaps the most potentially damaging outburst of recent times came from the mouth of Keane, who criticised former Celtic players Aiden McGeady and Daryl Murphy along with Jeff Hendrick following defeat at the hands of Belarus in Cork last week.

His view that McGeady "can do a lot better, but maybe that's the story of Aiden's career" resulted in apologies and private conversations within the Irish camp and a considerable degree of backtracking.

Maybe it is just an inevitable byproduct of the ruthlessly competitive Keane entering tournament mode, but he did not want to talk about what has been said behind the scenes when appearing in front of the media to face the music yesterday afternoon, just hours before the details of his new agreement had been made public.

In contrast, O’Neill, the manager, found himself embroiled in something of a PR disaster following some ill-judged comments of his own and could barely say enough about it.

O’Neill was involved in an on-stage interview with a national radio station, Today FM, in Cork in which he spoke about travelling to the Super Bowl with Keane earlier this year. He joked that his two other coaches, Steve Guppy and Steve Walford, also went along so that people didn’t think himself and his assistant were “queers”.

That throwaway remark was never broadcast, but surfaced earlier this week and forced O’Neill, having already made a public apology, to revisit the subject following some fierce criticism from lesbian, gay and transgender groups.

“It was inappropriate and I might turn around and say crass now at the end of the day,” said the former Celtic manager. “Almost the minute I had said it, I realised that I should not have said that, absolutely. I should not have said it.

“You are right to criticise me, believe it or not. It was inappropriate and I could not genuinely be more sorry. That’s the case.”

In a statement yesterday morning, a spokesperson for the Dublin Devils Football Club, which describes itself as a “gay and inclusive” team, said O’Neill’s words were “unhelpful”.

“This is the wrong message to send to the LGBTI community a week before the Euro 2016 championships,” stated chairman John McAree.

“O’Neill is an idol to many young, gay teens all over Ireland. His comments will make them feel isolated, confused and different. Many young LGBTI men and women play football at local level and support Ireland at international level.”

O’Neill has added that he would be willing to become involved in any initiative that encouraged the LGBT community to become more involved in sport.

“I will do, first of all, if it helps the apology, and, secondly if it’s taken in the right spirit,” he said.

Whether Keane’s remarks about members of the Republic of Ireland squad were taken in the right spirit remains a moot point. O’Neill insists Keane has said sorry to everyone he took aim at, but the former Manchester United and Celtic midfielder refused to elaborate when asked about what had gone on in those meetings.

"I'm not going into what I say and don't say to the players privately,” said Keane. “I've spoken to a few of the players, not just Aiden, and I've done that throughout my career.

"I've no problem in speaking to players, staff members, if I feel I've gone overboard. That isn't an issue for me.

“I'm not going into any sort of conversations I would have had with individuals or group of players. That's private, we move on, we get ready for next week."

Keane did have some footballing matters to discuss, though, ahead of his side’s opening Group E match with Sweden on Monday. Jon Walters missed training again as a result of an Achilles tendon problem, but Keane is refusing to rule the Stoke City striker out.

“It’s not ideal, of course, but I think he’s feeling better in himself," reported Keane. "The medical staff are looking after him and there has been improvement.

“Jon’s a fit lad anyway so we hope that won’t be a problem for next week. In his body language, he’s a lot more positive than he was a few days ago."

Body language has not been the problem of late. It is the blarney that has been to blame for some unwelcome hiccups and everyone within the camp will no doubt be looking forward that meeting with the Swedes and an occasion in which action will be given the opportunity to speak louder than words.