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dreaded drop

Which Irish players have suffered multiple Premier League relegations?

If Norwich are relegated it would be a second successive relegation for Robbie Brady, while Wes Hoolahan is also facing the drop for the second time.

SOME OF IRELAND’s best-ever players such as Denis Irwin and Roy Keane know what it feels like to be relegated from the Premier League, with Wolves and Nottingham Forest respectively, but which Irish players have suffered multiple relegations from the Premier League?

3 – Damien Duff

Despite being regarded as one of Ireland’s most gifted players, Damien Duff has been relegated from the Premier League on three separate occasions with Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United and Fulham.

3 – Stephen Hunt

Winner of 34 Ireland caps, Hunt now plays for Coventry City in League One having being relegated with three different clubs – Reading, Hull and Wolves.

3 – Niall Quinn

The Dubliner is a hero on Wearside despite being relegated twice from the Premier League with Sunderland. The scorer of 21 international goals, Quinn was also part of the Manchester City side that dropped to the Championship in 1996.

Soccer - FA Barclaycard Premiership - Sunderland v Leeds United Niall Quinn is a cult hero at the Stadium of Light. John Walton John Walton

3 – Gary Breen

The much-travelled and much-loved Irish defender couldn’t prevent Coventry City, West Ham or Sunderland being relegated during his time with those clubs.

3 – Colin Doyle

The Blackpool goalkeeper was relegated three times from the Premier League with Birmingham, managing just four appearances during that period. The Cork native could be set for the drop again with the Seasiders this season in League One.

2 – Matt Holland

The Bury-born midfielder was relegated twice from the Premier League in his career, with Ipswich Town and Charlton Athletic – neither club has returned to the England’s top flight since those relegations.

2 – Kevin Kilbane

Ireland’s third most-capped player was relegated twice from the Premier League, with Sunderland and then Hull.

Soccer - Pre Season Friendly - Hull City v Dundee United - KC Stadium Kevin Kilbane played for nine clubs in his career. EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

2 – Richard Dunne

Dunne experienced relegation for the second time in his last season in professional football. Having already been relegated with Manchester City in 2001, he was relegated with QPR last season.

2 – Paul McShane

Now the captain of Reading in the Championship, the Irish defender has been relegated twice with Hull City, in 2010 and again in 2015.

2 – Kenny Cunningham

Cunningham was a defender that got better with age but was relegated from the Premier League with Wimbledon and Birmingham City.

2 – Lee Carsley

A reliable and consistent player in the middle of the park, Carsley was relegated with Blackburn Rovers and Coventry City before a more fruitful spell with Everton.

Soccer - Nationwide League Division One - Blackburn Rovers v Nottingham Forest Lee Carsley is now works as a coach with the underage England sides. EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

2 – Kevin Doyle

The Colorado Rapids striker was relegated twice in four years with Reading and Wolves, along with Stephen Hunt.

2 – Ian Harte

The deadball specialist was part of the Leeds side that were relegated from the Premier League in 2004. Harte was relegated again from the Premier League nine years later with Reading.

2 – Stephen Ward

The former Bohemians man is on the verge of being promoted back into the Premier League this season, having been part of the Burnley team that was relegated last season. Ward was also relegated with Wolves in 2012.

Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Burnley v Stoke City - Turf Moor Stephen Ward could be back in the Premier League with Burnley next season. Dave Thompson Dave Thompson

2 – Rory Delap

Delap became known for his long throws in the latter part of his career and played a big part in helping Stoke cement their place in the Premier League but was relegated with Derby and Sunderland.

2 – Curtis Fleming 

The right-back, who was born in Manchester but raised in Dublin, was relegated twice with Middlesbrough, once in the first season of the Premier League and again in 1997.

2 – Alan Moore

Moore finished his career in the League of Ireland with Shelbourne, Derry City and Sligo Rovers and was a teammate of Curtis Fleming at Middlesbrough that suffered two relegations.

2 – Paul Butler

Butler’s only appearance for Ireland has gone down as one of the worst ever, after he was substituted at half-time in the friendly against Czech Republic. During that period, Butler was relegated from the Premier League in back-to-back seasons, first with Sunderland, then Wolves.

2 – Andy Reid

A favourite of Eamon Dunphy, Reid was talked about more when he was snubbed by Giovanni Trapattoni than he ever did when he was starting for the Boys in Green. Reid suffered relegation from the Premier League on two occasions, with Charlton and then Blackpool.

Derby County v Nottingham Forest - Sky Bet Championship - iPro Stadium Injury has meant Andy Reid has only made 6 appearances in the last two seasons. PA Archive / Press Association Images PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

2 – Stephen Quinn

Relegated last year with Hull City, having suffered the same fate with his brother Alan, while at Sheffield United eight years previous.

Soccer - npower Football League One - Play Off Semi Final - Second Leg - Sheffield United v Stevenage - Bramall Lane Stephen Quinn was relegated along side his brother, Alan with Sheffield United. EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

2 – Alan Quinn

A product of Cherry Orchard, Quinn spent the majority of his career with Sheffield Wednesday and was relegated with the Owls in 2000 and again with city rivals, Sheffield United seven years later.

2 – Mark Kennedy

Much was expected from Kennedy when he joined Liverpool in 1995 but he was relegated twice, with Manchester City in 2001 and then with Wolves in 2004, with a team that contained Denis Irwin.

2 – Joe Murphy

Murphy, was relegated with West Brom but only played twice in the Premier League for the Baggies, but did manage to save a Michael Owen penalty at Anfield.

The Huddersfield goalkeeper was also relegated with Sunderland in 2006, without making an appearance for the Black Cats.

2  -Brian Murphy

Relegated twice as a back-up goalkeeper with QPR during his four year stay at Loftus Road, he is now hoping to earn promotion with Portsmouth in League Two.

2 – Stephen Kelly

Kelly was part of this season’s Rotherham United squad that produced a remarkable turnaround to preserve their Championship status but the 32-year-old did taste relegation from the Premier League twice before, with Birmingham and then Reading.

2 – Kevin Long

The former Cork City defender has been on the periphery of the Burnley squad since joining in 2010. Currently on-loan at MK Dons, the 25-year-old broke his leg on his Premier League debut against Newcastle.

2 – Derek Geary

A teammate of Alan Quinn as they completed an unusual double of being relegated from the Premier League with the two Sheffield sides.

Note: Players who left a club mid-season are excluded from the above list.

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