Top Performer
Paul McShane (Reading)
Leading by example comes naturally to McShane and he displayed that again as The Royals overcame West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup. The Wicklow man scored one of his team’s three goals and registered a truly superb performance.
Watch Out For
Connor Dimaio (Chesterfield)
A sweet right-footed finish on his first start helped ensure Dimaio made the best first impression on the supporters of his new club. Signed in January from Sheffield United, the young midfielder has the potential of being a big hit.
Irish Manager Monitor
In the Championship, Chris Hughton’s Brighton & Hove Albion lost 4-1 away to Cardiff City, while Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich Town take on Hull City on Tuesday evening.
In the FA Cup, Brian McDermott’s Reading scored a 3-1 win over West Bromwich Albion with three Irish players in their starting line-up – one of which (Paul McShane) scoring – and another on the bench.
In League One, Sean O’Driscoll’s Walsall lost 2-1 at home to Wigan Athletic. And in League Two, John Sheridan’s Newport County collected a point on the road in a 1-1 draw with Exeter City.
Further Afield
In the A-League, Andy Keogh netted for Perth Glory in a 6-3 hammering of Brisbane Roar, while in the Eredivisie, Jack Byrne started for Cambuur Leeuwarden in their 3-0 loss to FC Twente and in Cyprus, Cillian Sheridan played the full 90 minutes as Omonia Nicosia claimed a 2-1 victory over Aris.
Weekend Stats
FA Cup
12 appearances– Shane Duffy, Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers), Eunan O’Kane (Bournemouth), Damien Delaney (Crystal Palace), Seamus Coleman, James McCarthy (Everton), David Meyler (Hull City), Simon Cox, Paul McShane, Stephen Quinn (Reading), James McClean (West Bromwich Albion), Darren Randolph (West Ham United)
1 goalscorer– Paul McShane (Reading)
1 un-used substitute– Josh Barrett (Reading)
1 yellow card– James McCarthy (Everton)
Championship
16 appearances– Alan Judge (Brentford), Alex Pearce (Bristol City), Stephen Ward (Burnley), Anthony Pilkington (Cardiff City), Stephen Henderson (Charlton Athletic), Cyrus Christie, Jeff Hendrick, Richard Keogh (Derby County), Darren Potter (MK Dons), Alan Browne, Greg Cunningham (Preston North End), Leon Best, Paul Green (Rotherham United), Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday), Matt Doherty, Joe Mason (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
4 goalscorers– Alan Judge (Brentford), Anthony Pilkington (Cardiff City), Cyrus Christie, Jeff Hendrick (Derby County)
5 un-used substitutes– Jack Bonham (Brentford), Derrick Williams (Bristol City), Joe Murphy (Huddersfield Town), Eoin Doyle (Preston North End), Paddy Kenny (Rotherham United)
2 yellow cards– Darren Potter (MK Dons), Greg Cunningham (Preston North End)
League One
24 appearances– Conor Hourihane, Aidan White (Barnsley), Colin Doyle, Mark Yeates (Blackpool), Billy Clarke (Bradford City), Ian Lawlor (Bury), Connor Dimaio, Jay O’Shea (Chesterfield), Owen Garvan (Colchester Rovers), Paul Keegan (Doncaster Rovers), Jimmy Ryan (Fleetwood Town), Bradley Garmston, Emmanuel Osadebe (Gillingham), Aiden O’Brien (Millwall), Rhys Murphy (Oldham Athletic), Chris Forrester (Peterborough United), Sam Foley, Sam Kelly (Port Vale), Niall Canavan, Joe Rafferty (Rochdale), Stephen Dawson, Paddy Madden (Scunthorpe United), Anthony Forde (Walsall), Chris McCann (Wigan Athletic)
2 goalscorers– Connor Dimaio (Chesterfield), Paddy Madden (Scunthorpe United)
4 un-used substitutes– Josh Cullen (Barnsley), John O’Sullivan (Bury), David Forde (Millwall), Liam Kinsella (Walsall)
2 yellow cards– Aidan White (Barnsley), Sam Kelly (Port Vale)
League Two
23 appearances– Seamus Conneely (Accrington Stanley), Rory Gaffney, Liam Lawrence (Bristol Rovers), Shamir Fenelon (Crawley Town), Jake Carroll (Hartlepool United), Alan Sheehan (Luton Town), Jamie Devitt, Barry Roche (Morecambe), Mark Byrne, Conor Wilkinson (Newport County), James Collins, Brendan Moloney, John-Joe O’Toole (Northampton Town), Callum O’Dowda (Oxford United), Graham Carey, Carl McHugh (Plymouth Argyle), Michael Doyle, Enda Stevens (Portsmouth), Keith Keane (Stevenage), Ryan Sweeney (AFC Wimbledon), Michael Harriman (Wycombe Wanderers), James Berrett, Kenny McEvoy (York City)
4 goalscorers– Rory Gaffney (Bristol Rovers), Shamir Fenelon (Crawley Town), Jamie Devitt (Morecambe), James Berrett (York City)
7 un-used substitutes– Lanre Oyebanjo (Crawley Town), Clinton Morrison (Exeter City), Sean Kavanagh (Mansfield Town), Graham Burke, Ronan Murray (Notts County), Adam Barton (Portsmouth), Connor Smith (AFC Wimbledon)
National League
6 appearances– Sean McGinty (Aldershot Town), Josh O’Keefe (Altrincham), Conor Clifford (Boreham Wood), Padraig Amond, James McKeown (Grimsby Town), Alan Power (Lincoln City)
1 goalscorer– Padraig Amond (Grimsby Town)
1 un-used substitute– Ryan O’Reilly (Wrexham)
Scottish Premiership
5 appearances– Darren O’Dea (Dundee), Gavin Gunning (Dundee United), Gary Dicker (Kilmarnock), Graham Cummins, Joe Shaughnessy (St Johnstone)
1 un-used substitute– Sean Dillon (Dundee United)
*Only players still eligible to represent Republic of Ireland teams appear on this list