THERE WAS HEARTBREAK in League Two for Notts County today, as a 3-1 loss to Swindon Town meant they dropped out of the Football League for the first time ever.
37-year-old Irish midfielder Michael Doyle captained the world’s oldest professional league team amid the defeat, while former Ireland U21 international Jim O’Brien also featured.
A 52nd minute Kane Hemmings penalty put Notts County on course for survival, though the hosts hit back with two goals from Theo Robinson and one from Kaiyne Woolery ensuring a victory.
There was joy, meanwhile, for Sol Campbell’s Macclesfield Town, as a 1-1 draw with Cambridge saw them survive.
Irish goalkeeper and Man United loanee Kieran O’Hara featured for the Silkmen, as did 23-year-old Cork-born centre-back Fiacre Kelleher, who is currently on loan at the club from Oxford.
There was mixed fortunes for Irish players at the other end of the table also.
A Mansfield side featuring Ryan Sweeney and Conrad Logan missed out on automatic promotion, as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat away to MK Dons.
A Newport team that included Padraig Amond and Mark O’Brien just about made it into the play-offs, as a late Jamille Matt earned them a 1-1 draw with Morecambe.
That result meant an Exeter side featuring Pierce Sweeney and West Brom loanee Dara O’Shea missed out on the play-offs following a 0-0 draw with Forest Green.
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