Top Performer
Aiden O’Brien (Millwall)
Five different loan spells in the last four years have been part of O’Brien’s footballing education, although he is now ready to graduate into the senior ranks at Millwall. The 21-year-old’s hat-trick in the win over Crewe certainly proved that as the tricky forward attempts to nail down a starting position with The Lions.
Watch Out For
Glen Rea (Southend United)
The Republic of Ireland Under 21 midfielder joined The Shrimpers on a short-term loan deal to better prepare him to break into the Brighton & Hove Albion first-team. He played in the backline in the narrow loss at home to Shrewsbury Town and showed that he is capable of performing in big games.
Did You Know?
Norwich City midfielder Wes Hoolahan has recorded four assists from five Premier League games this season, which is just three short of his best return for a season in the English top flight.
Irish Manager Monitor
In the Championship, Chris Hughton’s Brighton & Hove Albion maintained their good start to the season by beating Hull City 1-0, while Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich Town lost 5-1 away to Reading.
Further Afield
In the USL, James O’Connor’s Louisville City lost 2-0 away to Charleston Battery with Niall McCabe starting, Danny Earls helped Pittsburgh Riverhounds draw 1-1 with Wilmington Hammerheads, while Derek Foran came on as a late substitute for Sacramento Republic as they secured a 3-0 victory away to Portland Timbers II. In the NASL, Colin Falvy and Richie Ryan both featured for Ottawa Fury in their scoreless draw with Fort Lauderdale Strikers.
In Cyprus, Cillian Sheridan started for Omonia Nicosia in their 1-1 draw at home to Doxa. In the third tier of Germany, former Ireland Under 21 defender Patrick Kohlmann played for Holstein Kiel in their scoreless draw with Aalen.
Women’s Focus
Louise Quinn played the full 90 minutes for Eskilstuna United as the Damallsvenskan leaders won 2-0 away to Hammarby. In Norway, Diane Caldwell is going to the Cup Final after Avaldsnes overcame Stabaek on penalties following a 2-2 draw. And in the Scottish Women’s Cup Quarter-Finals, Denise O’Sullivan was on target for Glasgow City in their 11-0 hammering of Kilmarnock.
Niamh Fahey crashed out of the Continental Tyres Women’s Cup in England after Chelsea Ladies lost 1-0 to Birmingham City and Grace Moloney also went out at the quarter-final stage following Reading Women’s 3-2 defeat at the hands of Notts County Ladies.
Weekend Stats
Premier League
10 appearances– Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Eunan O’Kane (Bournemouth), Seamus Coleman, James McCarthy (Everton), Robbie Brady, Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City), Stephen Ireland, Glenn Whelan (Stoke City), John O’Shea (Sunderland), James McClean (West Brom)
1 goalscorer– Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City)
4 un-used substitutes– Ciaran Clark (Aston Villa), Shane Long (Southampton), Shay Given, Marc Wilson (Stoke City)
1 yellow card– Robbie Brady (Norwich City)
Championship
23 appearances– Stephen Gleeson (Birmingham City), Shane Duffy (Blackburn Rovers), Alan Judge, Alan McCormack (Brentord), Derrick Williams (Bristol City), Joe Mason, Anthony Pilkington (Cardiff City), Cyrus Christie, Jeff Hendrick, Richard Keogh (Derby County), Sean Scannell (Huddersfield Town), David Meyler (Hull City), Jonathan Douglas, David McGoldrick, Daryl Murphy (Ipswich Town), Samir Carruthers (MK Dons), Greg Cunningham, Eoin Doyle (Preston North End), Paul McShane, Stephen Quinn (Reading), Lee Frecklington, Paul Green (Rotherham United), Matt Doherty (Wolves)
2 goalscorers– Joe Mason, Anthony Pilkington (Cardiff City)
3 un-used substitutes– Jack Bonham (Brentford), Stephen Ward (Burnley), Alan Browne (Preston North End)
4 yellow cards– Shane Duffy (Blackburn Rovers), Alan Judge (Brentford), David Meyler (Hull City), Samir Carruthers (MK Dons)
League One
28 appearances– Conor Hourihane (Barnsley), Colin Doyle (Blackpool), Damien McCrory, Anthony O’Connor (Burton Albion), Jay O’Shea (Chesterfield), Owen Garvan (Colchester United), Paul Keegan (Doncaster Rovers), Jimmy Ryan (Fleetwood Town), John Egan (Gillingham), Aiden O’Brien, Shaun Williams (Millwall), Rhys Murphy, Mark Yeates (Oldham Athletic), Chris Forrester (Peterborough United), Sam Foley (Port Vale), Donal McDermott, Joe Rafferrty (Rochdale), Paddy Madden (Scunthorpe United), Conor Sammon (Sheffield United), James Collins, Liam Lawrence (Shrewsbury Town), Noel Hunt, Stephen McLaughlin, Dave Mooney, Glen Rea, Michael Timlin (Southend United), Anton Rodgers (Swindon Town), Chris McCann (Wigan Athletic)
6 goalscorers– Conor Hourihane (Barnsley), Jimmy Ryan (Fleetwood Town), Rhys Murphy (Oldham Athletic), Aiden O’Brien [3] (Millwall), Paddy Madden (Scunthorpe United), Chris McCann (Wigan Athletic)
5 un-used substitutes– Conor Wilkinson (Barnsley), David Forde (Millwall), Cian Bolger, Gary Deegan (Southend United), Anthony Forde (Walsall)
4 yellow cards– Paul Keegan (Doncaster Rovers), Joe Rafferrty (Rochdale), Liam McAlinden (Shrewsbury Town), Glen Rea (Southend United)
League Two
20 appearances– Seamus Conneely (Accrington Stanley), Gary Dicker (Carlisle United), Kane Ferdinand (Dag & Red), Clinton Morrison (Exeter City), Jamie Devitt, Barry Roche (Morecambe), Mark Byrne (Newport County), Paul Corry (Northampton Town), Graham Burke (Notts County), Pat Hoban, Callum O’Dowda (Oxford United), Graham Carey, Carl McHugh (Plymouth Argyle), Michael Doyle, Brian Murphy, Enda Stevens (Portsmouth), Connor Smith (Stevenage), Michael Harriman (Wycombe Wanderers), James Berrett, Eddie Nolan (York City)
1 goalscorer– Eddie Nolan (York City)
4 un-used substitutes– Gearoid Morrissey (Cambridge United), Conor Henderson (Crawley Town), Jack Connors (Dag & Red), Alan Dunne (Leyton Orient)3 yellow cards – Graham Burke (Notts County), Graham Carey (Plymouth Argyke), Enda Stevens (Portsmouth)
Scottish Premiership
6 appearances– Willo Flood, Jonny Hayes, Adam Rooney (Aberdeen), Sean Dillon (Dundee United), Graham Cummins, Joe Shaughnessy (St Johnstone)
1 goalscorer– Adam Rooney (Aberdeen)
1 red card– Jonny Hayes (Aberdeen)
MLS
2 appearances– Kevin Doyle, Sean St Ledger (Colorado Rapids), Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy)
Compiled by GARETH MAHER