Had Boots Did Travel - Irish Abroad (28 Nov 2016)

There was cup anguish for Irish players on two continents this weekend, while goals were thin on the ground in the top two divisions in England.

76 Irish players took the field across England's four main leagues, with ten goals scored: seven in League One and three in League Two.

Of those 76, 24 have passed through the corridors of the Leeague of Ireland, four in the Premier League, four in the Championship, six in League One and ten in League Two.

USA

There was disappointment for Kevin Doyle on Sunday as his Colorado Rapids failed to overcome a 2-1 deficit at home to Seattle Sounders in the MLS Western Conference final.

Doyle opened the scoring in the first game in Seattle on Wednesday, but he couldn't prevent his side falling to a 1-0 defeat in the second leg as Sounders progressed to the MLS Cup final.

The Wexford man's former international teammate, Sean St Ledger, was absent for Colorado as he continues to rcover from a long-term injury.

There was better news for former League of Ireland referee Alan Kelly, however. The Cork native, who was recently voted MLS referee of the year, will officiate the final on December 10^th.

England

Premier League

Darren Randolph put in an outstanding individual performance as West Ham held Manchester United to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford in his second consecutive league start since displacing Adrian.

Jeff Hendrick and Stephen Ward played the full 90 minutes as Burnley took a surprise lead at home to Manchester City before succumbing to a Sergio Aguero double to fall to a 2-1 defeat.

Also unfortunate to see his side on the wrong side of the result was Bournemouth's Harry Arter, who impressed in midfield against Arsenal despite the 3-1 scoreline favouring of the Gunners.

John O'Shea made his first start for a month but couldn't prevent his Sunderland side falling to a 2-0 loss at Liverpool.

David Meyler was a late substitute as Hull City held West Brom to a draw at home, while James McClean was introduced for the Baggies shortly after the hour.

Seamus Coleman was part of an afternoon to forget for Everton on Sunday as Ronald Koeman's return to Southampton ended in a 1-0 defeat for the Toffees on Sunday.

And Jonathan Walters returned to the Stoke City line-up as they won 1-0 away at Watford, but the Wirral-born striker is still without a league goal this season.

Championship

Derrick Williams and Darragh Lenihan were at the heart of a Blackburn Rovers defence that kept a clean sheet and took all three points from Ciaran Clark's table-topping Newcastle United.

Conor Hourihane captained Barnsley as they were 5-2 losers at home to Nottingham Forest in the Friday night game in the Championship.

Paul McShane started and Liam Kelly was an injury-time sub as Reading made it five wins on the bounce at home to Bristol City, for whom Callum O'Dowda was introduced in the second half.

Anthony Pilkington played 74 minutes of Cardiff City's 3-1 defeat at Aston Villa.

Shane Duffy played the full 90 as Brighton & Hove Albion closed the gap at the top of the table to two points with a 2-1 win over Fulham.

John Egan was unable to prevent Brentford from falling to a third successive defeat as they lost 2-1 at home to Birmingham City.

Norwich City's losing streak stretched to five as neither Robbie Brady nor Wes Hoolahan could prevent Richard Keogh and Alex Pearce's Derby County from recording a 1-0 win.

David McGoldrick and Jonathan Douglas started for Ipswich Town as they cruised to a 3-0 win over Queens Park Rangers.

Damien McCrory returned to the Burton Albion side for the first time in over two months but they still fell to a 1-0 defeat at Preston North End, for whom Aiden McGeady and Greg Cunningham started and Eoin Doyle was sprung from the bench.

Kieren Westwood kept a clean sheet as Sheffield Wednesday won 2-0 at Wolves, for whom Matt Doherty had a day to forget as he conceded a first-half penalty.

Eunan O'Kane's Leeds United climbed into the play-off spots courtesy of a 2-1 win at Rotherham, who had Stephen Kelly in the starting line-up and Anthony Forde a 76th-minute sub.

And Sean Scannell was hooked at half-time as Huddesrfield Town's winless run stretched to four games with a 2-1 home defeat to Wigan Athletic.

