Had Boots Did Travel - Irish Abroad (30 Jan 2017)

It was FA Cup once again in England this week, which always skews the stats somewhat with many teams not in action, but a respectable 73 Irishmen in action over the cup and top leagues in England and Scotland.

 

While goals were few and far between, a first Brighton goal for Richie Towell obviously caught our attention the most, though less is known about Alan Power who set Lincoln City on their way to a giant-killing.

 

Of the 21 Irish players in the FA Cup, six came through the League of Ireland, while 14 other to have come through the domestic league appeared across the Championship, League One, League Two and the Scottish Premiership.

 

FA Cup

 

It was an all-Crumlin affair at Sincil Bank on Saturday as Lincoln City's Alan Power and Brighton & Hove Albion's Richie Towell both started and got their names on the scoresheet.

 



Towell opened the scoring for Brighton with his first goal for the club in only his third start, but Power's penalty before the break sent the non-league side on their way to a famous 3-1 win.

 

Matt Doherty played all 90 minutes while Connor Ronan and Joe Mason were second-half substitutes in Wolves' 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Anfield.

 

Callum O'Dowda started for Bristol City away at Burnley, but he couldn't prevent his team from falling to a 2-0 defeat as Jeff Hendrick was introduced for the final 20 minutes.

 



It was a tough evening's work for former Ireland under-21 defender John Egan as his Brentford side were overwhelmed by Chelsea's attacking display in a 4-0 loss at Stamford Bridge.

 

Derrick Williams and Darragh Lenihan played the full 90 minutes as Blackburn were routine 2-0 winners over Blackpool, for whom Mark Yeates was introduced just after the hour mark.

 

Another defensive pairing in Richard Keogh and Alex Pearce had rather less fortune, conceding a late equaliser as Leicester City forced a replay following a 2-2 finish.

 

Seamus Conneely captained Accrington Stanley, who are managed by former Sligo Rovers boss John Coleman, as they fell to a 1-0 defeat away at Middlesbrough.

 

Conrad Logan, Keith Keane and Joe Rafferty all started for Rochdale at home to Huddersfield Town, but the League One side fell to a heavy 4-0 defeat.

 

Captain-for-the-day Shane Long led the line for Southampton at home to Arsenal but the Saints were served up a five-burger by the rampant Gunners with Long withdrawn at 3-0.

 

Shaun Williams and Aiden O'Brien started in midfield for Millwall as the Lions stunned Premier League opposition Watford, running out 1-0 winners.

 

And there was a rare start in midfield for David Meyler as Hull City were embarrassed 4-1 away at Championship Fulham.

 

Championship

 

Robbie Brady and Wes Hoolahan started for Norwich City as the Canaries overcame Birmingham City 2-0 at Carrow Road, with Brady creating the second goal for Timm Klose.

 

Reading returned to third in the league with a 2-1 victory over Cardiff City. Paul McShane and Liam Kelly started and finished the game for the Royals.

 

Aiden McGeady and substitute Daryl Horgan combined for a dramatic late equaliser as Preston North End held Ipswich Town, who had David McGoldrick as a late sub, to a 1-1 draw.

 

Damien McCrory played 90 minutes as Burton Albion scored a rare away win at Queen's Park Rangers, who had Ryan Manning as a late substitute.

 

Rotherham remain rooted to the bottom following a 1-0 loss at home to Barnsley. Anthony Forde started and Stephen Kelly was introduced after 25 minutes for the Millers.

 

League One

 

Stoke City loanee Ryan Sweeney started for the first time and Rory Gaffney played the final quarter as Bristol Rovers recorded a 1-0 win in the West Country derby at home to Swindon Town.

 

Former Cork City loanee Eoghan O'Connell played the full game as Walsall took a point from an eventful 3-3 draw against Bury at Gigg Lane.

 

Cian Bolger was present at the heart of defence as Fleetwood Town extended their unbeaten run to 12 with a 1-1 draw at home to Southend United, who had Simon Cox in the first eleven.

 

There was a first league appearance of the season for Bradley Garmston as he was sprung from the bench during Gillingham's 1-1 draw with Gary Deegan's Shrewsbury Town.

 

John-Joe O'Toole played the full 90 minutes of Northampton Town's 3-0 victory over Coventry City, for whom Callum Reilly also played every minute.

 

Colin Doyle, Billy Clarke and Josh Cullen all started for Bradford City as they ran out 2-1 winners away to Oldham Athletic, who had Paul Green play 90 minutes.

 

MK Dons stunned Peterborough United with a 4-0 away win. Darren Potter played 90 minutes for the Dons, while Posh captain Chris Forrester was withdrawn just after the hour.

 

Stephen Dawson captained Scunthorpe United as they leapt back to the top of the table as they twice came from behind to record a 3-2 win over Port Vale.

 

League Two

 

An injury-time goal from Padraig Amond wasn't enough to spare strugglers, Hartlepool United defeat at bottom-placed Newport County, who had Mark O'Brien in the starting line-up.

 

James Collins also struck late in vein for Crawley Town, who conceded a 90th-minute winner to lose 2-1 away at Notts County.

 

Starts for David Forde, Michael Doyle and Enda Stevens failed to help Portsmouth avoid defeat at home to Exeter City, for whom Liam McAlinden was introduced late on.

 

Jamie Devitt was a second-half introduction as Carlisle United's promotion drive continues to falter with a 1-1 home draw with Barnet.

 

A clean sheet for Ian Lawlor helped table-toppers Doncaster Rovers cruise to a 3-0 win away at Yeovil Town, who had Kevin Dawson in the starting line-up.

 

Glen Rea started and Alan Sheehan was a late sub as Luton Town recorded an impressive 2-0 win over Jake Carroll's Cambridge United at Kenilworth Road.

 

And Michael Collins played the full 90 minutes as Leyton Orient endured a miserable afternoon as they fell to a 2-0 defeat at Mansfield Town.

 

Scotland

 

Graham Cummins netted a brave as St Johnstone, who had Joe Shaughnessy in defence, condemned Hamilton Academical to a punishing 3-0 defeat.

 

A goal and an assist for Gary Dicker set Kilmarnock on their way to a 3-2 home victory over Ross County.

 

Adam Rooney and Jonny Hayes started for Aberdeen as the Dons were impressive 3-0 winners at home to Dundee.

 

Rob Kiernan played 90 minutes in defence for Rangers as they ran out 2-0 winners away to Motherwell, for whom Carl McHugh completed the full match in midfield.

 

Reading loanee Niall Keown and Adam Barton started for Patrick Thistle as they held Inverness Caledonian Thistle, who had Jake Mulraney and Aaron Doran as second-half subs, to a scoreless draw.

 

Rest of the World

 

Cillian Sheridan started and opened the scoring for Omonia Nicosia, his eighth goal of the season, as they ran out 3-0 winners at home to Nea Salamis in the Cypriot First Division.

 

And Andy Keogh captained Perth Glory as they fell to a 2-0 defeat at Central Coast Mariners in the A-League.