Top Performer
Darron Gibson (Everton)
In his first Premier League start of the season Gibson excelled by marshalling the Toffees midfield in the 1-1 draw with Southampton. The Derry man was crisp with his passing and clever with his running in a tight game.
Watch Out For
Ryan Rainey (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
This Donegal native is making notable strides in the Wolves academy and it was hardly surprising that he was given the captain’s armband for their Under 21 team. Able to play in defence or midfield, he is strong and keen to learn.
Irish Manager Monitor
In the Championship, Chris Hughton’s Brighton & Hove Albion hammered Fulham 5-0, Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich Town drew 1-1 with Sheffield Wednesday, while Brian McDermott’s Reading lost 3-2 to Leeds United.
In League One, John Sheridan’s Oldham Athletic drew 1-1 away to Fleetwood Town to move onto 48 points.
Further Afield
In the Eredivisie, Jack Byrne was in the Cambuur Leeuwarden midfield as they fell to a 2-1 defeat to NEC Nijmegen. In the A-League, Andy Keogh was unable to help Perth Glory advance in the Play-Offs as they lost 2-0 to Melbourne City.
In Scotland, Conrad Logan was Man of the Match as Hibernian overcame Dundee United on penalties in the Scottish Cup semi-final. Anthony Stokes and Sean Dillon also featured in the game. In the other semi-final, Rob Kiernan helped Rangers beat Celtic 5-4 on penalties following a 2-2 draw.
In the NASL in the United States, Colin Falvey featured as Indy Eleven beat New York Cosmos 2-1 (former Ireland underage star Eamon Zayed socred twice), while Richie Ryan helped Jacksonville Armada claim a 2-1 win over Miami.
In the USL, James O’Connor’s Louisville City, who had Niall McCabe involved, beat FC Cincinnati 3-2, Kyle Callan-McFadden was in action for Orlando City B as they lost 1-0 to Harrisburg City Islanders, Iarflaith Davoren played for Tulsa Roughnecks in the scoreless draw with St Louis, Bobby Moseley started for San Antonio FC in their 1-0 loss to Orange County Blues, Derek Foran was unable to prevent Sacarmento Republic from losing 1-0 to Portland Timbers II, and Liam Miller played for Wilmington Hammerheads in their 2-0 win over FC Montreal
Women’s Focus
In England, Emma Byrne and Katie McCabe were un-used substitutes as Arsenal Ladies beat Sunderland Ladies 7-0 to advance to the FA Women’s Cup Final where they will meet Niamh Fahey’s Chelsea Ladies.
In Scotland, Clare Shine headed in the only goal as Glasgow City beat Aberdeen 1-0 with Savannah McCarthy and Ruesha Littlejohn also featuring. In Sweden, Louise Quinn started as Eskilstuna United recorded a 2-1 victory against Djurgarden. And in Germany, Diane Caldwell starred for Koln in their 3-0 loss at home to SGS Essen.
Weekend Stats
Premier League
9 appearances– Ciaran Clark (Aston Villa), Damien Delaney (Crystal Palace), Seamus Coleman, Darron Gibson (Everton), Robbie Brady, Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City), Shane Long (Southampton), John O’Shea (Sunderland), James McClean (West Bromwich Albion)
2 un-used substitutes– Eunan O’Kane (Bournemouth), Darren Randolph (West Ham United)
Championship
23 appearances– Shane Duffy, Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers), Alan McCormack (Brentford), Stephen Ward (Burnley), Anthony Pilkington (Cardiff City), Cyrus Christie, Richard Keogh (Derby County), David Meyler (Hull City), Jonathan Douglas, Kevin Foley, David McGoldrick (Ipswich Town), Samir Carruthers, Darren Potter (MK Dons), Alan Browne, Greg Cunningham, Eoin Doyle (Preston North End), Simon Cox, Stephen Quinn (Reading), Leon Best, Lee Frecklington, Stephen Kelly (Rotherham United), Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday), Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
10 un-used substitutes– Stephen Gleeson (Birmingham City), Jack Bonham (Brentford), Alex Pearce (Bristol City), Sean Scannell (Huddersfield Town), Adam McDonnell (Ipswich Town), Kevin Long (MK Dons), Josh Barrett (Reading), Paul Green, Paddy Kenny (Rotherham United), Joe Mason (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
8 yellow cards– Shane Duffy, Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers), Alan McCormack (Brentford), Stephen Ward (Burnley), Anthony Pilkington (Cardiff City), Cyrus Christie, Richard Keogh (Derby County), Samir Carruthers (MK Dons)
League One
22 appearances– Conor Hourihane (Barnsley), Colin Doyle (Blackpool), Billy Clarke, Josh Cullen (Bradford City), Cian Bolger, John O’Sullivan (Bury), Connor Dimaio, Jay O’Shea (Chesterfield), Owen Garvan (Colchester United), Jimmy Ryan (Fleetwood Town), John Egan (Gillingham), Aiden O’Brien, Shaun Williams (Millwall), Chris Forrester (Peterborough United), Sam Foley (Port Vale), Donal McDermott, Joe Rafferty (Rochdale), Stephen Dawson, Paddy Madden (Scunthorpe United), Gary Deegan, Stephen McLaughlin (Southend United), Anthony Forde (Walsall)
10 un-used substitutes– Mark Yeates (Blackpool), Anthony O’Connor, Callum Reilly (Burton Albion), Bradley Garmston, Emmanuel Osadebe (Gillingham), David Forde (Millwall), Sam Kelly (Port Vale), Conor Sammon (Sheffield United), Liam Kinsella (Walsall), Chris McCann (Wigan Athletic)
3 yellow cards– Josh Cullen (Bradford City), Cian Bolger (Bury), Gary Deegan (Southend United)
1 red card– Shaun Williams (Millwall)
League Two
22 appearances– Seamus Conneely (Accrington Stanley), Graham Stack (Barnet), Rory Gaffney (Bristol Rovers), Charles Dunne, Shamir Fenelon, Lanre Oyebanjo (Crawley Town), Jake Carroll (Hartlepool United), Glen Rea, Alan Sheehan (Luton Town), Jamie Devitt (Morecambe), Mark Byrne (Newport County), James Collins, Brendan Moloney, John-Joe O’Toole (Northampton Town), Graham Carey, Carl McHugh (Plymouth Argyle), Michael Doyle, Enda Stevens (Portsmouth), Jake Mulraney (Stevenage), Rhys Murphy, Connor Smith (AFC Wimbledon), Michael Harriman (Wycombe Wanderers)
1 goalscorer– Rory Gaffney (Bristol Rovers)
6 un-used substitutes– Liam Lawrence (Bristol Rovers), Frankie Sutherland (Crawley Town), Brian Murphy (Portsmouth), Keith Keane (Stevenage), Ryan Sweeney (AFC Wimbledon), Kenny McEvoy (York City)
6 yellow cards– Charles Dunne (Crawley Town), James Collins (Northampton Town), Carl McHugh (Plymouth Argyle), Michael Doyle (Portsmouth), Jake Mulraney (Stevenage), Connor Smith (AFC Wimbledon)
National League
5 appearances– Conor Clifford (Boreham Wood), Sean Long (Braintree Town), James McKeown (Grimsby Town), Ritchie Branagan, Neill Byrne (Macclesfield Town)
1 goalscorer– Conor Clifford (Boreham Wood)
1 clean sheet– Ritchie Branagan (Macclesfield Town)
2 un-used substitutes– Josh O’Keefe (Altrincham), Padraig Amond (Grimsby Town)
*Only players still eligible to represent Republic of Ireland teams appear on this list