Top Performer
Shane Duffy (Blackburn Rovers)
The giant centre-back notched in the winning goal to secure Blackburn’s 12th League triumph of the season. He has been a stand-out performer for Paul Lambert’s side this term.
Watch Out For
Brian Lenihan (Hull City)
A first start of the season for this Cork native may have resulted in a narrow defeat, but he did enough to show Hull boss Steve Bruce what he is capable of should he be called upon in the play-offs.
Irish Manager Monitor
In the Championship, Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich Town claimed a 3-2 win over MK Dons, while Brian McDermott’s Reading lost 2-1 to Preston North End. Chris Hughton’s Brighton & Hove Albion are in action on Monday night against Derby County,
In League One, John Sheridan’s Oldham Athletic lost 3-0 away to Millwall to stay on 54 points and four places above the relegation zone.
Further Afield
In the Eredivisie, Jack Byrne scored a superb goal for Cambuur Leeuwarden but they still fell to a 6-2 defeat to PSV, who are joint top with Ajax.
In MLS, Kevin Doyle played the full 90 minutes as Colorado Rapids drew 2-2 away to Montreal Impact to leave them top of the Western Conference.
In the NASL in the United States, Colin Falvey helped Indy Eleven record a 2-1 win away to Rayo OKC as they moved onto eight points from four games played.
In the USL, James O’Connor’s Louisville City – who had Niall McCabe in their line-up – shared a point with James Chambers’ Bethlehem Steel in a scoreless draw, Bobby Moseley helped San Antonio FC claim a 3-1 win over Tulsa Roughnecks, Derek Foran featured for Sacarmento Republic in their narrow 1-0 loss to Orange County Blues, and Liam Miller played for Wilmington Hammerheads in their 1-1 draw with FC Cincinnati.
Women’s Focus
In England, Stephanie Roche was unable to prevent Sunderland Ladies losing 2-0 to Manchester City Ladies, while Katie McCabe played the full 90 minutes for Arsenal Ladies in their scoreless draw with Birmingham City Ladies.
In Scotland, Savannah McCarthy, Ruesha Littlejohn, and Clare Shine all helped Glasgow City to a 2-0 win over Hibernian Ladies. In Sweden, Louise Quinn started for Eskilstuna United as they lost 3-1 at home to Linkoping. And in Germany, Diane Caldwell’s Koln overcame Turbine Potsdam 3-2.
In the United States, Denise O’Sullivan came off the bench for Houston Dash to make her NWSL debut in a scoreless draw with Sky Blue FC. She becomes the second Irish international to play for the club following in the footsteps of Roche.
Weekend Stats
Premier League
12 appearances– Ciaran Clark, Kevin Toner (Aston Villa), Harry Arter (Bournemouth), Damien Delaney (Crystal Palace), Darron Gibson, James McCarthy (Everton), Robbie Brady, Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City), Shane Long (Southampton), Jonathan Walters, Glenn Whelan (Stoke City), James McClean (West Bromwich Albion)
2 goalscorers– Ciaran Clark (Aston Villa), Shane Long (Southampton)
3 un-used substitutes– Eunan O’Kane (Bournemouth), John O’Shea (Sunderland), Darren Randolph (West Ham United)
1 yellow card– Darron Gibson (Everton)
Championship
