skip to main content

Irish Abroad: Brady in demand for club and country

Updated / Tuesday, 25 Nov 2014 22:49
Robbie Brady's game has been helped by competition for places at his club side Hull City
Robbie Brady's game has been helped by competition for places at his club side Hull City

By Ed Leahy

Robbie Brady may have put in a man of the match performance for Ireland in their midweek 4-1 victory over the USA but the two-goal hero had to return to his club to continue his battle on the Hull left with Scotland’s Andy Robertson, one of Martin O’Neill’s chief tormentors in the Celtic Park defeat.

But Hull manager Steve Bruce must have been keeping a close eye on two of his most exciting prospects on their respective international sojourns and decided to name both Brady and Robertson in the starting XI for their weekend clash with Tottenham Hotspur.

Brady began in a more advanced role and almost got on the scoresheet, but for a fine save from Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris, however, the Tigers were dealt a cruel blow in injury time as Christian Eriksen hit a winner for the visitors.

David Meyler and Stephen Quinn were on the bench for the visit of Spurs. The former Cork City midfielder. Meyler, was introduced in the 57th minute as Hull looked to hold on to their 1-0 advantage (Spurs scored four minutes later), while Quinn replaced Brady with three minutes remaining as Hull looked to hold on for a 1-1 draw (Spurs scored four minutes later) – let’s hope Mr Bruce doesn’t look too much into those substitutions.

No surprises at Goodison Park to hear that Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy were fit and able to start for Everton despite the latter missing Ireland’s two games due to a hamstring strain.

It was a feisty affair as Everton took the points with a 2-1 win, while Aiden McGeady or Darron Gibson were not involved.

Despite Brady’s impressive performance against the USA, current left-back Stephen Ward will not be giving up his international slot without a fight and the former Bohs man played the full match as his side Burnley are looking to stage the great escape after such a poor start to the season.

Burley moved off the bottom spot thanks to two goals in two minutes at the always hostile Britannia Stadium to beat Stoke 2-1.

Jon Walters was the only Irish starter for Stoke and got Mark Hughes’ side back into the contest with a brave diving header but Burnley held on for the win.

Glenn Whelan was back on the bench but didn’t feature, while defender Marc Wilson remains out injured. Stephen Ireland was also in the squad but was not called for.

Damien Delaney helped Crystal Palace to a shock win over Liverpool on Sunday, albeit a bit part role, as the centre-half had to go off injured after 36 minutes with the game evenly balanced at 1-1, while the less said about the Sunderland scoreless stalemate the better as they drew with Leicester, John O’Shea’s clean sheet the only positive from an awful affair.

Retired centre-back Richard Dunne played for QPR but was on the wrong end of a 1-0 at St James’ Park by the in-form Geordies.

On Monday night, Shane Long and Ciaran Clark played for Southampton and Aston Villa respectively in the 1-1 draw at Villa Park.

Clark put in an immense shift in the heart of the Villa defence and Villa boss Paul Lambert was full of praise for the Ireland central defender after the game, stating: "I thought Ciaran grew up tonight, I thouht he took the lead role and was outstanding.

"We had two young guys at the heart of our defence. Ciaran has been in and out of the side but never lets you down every time he plays."

Championship leaders Derby County maintained their push for a return to the Premier League as they won away at Watford.

Ireland midfielder Jeff Hendrick hit the post early for league leaders, while Cyrus Christie and Richard Keogh both played and could do little for the Watford goal. Keith Andrews played the first 61 minutes for the Hornets but was replaced by goalscorer Gianni Munari.

Promotion hopefuls Bournemouth and Ipswich played out an entertaining 2-2 draw and Daryl Murphy hit the post for Mick McCarthy’s side early in the game before grabbing the equaliser with a fine header. The former Celtic man is now joint top scorer in the division with 11 league goals.

Harry Arter had a chance to win it for the home side but the former Ireland Under-19 international blazed his effort over the bar, while Ireland newbie David McGoldrick also had a late effort for Ipswich after he was teed up by late sub Conor Sammon.

Mick McCarthy was his usual colourful self as he explained that any point away from home was a good point: "I won't have this little old Bournemouth routine because if you come down here with that attitude you will get a slap. They have got a team of real hard-nosed players and they have spent a few bob on getting that.

"If you get a point away from home it's a good point. I would take a point without getting off the bus because of how competitive this league is."

Shane Duffy picked up a yellow card as he helped Blackburn move into the play-off places thanks to their 2-1 win over Leeds, while Alan Judge and Jonathan Douglas helped Brentford come from behind to beat London rivals Fulham for first time in 22 years.

