Top Performer
Callum O’Dowda (Oxford United)
Two goals and a nomination for the International Under 21 Player of the Year capped off a fine weekend for this creative midfielder, who continues to improve with each game. Blessed with excellent close control and an eye for a pass, he is the type of player who makes things happen in the final third of the pitch.
Watch Out For
Alex O'Hanlon (Liverpool)
A fleet-footed winger who is at his best when attacking opposition defenders in one-on-one situations, O'Hanlon is someone who can be tough to keep quiet in games. He combines speed with skill so naturally and it is why he has done so well with Liverpool's underage teams.
Irish Manager Monitor
In the Championship, Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich Town lost 1-0 at home to Rotherham United, Brian McDermott's Reading drew 1-1 with Cardiff City, while Chris Hughton’s Brighton & Hove Albion won 2-1 away to MK Dons.
And in League Two, John Sheridan’s Newport County suffered a 4-1 loss at home to victory away to Bristol Rovers.
Further Afield
In the Eredivisie, Jack Byrne started for Cambuur Leeuwarden as they lost 1-0 to Roda JC, while in the A-League, Roy O’Donovan scored for Central Coast Mariners in their 2-2 draw with Sydney FC and Andy Keogh was on target for Perth Glory as they won 2-1 away to Wellington Phoenix, and in Cyprus, Cillian Sheridan scored the second goal for Omonia Nicosia in their 2-1 triumph over Nea Salamis.
Women’s Focus
In the Scottish Women’s Premier League, Savannah McCarthy and Ruesha Littlejohn started for Glasgow City in the 1-0 win over Celtic where Clare Shine got the goal.
Meanwhile in England’s FA Women’s Cup, Katie McCabe started for Arsenal Ladies as they overcame Birmingham City Ladies on penalties following a 1-1 draw, Stephanie Roche came off the bench for Sunderland Ladies in their 2-0 victory over Yeovil Town Ladies, Niamh Fahey started for Chelsea Ladies as they beat Doncaster Rovers Belles 4-1, Brighton & Hove Albion Women had Sophie Perry on the scoresheet but they lost 4-3 to Sporting Club Albion win over Blackburn Rovers Ladies, while Grace Moloney kept a clean sheet for Reading Women in their 2-0 victory over Millwall Lionesses with Lois Roche and Harriet Scott also featuring for the home side.
Denise O’Sullivan, who was named as the Senior Women's International Player of the Year, has joined Houston Dash in the NWSL following three years with Glasgow City, where she scored 39 goals in 64 games.
Weekend Stats
Premier League
14 appearances– Ciaran Clark (Aston Villa), Harry Arter, Eunan O’Kane (Bournemouth), Damien Delaney (Crystal Palace), Seamus Coleman, James McCarthy (Everton), Rob Elliot (Newcastle United), Robbie Brady (Norwich City), Shane Long (Southampton), Stephen Ireland, Jonathan Walters, Glenn Whelan (Stoke City), John O’Shea (Sunderland), James McClean (West Bromwich Albion)
2 goalscorers– Robbie Brady (Norwich City), Jonathan Walters (Stoke City)
3 un-used substitutes– Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City), Joey O’Brien, Darren Randolph (West Ham United)
1 yellow card – Jonathan Walters (Stoke City)
Championship
25 appearances– Stephen Gleeson (Birmingham City), Shane Duffy, Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers), Alan Judge, Alan McCormack (Brentford), Stephen Ward (Burnley), Anthony Pilkington (Cardiff City), Cyrus Christie, Jeff Hendrick, Richard Keogh (Derby County), Jonathan Douglas, Daryl Murphy (Ipswich Town), Darren Potter (MK Dons), Greg Cunningham, Eoin Doyle (Preston North End), Simon Cox, Paul McShane, Stephen Quinn (Reading), Leon Best, Lee Frecklington, Stephen Kelly (Rotherham United), Aiden McGeady, Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday), Matt Doherty, Joe Mason (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
