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Irish Abroad: Cup glory shines spotlight on fringe players

Updated / Monday, 22 Feb 2016 10:32
Paul McShane heading home for Reading as they outclassed their Premier League opponents
Paul McShane heading home for Reading as they outclassed their Premier League opponents

Reading’s Paul McShane, Crystal Palace’s Damien Delaney and Hull City’s David Meyler all captained their sides to impressive FA Cup results this weekend.

Championship strugglers Reading caused the upset of the round so far, by knocking out Premier League side West Brom. Skipper McShane nodded home a vital equaliser against his previous club before former Dundalk defender Michael Hector headed Brian McDermott’s side into the lead.

Stephen Quinn and Simon Cox, along with McShane started for the Royals, with 17-year-old midfielder Josh Barrett on the bench. James McClean also started for West Brom. 

Reading who currently lie 16th in the Championship table, will take on their former manager Alan Pardew in the quarter-finals, after his Crystal Palace side knocked out Spurs on Sunday. 

Damien Delaney started at the heart of the Palace defence, as the Eagles edged passed Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 to win their first match since beating Stoke City in the previous round. Pardew hinted in the Sunday Times that the 34-year-old defender could be willing to return to the international team and add to his nine Ireland caps in time for Euro 2016.

Steve Bruce made 10 changes for Hull’s visit to holders Arsenal on Saturday, with Ireland midfielder David Meyler named in the starting line-up.

The former Sunderland midfielder captained the side to a scoreless draw at the Emirates. However, Meyler was fortunate not to concede a penalty in the second-half, as he challenged Callum Chambers from behind in the box. Referee Mike Dean deemed that Meyler got enough of the ball and not enough of Chambers, to wave away any Arsenal appeal for a penalty.

Later in the day James McCarthy did concede a penalty at Bournemouth, after a blatant handball.

Everton goalkeeper Joel Robles saved the resulting spot-kick to the relief of the Irish midfielder. 

Roberto Martinez picked his strongest side with Séamus Coleman also starting for the Toffees, while Darron Gibson was excluded from the match-day squad. An ominous sign for Gibson’s Euro 2016 chances as his only appearances in 2016 have come in the FA Cup.

Harry Arter was rested by the Cherries as Eunan O’Kane continued his run of starting every FA Cup tie this season for Bournemouth.

Last week, West Ham manager Slaven Billic confirmed that Irish goalkeeper Darren Randolph will keep his place in West Ham’s FA Cup side, even if they reach the final.

Randolph has been the stand-out goalkeeper in the competition so far this season, but was unsighted when Blackburn Rovers took the lead against the Hammers in their FA Cup tie on Sunday.

A low drive by right-back Ben Marshall snuck into the corner of Randolph’s net, on what was an overall quiet day for West Ham’s second-choice goalkeeper.

Shane Duffy captained Rovers in the absence of Grant Hanley, who was on the bench. Duffy scored in the Championship against Fulham on Tuesday night, and will be hoping Martin O’Neill had his eyes on other FA Cup ties, as Blackburn conceded five times against a ruthless West Ham side.

Blackburn had played the majority of the second-half with 10 men when Chris Taylor was sent off for two bookable offences with the score at 2-1.

Darragh Lenihan also started for Rovers, as the defensive midfielder made his presence felt with some late tackles. The 21-year-old was eventually booked late in the second-half.

There was plenty of Irish interest at Griffin Park on Saturday, as Alan Judge’s Brentford took on Derby County in the Championship. Judge is affectionately known as the ‘Irish Messi’ among the local supporters for his willingness to get on the ball and take on opposition defenders.

The Dubliner did those credentials no harm as he scored a superb solo goal to give his side the lead.

The attacking midfielder intercepted the ball in his own half and dribbled his way into Derby’s box before the driving the ball home from a difficult angle. Judge is the fourth highest scorer in the Championship with 13 goals and has the third highest number of assists with seven.

However, three goals in the last 10 minutes gave Derby their first league win of 2016. 

Jeff Hendrick’s equaliser on the 80th minute turned the game, when he put the ball between the Brentford goalkeeper’s legs from a tight angle.

Four minutes later, Cyrus Christie scored his first goal for the Rams in his 74th game for the club, when he pounced on a loose ball in the box, after good play by the Irish right-back in the build-up.

Anthony Pilkington put in a man of the match performance as he scored his sixth Championship goal of the season. The 27-year-old, who has won eight Ireland caps, punished a poor clearance from Brighton goalkeeper David Stockdale with a swerving finish to put his side 2-0 up against Chris Hughton’s team. 

Pilkington, who is now playing as a centre-forward for the Bluebirds, also won a penalty after a clumsy tackle by Brighton defender Connor Goldson. The converted penalty ensured a comfortable 4-1 win over promotion-chasing Brighton, who once again excluded Richie Towell from their matchday squad.

