Had Boots Did Travel (Weekend 5 January)

FA Cup – Third Round 

Former Shamrock Rovers striker Padraig Amond put his name down in Newport County folklore as he scored the winning penalty in their 2-1 win over Leicester City, while Mark O’Brien was a late sub.

Paddy Madden scored but couldn’t prevent Fleetwood Town from falling to a 3-2 defeat at home to fellow League One side Wimbledon.

The weekend’s most extensive Irish interest was in Preston, where Ian Lawlor started and Kieran Sadlier debuted as a sub in Doncaster Rovers’ 3-1 win. Sean Maguire made his return from injury as a second-half substitute, while Graham Burke was replaced at half time by Alan Browne for the Lilywhites.

Shane Duffy played 90 minutes as Brighton & Hove Albion edged out fellow Premier League side Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.

Ronan Curtis put in a hard-working shift up front for Portsmouth, drawing the foul that led to Norwich City’s red card as Pompey ran out 1-0 winners.

Callum O’Dowda played 90 minutes and helped Bristol City to a 1-0 win over Premier League outfit Huddersfield Town.

Stephen Ward played an hour on his return from injury, while Jeff Hendrick and Kevin Long also started, as Burnley left it late to squeeze past Barnsley.



Mark Byrne, Bradley Garmston and Callum Reilly were all involved from the start as Gillingham pulled off a remarkable 1-0 win over Premier League Cardiff City.

Liam Kelly started, but John O’Shea was an unused sub against his former club, as Reading were beaten 2-0 by Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Anthony Forde played 90 minutes for Rotherham United as they were mauled 7-0 by Manchester City at Eastlands.

Ireland internationals Alex Pearce and Aiden O’Brienboth started for Millwall as they came from behind to beat Hull City 2-1 at the Den.

James McKeown starred in goal for Grimsby Town as they suffered injury-time heartbreak against Premier League Crystal Palace.

Darragh Lenihanplayed 90 minutes for Blackburn Rovers as they held Newcastle United to a 1-1 draw at St James’ Park.



Carl O’Malley endured a tough day at the office as Peterborough United were hammered 5-0 by Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.

Paudie O’Connor played 90 minutes in defence as Blackpool were outclassed 3-0 by Arsenal at Bloomfield Road.

Both Alan McCormack and James Collins started as League One Luton Town held Championship Sheffield Wednesday to a scoreless draw at Hillsborough.

James McClean played from the start as Stoke City were held to a 1-1 draw by League One Shrewsbury Town.

There was a rare start for Wes Hoolohan at the Hawthorns as West Bromwich Albion edged out Wigan Athletic by the only goal.

Declan Rice played 90 minutes as West Ham United made short work of Birmingham City with a 2-0 win at the Olympic Stadium.

Glenn Whelan and Scott Hogan both started, and both went off in the second half, as Aston Villa were on the end of a resounding 3-0 defeat to Swansea City at Villa Park.

Luca Connell made his Bolton Wanderers debut as a late substitute as the Trotters thumped Liam Kinsella’s Walsall 5-2.

Daryl Murphy played 90 minutes at Stamford Bridge as Nottingham Forest were beaten 2-0 by Chelsea.

Alan Judge and Chiedozie Ogbene were second-half substitutes as Brentford eased to a 1-0 home win over Oxford United.

Richard Keogh started for Derby County and Shane Long for Southampton as the sides played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Pride Park.

 

League One

Away from the FA Cup, there were a number of Irish players in league action elsewhere in England.

Aiden McGeady played 90 minutes as Sunderland were held to a 1-1 draw by fellow promotion-chasers Charlton Athletic at the Valley.

Both Ryan Delaney and Joe Rafferty started in defence as Rochdale were beaten 4-0 at home by Burton Albion, who saw Stephen Quinn limp off early in the first half.

Michael Doyle and Jordan Shipley started as Coventry City fell to a 2-1 defeat away to Scunthorpe United.

 

League Two

David Forde, Jake Carroll and Gary Deegan started, while Emmanuel Osadebe was a late substitute, as Cambridge United ran out 2-0 winners over Michael Timlin’s Stevenage.

Rene Gilmartin was in goal for Colchester United as they played out a 3-3 draw with Notts County.

Jamie Devitt and Anthony Gerrard started as Carlisle United won 3-2 over Mansfield Town, who had Conrad Logan and Ryan Sweeney in their starting XI.

Mark Connolly started and Reece Grego-Cox was a late substitute as Crawley Town were 1-0 winners over Cheltenham, for whom Kevin Dawson appeared as a sub.

Kieran O’Hara and Fiachre Kelleher started for Macclesfield Town as they fell to a 2-1 home defeat to Swindon Town.

Joe Murphy and Jay O’Shea started, while Eoghan O’Connell appeared off the bench, as Bury edged out Shaun Donnellan’s Yeovil Town.

And Paul Green played 90 minutes for Crewe as they drew 2-2 away to Morecambe.

 

Rest of the World

Andy Keogh scored Perth Glory’s fourth goal as they ran out 4-2 winners over the Brisbane Roar to return to the top of the A-League.

And Roy O’Donovan was also on target for Newcastle Jets as they were edged out 2-1 away to Melbourne City.

    About Dave Donnelly

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