Had Boots, Did Travel: Irish Abroad - FA Cup special (January 5 2019)

Adam Idah was the star of the FA Cup third round as the Corkman, in just his second senior start, scored a remarkable hat-trick in Norwich City’s 4-2 win over Preston North End.

The former College Corinthians striker broke the deadlock with his first senior goal inside two minutes and added a second before half time, then won and converted a penalty after the break.

It was a memorable weekend for Will Smallbone and Daniel Crowley, who each scored their first goals for Southampton and Birmingham City respectively, Smallbone’s on his debut.

Callum Robinson, Harry Arter and Paul Green also scored, Conor Masterson and Yassine En-Neyah also made their senior bows for Queens Park Rangers and Nottingham Forest respectively.

All in all, 41 Republic of Ireland-declared players lined out in the FA Cup, ten from the bench, with six scorers providing eight goals in total.

Two (1+1) appeared in League One’s sole game, while 12 (8+4) lined out in League Two, and six (5+1) took the field in the Women’s Super League.

FA Cup

While Adam Idah bagged a memorable hat-trick, the day was less memorable for Joe Rafferty, who played 90 minutes for the Lilywhites as Idah ran riot.

He wasn’t far ahead of Will Smallbone who celebrated his senior debut with a goal, from Shane Long’s assist, while Michael Obafemi was a second-half sub in Southampton’s 2-0 win over Huddersfield Town.

Daniel Crowley scored his first goal in the colours of Birmingham City – and the first FA Cup goal of 2020 – as the Blues edged out Blackburn Rovers, for whom Darragh Lenihan started and Derrick Williams was an early sub.

A stunning strike from substitute Harry Arter proved the difference as Cyrus Christie’s Fulham beat Conor Hourihane’s Aston Villa 2-1 at Craven Cottage.

Paul Green got on the scoresheet for Crewe Alexandra but couldn’t prevent the League Two side from leaking two late goals in a 3-1 defeat at home to Barnsley.

And Callum Robinson opened the scoring for Sheffield United as the Yorkshire side eased past non-league Fylde Town, for whom Neill Byrne started and Mark Yeates was a late sub.

A senior debut for Conor Masterson was celebrated with a 5-1 win, while Olamide Shodipo was a second-half sub in Queen’s Park Rangers’ 5-1 win at home to Swansea City.

Mark Travers kept a clean sheet as Bournemouth saw off the challenge of Luton Town, for whom Glenn Rea and Alan Sheehan started, with a 4-0 home win.

Both Marcus Harness and Ronan Curtis played 90 minutes as Portsmouth ran out 2-1 winners away to Paddy Madden’s Fleetwood Town.

Joe Murphy played 90 minutes for Shrewsbury Town as they held Bristol City, who had Callum O’Dowda as a second-half substitute, to a 1-1 draw at Ashton Gate.

There was a rare start for Dara O’Shea at the heart of the West Bromwich Albion defence as they beat fellow Championship side Charlton Athletic 1-0 at the Valley.

Kieran O’Hara and Stephen Quinn started, while John-Joe O’Toole was an early substitute, as Burton Albion fell to a 4-2 defeat at home to Northampton Town, for whom Michael Harriman came off the bench.

Alex Pearce and Jayson Molumby played all 90 minutes as Millwall eased past last season’s giant-killers Newport County, for whom Padraig Amond and Mark O’Brien both started.

Jordan Shipley started, before being withdraw in the second half, as Coventry City held Bristol Rovers to a 2-2 draw at the Memorial Stadium.

Both Thomas O’Connor and Jack Bonham started as Gillingham were edged out 2-0 at home to West Ham United.

There was a late debut for Yassine En-Neyah, who played the last nine minutes of Nottingham Forest’s 2-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Eoghan O’Connell, Jimmy Keohane and Jimmy Ryan started as Rochdale held Premier Leagye Newcastle United to a 1-1 draw.

Chiedoze Ogbene bagged an assist but couldn’t prevent Rotherham United falling to a 3-2 defeat at home to Hull City.

And Seamus Coleman played an hour as Everton were stunned by a youthful Liverpool side at Anfield.

James McCarthy played the full 90 minutes as Crystal Palace were on the wrong end of an upset, losing 1-0 at home to Championship Derby County.

There were starts for Jeff Hendrick and Kevin Long as Burnley saw off the challenge of Peterborough United with a 4-2 win at Turf Moor.

There was a rare start for Shane Duffy and Aaron Connolly was introduced at the break as Brighton & Hove Albion fell to a shock 1-0 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.

Gavan Holohan played 90 minutes as National League side Hartlepool United fell to a comprehensive 4-1 defeat away to League One Oxford United.

Nathan Collins played 90 minutes as Stoke City fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat away to fellow candystriped Championship side Brentford.

And Matt Doherty clocked up another 90 minutes as Wolverhampton Wanderers were held to a scoreless draw at home by Manchester United.

League One

Zack Elbouzedi made his Lincoln City debut as a late substitute, while Cian Bolger was also introduced off the bench, as the Imps were beaten 3-1 away to Sunderland.

League Two

Sean Long was a late substitute as Cheltenham Town ran out 3-0 winners at home to Oldham Athletic.

Fiachre Kelleher and Corey O’Keefe started as Macclesfield Town edged out Cambridge United 1-0 at home.

Goalkeepers Conrad Logan and James McKeown lined out for Mansfield Town and Grimsby Town respectively as the Shrimpers ran out 1-0 winners.

Liam Kinsella and Cameron Cockerill-Mollett started for Walsall in their 2-1 win at Salford City, while Richie Towell started and Adam Rooney was a second-half substitute for Salford.

Niall Canavan played 90 minutes, while Billy Clarke was a second-half substitute, as Plymouth Argyle ran out 3-1 winners away to Scunthorpe United.

Michael Timlin was a half-time susbstitute as Stevenage were held to a scoreless draw at home to Colchester United.

Anthony O’Connor and Dylan Connolly both played the full 90 minutes as Bradford City held league leaders Swindon Town to a 1-1 draw.

FA Women’s Super League

Katie McCabe started for Arsenal, while Harriet Scott started for Birmingham City, as the champions ran out 2-0 winners.

Grace Moloney was sent off after 18 minutes as Reading fell to a 3-1 defeat away to third-placed Chelsea.

Niamh Fahey played 90 minutes for Liverpool, while Megan Connolly was a late sub for the Seagulls in Brighton & Hove Albion’s 1-0 home.

And Megan Campbell played 67 minutes of Manchester City’s 4-1 win away to Tottenham Hotspur

Rest of the World

Jay O’Shea played 90 minutes, while Roy O’Donovan was a late substitute as the Brisbane Roar held Newcastle Jets to a 1-1 draw.

Conor Henderson played 90 minutes as OFK Pirin were held to a 1-1 draw away to Ludogorets II in Bulgaria’s second tier.