EVERY MONDAY, WE scan the passports, check the family trees and cross-reference with the “granny rule” to keep you informed about the ups and downs of all the Irish (and Irish-eligible) footballers in England, Scotland and further afield.
Think of us as the Tardelli to your Trap, if you will…
Premier League
Wes Hoolahan (Aston Villa 1-1 Norwich)
Another man-of-the-match display from the 30-year-old but nobody tell Trap. One gets the feeling he’ll only be picked if people stop talking about him.
Anthony Pilkington played too, but it was the definitive 6/10 showing from him.
Seamus Coleman (Everton 2-2 Liverpool)
The young full-back had an excellent game in the first Merseyside derby of the season, and could have grabbed the winner for the home side had it not been for a fingertip save from Brad Jones.
Marc Wilson (Stoke 0-0 Sunderland)
Dismay for the 25-year-old defender who has just broken into the Irish side, as he was carried off on a stretcher with a broken leg during the scoreless draw between his side Stoke and Sunderland at the Britannia Stadium. Wilson is expected to be out for the next three or four months.
Meanwhile, John O’Shea and James McClean started for the visitors in what was a truly awful, awful game.
James McCarthy (Wigan 2-1 West Ham)
On the winning side and impressive for Roberto Martinez’ side in a much needed victory. McCarthy almost got his first goal of the season, and Wigan’s second of the match, but Jussi Jaaskelainen was equal to his fiercely struck shot.
Scottish Premier League
Cillian Sheridan (Celtic 0-2 Kilmarnock)
Talk about a European hangover – Celtic were only seconds from holding Barcelona to a draw at the Nou Camp last week, but never got going against Killie at Celtic Park on Saturday. Cillian Sheridan, a former Bhoy, sent the visitors on their way to a first Parkhead win in 57 years by capitalising on some poor play by Efe Ambrose before rounding ‘keeper Fraser Forster and scoring.
NPower Championship
Simon Cox (Barnsley 1-4 Nottingham Forest)
The former West Brom striker grabbed his third goal for seventh-placed Forest, following up Greg Halford’s equaliser by seizing on a mistake by Barnsley ‘keeper Ben Alnwick. Forest would go on to score two more in an easy victory.
Joe Mason (Cardiff City 4-0 Burnley)
The Ireland under-21 international striker opened the scoring for the high flying Bluebirds, Mason scoring from close range on three minutes after Craig Noone’s shot fell into his path off the far post. Cardiff are now three points clear of second-placed Leicester at the top of the division.
Damien Delaney (Leicester City 1-2 Crystal Palace)
Continuing the theme of Irish players scoring against their former clubs, Delaney opened the scoring in Palace’s win when he made the most of a mistake by Kasper Schmeichel in the Leicester goal to slam home from 12 yards.
League One
Adam Rooney (Stevenage 0-4 Swindon Town)
The striker, on loan from Birmingham, scored his side’s fourth goal as they produced one of the best performances of the day in the third tier, beating a side only two points from the top of the table on their own turf. That makes it three goals in 11 games for the 24-year-old Dubliner.
League Two
Padraig Amond (Accrington Stanley 1-0 Bristol Rovers)
The former Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers hitman continued his fine start to the season when Romuald Boco – another former Sligo man – set him up to score the 79th minute winner at Crown Ground.