24 appearances– Stephen Gleeson (Birmingham City), Shane Duffy, Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers), Alex Pearce, Derrick Williams (Bristol City), Anthony Pilkington (Cardiff City), Sean Scannell (Huddersfield Town), Brian Lenihan (Hull City), David McGoldrick (Ipswich Town), Samir Carruthers, Kevin Long, Darren Potter (MK Dons), Alan Browne, Greg Cunningham, Eoin Doyle (Preston North End), Josh Barrett, Paul McShane, Stephen Quinn (Reading), Leon Best, Lee Frecklington, Stephen Kelly (Rotherham United), Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday), Matt Doherty, Joe Mason (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
5 goalscorers– Stephen Gleeson (Birmingham City), Shane Duffy (Blackburn Rovers), David McGoldrick (Ipswich Town), Stephen Quinn (Reading), Joe Mason (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
1 clean sheet– Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday)
6 un-used substitutes– Jack Bonham (Brentford), Kevin Foley, Adam McDonnell (Ipswich Town), Simon Cox (Reading), Paul Green, Paddy Kenny (Rotherham United)
League One
27 appearances– Conor Hourihane (Barnsley), Colin Doyle (Blackpool), Josh Cullen (Bradford City), Damien McCrory, Anthony O’Connor (Burton Albion), Cian Bolger, John O’Sullivan (Bury), Connor Dimaio, Jay O’Shea (Chesterfield), Owen Garvan (Colchester United), Stephen Hunt (Coventry City), John Egan, Bradley Garmston (Gillingham), Aiden O’Brien (Millwall), Chris Forrester (Peterborough United), Sam Foley, Sam Kelly (Port Vale), Niall Canavan, Donal McDermott (Rochdale), Stephen Dawson, Paddy Madden (Scunthorpe United), Graham Kelly (Sheffield United), Noel Hunt, Stephen McLaughlin, Dave Mooney (Southend United), Anton Rodgers (Swindon Town), Chris McCann (Wigan Athletic)
3 goalscorers– Jay O’Shea (Chesterfield), Paddy Madden (Scunthorpe United), Chris McCann (Wigan Athletic)
8 un-used substitutes– Mark Yeates (Blackpool), Billy Clarke (Bradford City), Callum Reilly (Burton Albion), Ian Lawlor (Bury), Louis Dunne (Colchester United), David Forde (Millwall), Conor Sammon (Sheffield United), Gary Deegan (Southend United)
2 yellow cards– Conor Hourihane (Barnsley), Stephen McLaughlin (Southend United)
League Two
26 appearances– Seamus Conneely (Accrington Stanley), Rory Gaffney (Bristol Rovers), Charles Dunne, Shamir Fenelon, Liam McAlinden, Frankie Sutherland (Crawley Town), Glen Rea, Alan Sheehan (Luton Town), Jamie Devitt, Barry Roche (Morecambe), Mark Byrne (Newport County), James Collins, John-Joe O’Toole (Northampton Town), Graham Burke (Notts County), Callum O’Dowda (Oxford United), Graham Carey, Carl McHugh (Plymouth Argyle), Adam Barton, Michael Doyle, Brian Murphy, Enda Stevens (Portsmouth), Jake Mulraney (Stevenage), Connor Smith (AFC Wimbledon), Michael Harriman (Wycombe Wanderers), James Berrett, Kenny McEvoy (York City)
2 goalscorers– Graham Carey (Plymouth Argyle), Kenny McEvoy (York City)
1 clean sheet– Brian Murphy (Portsmouth)
2 un-used substitutes– Rhys Murphy, Ryan Sweeney (AFC Wimbledon)
2 yellow cards– Carl McHugh (Plymouth Argyle), James Berrett (York City)
National League
8 appearances– Conor Clifford (Boreham Wood), Sean Long (Braintree Town), Harry Crawford (Dover Athletic), Conor Henderson, Pat Hoban (Grimsby Town), Alan Power (Lincoln City), Ritchie Branagan, Neill Byrne (Macclesfield Town)
1 un-used substitute– Josh O’Keefe (Altrincham)
Scottish Premiership
7 appearances– Willo Flood, Jonny Hayes, Adam Rooney (Aberdeen), Richie Foran (Inverness CT), Gary Dicker (Kilmarnock), Graham Cummins, Joe Shaughnessy (St Johnstone)
2 goalscorers– Jonny Hayes, Adam Rooney (Aberdeen)
1 yellow card– Joe Shaughnessy (St Johnstone)
*Only players still eligible to represent Republic of Ireland teams appear on this list