3 goalscorers– Shane Duffy (Blackburn Rovers), Eoin Doyle (Preston North End), Leon Best (Rotherham United)
1 clean sheet – Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday)
7 un-used substitutes– Jack Bonham (Brentford), Alex Pearce (Bristol City), Joe Murphy, Sean Scannell (Huddersfield Town), Kevin Foley (Ipswich Town), Paul Green, Paddy Kenny (Rotherham United)
5 yellow cards – Shane Duffy, Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers), Stephen Ward (Burnley), Anthony Pilkington (Cardiff City), Richard Keogh (Derby County)
League One
25 appearances– Conor Hourihane (Barnsley), Colin Doyle (Blackpool), Billy Clarke, Josh Cullen (Bradford City), Damien McCrory, Callum Reilly (Burton Albion), Cian Bolger, John O’Sullivan (Bury), Connor Dimaio, Jay O’Shea (Chesterfield), Owen Garvan (Colchester United), Jimmy Ryan (Fleetwood Town), Aiden O’Brien (Millwall), Chris Forrester (Peterborough United), Sam Foley, Sam Kelly (Port Vale), Niall Canavan, Donal McDermott, Joe Rafferty (Rochdale), Stephen Dawson, Paddy Madden (Scunthorpe United), Conor Sammon (Sheffield United), Gary Deegan (Southend United), Anton Rodgers (Swindon Town), Liam Kinsella (Walsall)
1 goalscorer – Paddy Madden (Scunthorpe United)
12 un-used substitutes– Mark Yeates (Blackpool), Anthony O’Connor (Burton Albion), Louis Dunne (Colchester United), Stephen Hunt (Coventry City), Paul Keegan (Doncaster Rovers), Bradley Garmston, Emmanuel Osadebe (Gillingham), Graham Kelly (Sheffield United), Stephen McLaughlin (Southend United), David Forde, Shaun Williams (Millwall), Anthony Forde (Walsall)
4 yellow cards – Cian Bolger, John O’Sullivan (Bury), Joe Rafferty (Rochdale), Anton Rodgers (Swindon Town)
League Two
26 appearances– Seamus Conneely (Accrington Stanley), Rory Gaffney (Bristol Rovers), Charles Dunne, Shamir Fenelon, Liam McAlinden, Lanre Oyebanjo, Frankie Sutherland (Crawley Town), Jake Carroll (Hartlepool United), Glen Rea, Alan Sheehan (Luton Town), Sean Kavanagh (Mansfield 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), Rhys Murphy (AFC Wimbledon), Michael Harriman (Wycombe Wanderers), Kevin Dawson (Yeovil Town)
4 goalscorers– James Collins, John-Joe O’Toole (Northampton Town), Callum O’Dowda [2] (Oxford United), Rhys Murphy (AFC Wimbledon)
5 un-used substitutes– Clinton Morrison (Exeter City), Graham Burke, Ronan Murray (Notts County), James Berrett, Kenny McEvoy (York City)
5 yellow cards – Jake Carroll (Hartlepool United), Glen Rea (Luton Town), Mark Byrne (Newport County), John-Joe O’Toole (Northampton Town), Enda Stevens (Portsmouth)
1 red card – Barry Roche (Morecambe)
National League
4 appearances– Conor Clifford (Boreham Wood), Sean Long (Braintree Town), Alan Power (Lincoln City), Mark O’Brien (Southport)
6 un-used substitutes– Sean McGinty (Aldershot Town), Josh O’Keefe (Altrincham), Jack Connors (Boreham Wood), Harry Crawford (Dover Athletic), Ritchie Branagan, Neill Byrne (Macclesfield Town)
FA Trophy
3 appearances– Padraig Amond, Pat Hoban, James McKeown (Grimsby Town)
1 goalscorer – Padriag Amond [2] (Grimsby Town)
Scottish Premiership
7 appearances– Jonny Hayes (Aberdeen), Darren O’Dea (Dundee), Gavin Gunning (Dundee United), Richie Foran (Inverness CT), Gary Dicker (Kilmarnock), Graham Cummins, Joe Shaughnessy (St Johnstone)
2 un-used substitutes– Willo Flood (Aberdeen), Sean Dillon (Dundee United)
MLS
2 appearances– Kevin Doyle (Colorado Rapids), Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy)
1 goalscorer – Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy)
*Only players still eligible to represent Republic of Ireland teams appear on this list