League One

Cian Bolger opened the scoring for Fleetwood Town, his second of the season, as they battled to a 2-2 draw at AFC Wimbledon.

Ex-Sporting Fingal midfielder Shaun Williams converted from the spot and Aiden O'Brien netted an injury time winner as Millwall staged a dramatic comeback from two down to beat Bury 3-2 at Gigg Lane.

Jay O'Shea made it four goals in three games (and 50 in English football) as he netted twice in Chesterfield's 3-2 win over Bristol Rovers, for whom ex-Limerick striker Rory Gaffney played 71 minutes.

Mark Byrne netted the third as Gillingham returned to winning ways with a 3-0 victory over Rochdale. Conrad Logan and Joe Rafferty played the 90 for Dale.

Anton Rodgers scored his first goal of the season as his free kick helped Swindon Town to a 1-0 win over Bradford City, for whom Josh Cullen and Colin Doyle played the full game.

Stephen McLaughlin, Simon Cox and Michael Timlin started as Southend United were held 0-0 at Walsall, who saw Kevin Toner substituted at half time.

John-Joe O'Toole was a second-half substitute as Northampton Town fell to a 1-0 defeat at home to promotion contenders Bolton Wanderers.

Samir Carruthers and Darren Potter started as managerless MK Dons registered a first win in two months away at Coventry City.

Scunthorpe remain top despite a 1-1 draw at home to Oxford United. Paddy Madden played the final half-hour for the Irons.

And Madden's former Bohemians teammate Gary Deegan played the full 90 as Shrewsbury remain bottom despite picking up a point in a 0-0 draw with Port Vale.

League Two

James Collins scored and Mark Connolly played 90 minutes as Crawley Town ran out 3-2 winners over Grimsby Town, who had former under-21 internationalist James McKeown in goal.

Former Dundalk striker Pat Hoban opened the scoring was powerless to stop Mansfield Town from going down to a 5-2 defeat away at league leaders Carlisle United.

Owen Garvan scored one and set up another on his return to the Colchester United team as they notched up their biggest win of the season with a 4-0 triumph over Crewe Alexandra.

John O'Sullivan and Seamus Conneely started for Accrington Stanley and Kevin Dawson for Yeovil Town as the sides played out a 1-1 draw.

Josh O'Hanlon started as Newport County were on the end of a 4-1 hammering away at Blackpool.

Graham Carey and Connor Smith started for Plymouth Argyle and Barry Roche for Morecambe as Argyle fell to a third straight defeat and lost their position at the top of the table.

On-loan Reading defender Sean Long was an injury-time substitute as Cambridge United registered a 3-1 home win over Cheltenham Town.

Enda Stevens, David Forde and Michael Doyle started Portsmouth's 2-1 home defeat to Stevenage, a game which saw Doyle taken off at half-time after an altercation with teammate Christian Burgess.

Graham Burke was a late sub as Notts County lost 3-2 at Barnet.

Michael Collins played 90 minutes but couldn't prevent Leyton Orient from losing 3-1 at Doncaster Rovers.

Pierce Sweeney limped off and Liam McAlinden was also substituted as Exeter City were held to a scoreless draw by Luton Town, for whom Glen Rea played 90 minutes.

And Padraig Amond's Hartlepool United were on the end of a 2-0 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers.

Scotland

Anthony O'Connor, Adam Rooney and Jonny Hayes started but saw their Aberdeen side well beaten 3-0 by Celtic in the Scottish League Cup final at Hampden Park.

In the league, Rob Kiernan played 90 minutes as Rangers climbed above the Dons into second place courtesy of a 2-1 win at Adam Barton's Partick Thistle.

Darren O'Dea played the full match and set up the first goal as Dundee beat Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2-1. Aaron Doran started and Jake Mulraney played the final quarter for Callie.

Rest of the World

Cillian Sheridan was a late substitute but couldn't help Omonio Nicosia overcome a 1-0 reverse at AEL Limassol.

Central Coast Mariners' Roy O'Donovan scored the second in a 2-0 home win over Andy Keogh's Perth Glory in the A-League.