Had Boots Did Travel - Irish Abroad (12 Dec 2016)

Last week saw Jon Walters open his account with a spectacular opening goal in Stoke City's 2-0 win at home to Burnley, and this week saw Jeff Hendrick up the ante with a scorcher for Burnley as they edged out Bournemouth.

81 Irish players played across the top divisions in England and Scotland, with 10 goals recorded including a game-winning double for ex-REpublic of Ireland under-21 striker James Collins for Crawley Town at Crewe.

There were nine Irish in action in the Premier League, 22 in the Championship, 24 in League One , 18 in League Two, with two scorers in each tier, while Rob Kiernan got off the mark for Rangers in Scotland.

Of those, there were five ex-League of Ireland players in action in the Premier League (one scorer), two in the Championship, seven in League One (one scorer), six in League Two (one scorer) and one in the Scottish Premier League.

Premier League

Jeff Hendrick scored a spectacular third goal of the season for Burnley at home to Bournemouth as he showed sublime control before teeing himself up with his knee and volleying past Artur Boruc from 25 yards.

Stephen Ward added a close-range second three minutes later as the Clarets raced into a 2-0 lead over the Cherries, who had Harry Arter in the starting XI, as they eventually won 3-2.

Darren Randolph dropped a second-half clanger to give Liverpool a 2-2 draw at home West Ham United, but he redeemed himself with a stunning save from Jordan Henderson late on.

Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy played the full 90 minutes as Everton surrendered an early lead to lose 3-1 at Watford, who leapfrogged the Toffees into seventh place.

Damien Delaney started as Crystal Palace showed impressive resolve to wrest back a draw from rampant Hull City as the team shared six goals at the KC Stadium.

Shane Long played the final five minutes as Southampton beat Middlesbrough 1-0 at St Mary's.

And James McClean was a late sub but couldn't prevent West Brom from falling to a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Championship

Conor Hourihane's fourth goal of the season proved the difference as Barnsley edged Norwich City 2-1 at Oakwell. Robbie Brady played 85 minutes for the visitors.

Wolves and Fulham played out a remarkable 4-4 draw at Molineux, with Matt Doherty playing 90 minutes and scoring the home side's second as they came within an injury-time goal of all three points.

Greg Cunningham set up the winning goal as Preston North End beat Blackburn Rovers by the odd goal in five. Darragh Lenihan and Derrick Williams started in defence for Rovers and Anthony Stokes was introduced late on.

Shane Duffy was at the heart of yet another clean sheet as the Seagulls soared to the top of the Championship with a 2-0 win over fifth-place Leeds United.

And Richard Keogh and Alex Pearce starred in central defence as Derby County were comfortable 3-0 winners over Nottingham Forest at Pride Park.

John Egan started in defence for Brentford as they ran out 2-1 winners at home to Burton Albion, who had Damien McCrory in the starting line-up.

Jonathan Douglas and David McGoldrick started as Ipswich Town were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Cardiff City, who had Anthony Pilkington as a second-half sub.

Ciaran Clark's Newcastle United cruised to a 4-0 win over Stephen Gleeson's Birmingham City, while Corey O'Keefe made a second-half debut for the Blues.

Reading returned to winning ways with a 2-1 home win over Sheffield Wednesday. Paul McShane started for the Royals and Liam Kelly was a late sub, and Kieren Westwood kept goal for the Owls.

Anthony Forde started as Rotherham United won for the first time since August, 1-0 at home to Queens Park Rangers.

League One

Stephen McLaughlin was on the scoresheet for the seventh time this season as Southend United beat Coventry City 3-1. Michael Timlin and Simon Cox started for Southend while Chris McCann started for the Sky Blues.

Former Limerick striker Rory Gaffney opened the scoring – his fifth of the season – as Bristol Rovers beat Bury 4-2 at the Memorial Stadium.

Darren Potter and Samir Carruthers started MK Dons' 1-0 win over AFC Wimbledon in the “Where Were You When We WereYou?” derby.

Kevin Toner played 90 minutes as Walsall fell to a 2-1 defeat away at Fleetwood Town.

Gary Deegan started as Shrewsbury Town notched up an impressive 1-0 away win at Millwall, for whom Shaun Williams started and Aiden O'Brien was a second-half substitute.

Colin Doyle and West Ham loanee Jack Cullen started as fourth-place Bradford City were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Charlton Athletic.

Chris Forrester captained Peterborough United as they ran out 5-2 winners at home to Jay O'Shea and Connor Dimaio's Chesterfield, while Connor Wilkinson was a late sub for the visitors.

Conrad Logan and Joe Rafferty started for Rochdale as they ran out 3-2 winners at home to Scunthorpe United, for whom Paddy Madden played 90 minutes.

Anthony Rodgers endured a miserable evening as Swindon Town fell to a 4-0 defeat away at Sheffield United.

Charles Dunne and Paul Green played 90 minutes as Oldham Athletic held Oxford United 1-1 at Kassam Stadium.

Mark Byrne played the final two minutes in vain as Gillingham were 4-0 losers away at Bolton Wanderers.

League Two

Graham Carey opened the scoring and Connor Smith played the full game as Plymouth Argyle returned to the top of the table with a 2-0 win over Doncaste Rovers.

James Collins scored both goals and Mark Connolly played 90 minutes as Crawley Town were 2-0 winners away at Crewe Alexandra.

David Forde, Enda Stevens and Michael Doyle started and Noel Hunt was a late sub as Portsmouth won 1-0 away at Grimsby Town, who had James McKeown and James Berrett in the starting line-up.

Padraig Amond played 90 minutes as Hartlepool United were subject to a 5-0 home drubbing to Cambridge United.

Michael Collins was a late sub as Leyton Orient won 1-0 at home to Accrington Stanley, for whom John O'Sullivan played 90 minutes.

Alan Sheehan and Glen Rea started for Luton Town as they drew 1-1 at home with fellow promotion-chaser Carlisle United, who had Jamie Devitt as a late sub.

Kevin Dawson played 90 minutes as Yeovil Town fell to a late goal and 1-0 defeat at home to Barnet.

And Owen Garvan played the full game as Colchester United held Mansfield Town to a 0-0 draw at Field Mill.

Scotland

Rob Kiernan's first Rangers goal set the Gers on their way to a 2-0 victory over Hearts to keep the Glasgow side in contention for second spot behind runaway leaders Celtic.

And Adam Barton endured a torrid evening at the hands of the free-scoring Hoops as the Partick Thistle defender saw his team downed 4-1 in the Friday evening game.

Jake Mulraney played the full 90 minutes as Richie Foran's Inverness Caledonian Thistle beat Hamilton 1-0 at the Caledonian Stadium.

Anthony O'Connor and Adam Rooney started for Aberdeen while Joe Shaughnessy started for St Johnstone as the teams played out a 0-0 draw at Pittodrie.

A scoreless draw was again the outcome at Dens Park as Darren O'Dea's Dundee played out a stalemate with Ross County.

And Gary Dicker finished 90 minutes again as Kilmarnock travelled to Mothewell and held them to a 0-0 draw at Fir Park.

Rest of the World

Cillian Sheridan started for the first time since October as Omonia Nicosia surrendered a 2-0 lead in injury time away at Ermis.

In the A League, Roy O'Donovan played 90 minutes as Central Coast Mariners fell to a 3-0 away defeat to Wellington Phoenix.

And Andy Keogh played the full game as Perth Glory lost 2-1 at home to Newcastle Jets.