Had Boots Did Travel - Irish Abroad (April 24 2017)

70 Irish players appeared across England's top four divisions at the weekend, slightly below average, but less encouraging over ¼ (18) of those were as substitutes, often in the dying minutes.

With just 20 players (13 starters) in the top two levels, from which Martin O'Neill draws the bulk of his international side, there are signs the summer break will come at the ideal time for many.

16 Irish players with League of Ireland experience appeared over the course of the weekend with two each in the Premier League and Championship and six each in Leagues One and Two.

Just five goals went in off an Irish boot, with a League One brace for Rory Gaffney and a League Two brace for James Collins the standouts alongside Liam McAlinden's late goal for Exeter City.

There's a small amount of mitigation in these numbers as only six Premier League games took place due to FA Cup action (no Irish were involved) while injuries (Seamus Coleman, James McCarthy) and illness (Glenn Whelan) also had an effect.

Premier League

On a less-than-vintage week for Irish players at England's top level, with injuries stacking up, just one Irishman started in the four Saturday afternoon fixtures.

Harry Arter played the full 90 minutes in midfield for Bournemouth as they struck a major blow against relegation rivals Middlesbrough with a 4-0 win.

Jeff Hendrick, Robbie Brady and Stephen Ward all played the full 90 against Brady's former club Manchester United but couldn't prevent a 2-0 reverse, just their second home defeat of the season.

And Damien Delaney was a late substitute as Crystal Palace hung on to beat Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield.

Championship

There was a familiar look to the backlines at Hilsborough where Kieren Westwood's Sheffield Wednesday ran out 2-1 winners over a Derby County side with Cyrus Christie, Richard Keogh and Alex Pearce in the starting eleven.

Liwkewise at Molineaux where Darragh Lenihan and Derrick Williams started for Blackburn Rovers and Matt Doherty lasted 20 minutes before being injured for Wolverhampton Wanderers in a scoreless draw.

Anthony Pilkington started up front for Cardiff City as they played out a 0-0 with relegation near-certainties Wigan Athletic.

Liam Kelly played the full 90 minutes as Reading were beaten 3-2 by Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

And Anthony Forde was introduced early in the second half as already-relegated Rotherham United picked up a rare win over Ipswich Town.

Wes Hoolahan was a late sub as Norwich City put Brighton's title celebrations on hold, and boosted their chances of a play-off spot, with a 2-0 win at Carrow Road on Friday night.

Callum O'Dowda played the final minute as Bristol City boosted their chances of survival with a 3-2 win over Barnsley.

Burton Albion all but secured Championship football for another season with a 2-1 win over promotion-chasing Leeds United, with Damien McCrory a late sub.

Conor Hourihane was also introduced late as Aston Villa overcame Birmingham City 1-0 in the derby at Villa Park.

Sean Scannell was a second-half substitute as Huddersfield Town were beaten 4-1 at home by fellow play-off contenders Fulham.

League One

Substitute Rory Gaffney scored twice and Ryan Sweeney started but they couldn't stop Bristol Rovers falling to a 4-2 defeat at Peterborough United, for whom Chris Forrester started.

Jack Cullen and Colin Doyle started, while Billy Clarke was a second-half sub, as Bradford City secured a play-off spot with a 3-0 home win over Wimbledon.

Scunthorpe United on course for the play-offs thanks to a 1-0 win at relegated Swindon Town. Stephen Dawson and Paddy Madden started for the Irons.

Conrad Logan, Joe Rafferty and Keith Keane started as Rochdale kept in touch with the play-off spots with a 1-1 draw at Oldham Athletic, for whom Paul Green played 90 minutes.

Darren Potter started for MK Dons while his former Dons team mate Samir Carruthers was a second-half sub for Sheffield United as the Blades ran out 3-0 winners in Milton Keynes.

Connor Dimaio started as relegated Chesterfield set an unwanted record with a 26^th league defeat of the season at home to Charlton Athletic.

Kevin Foley started for relegated Coventry City as they picked up a 1-0 home over Walsall, for whom Celtic loanee Eoghan O'Connell was sent off for two bookings.

Cian Bolger was a half-time substitute for Fleetwood Town as they won 3-2 at Gillingham, for whom Emmanuel Osadebe was a late introduction.

Shaun Williams and Aiden O'Brien started as Millwall fell to a 3-0 defeat at home to Oxford United, however the Lions remain the play-off places.

Joe Murphy played 90 minutes and kept a clean sheet as Bury took a step towards securing League One football with a 1-0 win over Brendan Moloney's Northampton Town.

Sam Foley played the whole game as Port Vale took one step closer to relegation with a 2-0 home defeat with promotion favourites Bolton Wanderers.

Gary Deegan was a late sub for Shrewsbury as they beat Southend United, who had Stephen McLaughlin, Simon Cox and Mark Timlin in the first eleven, 1-0.

League Two

James Collins scored two early goals at Crawley United were held to a 3-3 draw by Carlisle United, for whom John O'Sullivan was a late replacement for Jamie Devitt.

Substitute Liam McAlinden scored in stoppage time and Pierce Sweeney played the full 90 as Exeter City kept their play-off hopes alive with a 3-1 win at home to Morecambe.

Alan Sheehan and Glenn Rea played 90 minutes as Luton Town closed in on a play-off spot with a 2-0 win at home to Notts County, for whom Mark Yeates was a late sub.

Former Bohemians midfielder Graham Carey and Connor Smith started for already-promoted Plymouth Argyle and Sean Murray played 90 minutes for Colchester United in a 0-0 draw.

David Forde, Enda Stevens and Michael Doyle started for Portsmouth as they celebrated promotion with a 2-1 victory over Cambridge United, who had Jake Carroll in the starting line-up.

Michael Collins played the full 90 minutes as Leyton Orient's 112-year stay in the football league ended with a whimper as they fell to a 3-0 defeat at Crewe Alexandra.

Former St Kevin's Boys striker Jamie Gray made his professional debut for Stevenage as they played out a 0-0 draw with Mansfield Town.

Ian Lawlor started in goal but Doncaster United's chances of sealing the title took a knock as they fell to a 2-1 defeat away at Wycombe Wanderers.

Former Shamrock Rovers striker Padraig Amond played the final half-hour as Hartlepool United slipped back into the relegation places with a 2-0 home defeat to Barnet.

James McKeown and James Berrett started for Grimbsy Town as they ran out 4-2 winners at home to Yeovil Town.

Newport County climbed out of the relegation spots with a fourth win in five and defender Mark O'Brien played 90 minutes in a 1-0 win over Accrington Stanley.

Scotland

Adam Rooney and Jonathan Hayes started and scored, while Anthony O'Connor was a second-half substitute, as Aberdeen reached the Scottish Cup final with a 3-2 win over holders Hibernian.

Rest of the World

In Poland, Cillian Sheridan scored the game's only goal as Jagiellonia Bialystok won at Piast Gliwice to take a one-point lead into the split.

In Australia, Andy Keogh played the full 90 minutes as Perth Glory sealed a place in the A-League semi-finals thanks to a 2-0 away win over moneybags Melbourne City.

In the USA, Kevin Doyle started up front for Colorado Rapids as they travelled to Minnesota United.