Huddersfield’s Sean Scannell signed a new contract during the week and almost put one past compatriot Keiren Westwood early in their mid-table scoreless draw and the Sheffield Wednesday stopper was called into action in the second half, producing a couple of excellent saves to help his side to a point in the Yorkshire derby.

Alex Pearce was brought back down to earth after his impressive performance in Ireland’s 4-1 win against the USA as the centre-half scored and own goal, before getting his marching orders as Reading were beaten 2-1 by Cardiff.

The Welsh side maintained their push for the play-offs with the win and Anthony Pilkington had a busy evening playing the full match for Cardiff.

Ireland keeper Darren Randolph enjoyed a relatively easy afternoon in Rotherham as Birmingham continue their revival under new manager Gary Rowett.

Randolph has only conceded once in four games and grabbed another clean sheet against Paul Green’s side, who have now moved into the relegation zone.

There was another London derby at the Valley as Ireland keeper David Forde kept a clean sheet in the scoreless draw between rivals Charlton and Millwall. Forde made some routine saves without really being tested, however, he had fellow Irishman Alan Dunne to thank for clearing the ball off the line in injury time as Forde was rounded.

Eoin Doyle got back to doing what he does best as Chesterfield beat Barnsley 2-1 on Saturday. The former Rover (Shamrock and Sligo) bagged a brace to move further clear as the League 1 top scorer with 16 league goals.

Doyle’s first was a sublime lob, while he had to make the second himself as he twisted and turned in the box before unleashing a fine curling effort to secure the points. Keith Treacy came off the bench to grab one back for Barnsley but Paul Cook’s side held on for the win.

Doyle is certainly making a name for himself on the pitch but not too sure he had a career in punditry once he hangs up his boots.

Jay O’Shea and Jimmy Ryan also started for Chesterfield, who move up to 11th in the table, while Conor Hourihane featured for Barnsley.

Paddy Madden was another striker to hit the target at the weekend as the former Bohemians front-man slotted home Scunthorpe’s first goal in their 2-2 draw away at Crawley.            

Another former League of Ireland forward to get on the scoresheet was Leyton Orient’s Dave Mooney who came off the bench to hit the fourth in their 4-1 victory over Crewe.

In League 2, Shrewsbury’s James Collins scored twice but the former Ireland Under-21 striker ended up on the losing side as The Blues were beaten 3-2 by Exeter.

Former Ireland midfielder Liam Lawrence was also in the Shrewsbury starting XI, while Jimmy Keohane and Graham Cummins were on the winning side as Exeter came from 2-0 down to take all three points.

Meanwhile, Dundalk’s departing striker Pat Hoban may soon feature on these pages in the New Year as the Galway native has signed for Oxford United.

The striker is leaving the Irish champions to join the 19th-placed side in the fourth tier of English football. Well, the university town of Oxford is a very liveable place, it must be said.

And Oxford boss Michael Appleton appears very excited with the signing, comparing Hoban to, eh, Chey Dunkley.

“He is a goalscorer, but he is also a strong lad, he brings other people into the game and like Chey Dunkley who we brought in yesterday he has a hunger and maybe a point to prove.”

North of the border, Adam Rooney was again in goalscoring touch as he grabbed the winner for Aberdeen away at Partick Thistle, while Anthony Stokes also got in on the action as Celtic beat Dundee 2-1.

Robbie Keane's LA Galaxy are 90 minutes away from a third MLS Cup final in four years after beating Seattle Sounders 1-0 in their Western Conference Championship final first leg last night.

Former Ireland Under-21 international Patrick Kohlmann helped his side Holsten Kiel to a 1-0 win over Duisburg.

The former German champions (they won the league in 1912) are currently residing in the third tier and sit seventh in the table, four points off the leaders Preussen Münster.

League of Ireland veteran and Libya international Eamon Zayed has joined up with the George O'Callaghan-managed Sabah FA in Malaysia, while former Ireland Under-21 striker Billy Mehmet has also headed east to join up with Sarawak Crocs, also in Malaysia.

Moving into the southern hemisphere and former Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians full back Brian Shelly helped his side Waitakere United to victory in New Zealand's ASB Premiership. Fellow Irishman and former UCD player Sean Harding was also in action helping United to fight back from 1-0 down with minutes remaining to a 2-1 win.

In Australia, Liam Miller has signed on with Melbourne until 31 December and played 45 minutes in the club's defeat to Sydney at the weekend. Damien Duff played the full game for Melbourne.

And Andy Keogh grabbed another goal for his Perth Glory side as the western Australian side beat Wellington Phoenix 2-1.

More stories on

Read Next