Former England underage international Joe Garner, who was last year linked with an Irish call-up, scored his fourth Championship goal of the season for Preston in their defeat of Sheffield Wednesday.

Irish left-back Greg Cunningham started his 30th league game of the season, while 20-year-old midfielder Alan Browne also started for North End, with out-of-form striker Eoin Doyle on the bench. Doyle is on-loan from Cardiff but has scored only 2 league goals in his 19 appearances for the Lilywhites.

Kieran Westwood started in goal for the Owls with Aiden McGeady missing out completely after picking up a knock in training. The former Celtic winger should be fit for Wednesday’s midweek game against QPR.

Stephen Ward’s good form continued on Saturday as Burnley beat relegation-threatened Rotherham United 2-0 at Turf Moor.

The Clarets are now nine Championship games unbeaten and have moved into the automatic promotion places. 

Paul Green started for Neil Warnock’s Rotherham with Leon Best and new recruit Paddy Kenny on the bench. This week was the fifth time Warnock had signed the 37-year-old former Ireland goalkeeper.

Defender Stephen Kelly once again missed out through injury.

Neil Lennon’s Bolton Wanderers conceded a last-minute equaliser at home to QPR, but the draw was still good enough to move the Trotters off the bottom of the table.

Bolton’s point resulted in Stephen Henderson’s Charlton Athletic moving to the foot of the Championship, after a 3-0 defeat away to Fulham.

Bristol City won their third game on the bounce as the Robins moved eight points clear of the relegation zone, with a 2-0 win away at relegation rivals MK Dons.

On-loan defender Alex Pearce came on after the half-time break for the injured Nathan Baker, for his second substitute appearance since joining in the January window. Derrick Williams remained on the bench for the Robins while midfielder Darren Potter started for MK Dons.

Full-back Matt Doherty made his 14th start of the campaign for Wolves, while on-loan striker Joe Mason returned to the starting line-up, but the Irish duo couldn’t end their side’s winless run in the league, which now extends to six matches after losing 1-0 away to Huddersfield.

It was the first time Mason didn’t find the back of the net for Wolves after scoring twice in his two previous appearances. Joe Murphy was once again on the bench for the Terriers; he has made only seven league starts this season.

One of the most gifted Irish players outside the top two divisions in England is Barnsley’s Conor Hourihane.

The Cork native notched up his ninth assist of the season in Barnsley’s 1-0 win over Doncaster. The 25-year-old also has eight league goals for the Tykes in League One this season.

Scunthorpe United’s Paddy Madden scored his fourth goal in five games, taking his tally in League One to 15 for the season. However, his penalty was not enough for the Irons as they lost 2-1 away at Fleetwood Town.

Ireland underage international Connor Dimaio had the dream home debut for his hometown club Chesterfield, by scoring one and setting up another in a man of the match performance for the Spireites.

Chris Forrester returned to the Peterborough United starting line-up but the Posh went down to a 3-0 defeat away to Millwall, who once again had David Forde on the bench.

On-loan Manchester City goalkeeper Ian Lawlor conceded two goals at home to Colchester but his Bury side bounced back to win 5-2.

In League Two, Ireland Under-21 international Shamir Fenelon poached a late equaliser for Crawley against Plymouth Argyle.

Seamus Conneely was a star performer for Accrington Stanley as they gave their promotion bid a shot in the arm with a 2-1 win away to Oxford United.

Manager John Coleman said: "I actually have to compliment Seamus Conneely. I thought he was absolutely outstanding today. Everywhere he could be, he was. His passing was superb, his calmness on the ball, his calming influence on the team and it was a true captain's performance.

"You don't have to go around shouting and bawling to be a good captain. Sometimes you can lead by example and I think Seamus definitely did that today."

Dubliner Jamie Devitt scored a penalty for Morecambe in his side's 2-1 defeat to Bristol Rovers as former Limerick forward Rory Gaffney smashed home a volley from close range to net his eight goal of the season for the victorious Pirates.

James Berrett scored his fourth goal of the season but it was not enough to prevent his York side losing 3-1 away at Cambridge.

Last Monday night, a neat finish from Aberdeen's Adam Rooney gave his side the lead away to Inverness CT. 

That goal was his 19th league goal of the season and his 13th in his last 16 games. However, the Dons were to be undone, eventually losing the game 3-1.

Aberdeen are now six points behind Celtic, who beat Inverness CT 3-0 on Saturday.

Dundee’s defence, including Darren O’Dea, kept a clean sheet away to Kilmarnock, while Anthony Stokes remained on the Hibernian bench in their 3-0 win at home to Alloa in the Scottish Championship. He has scored two goals in his five appearances so far on-loan from Celtic.

Further afield, Andy Keogh scored for the second consecutive weekend as his Perth Glory side overcame Brisbane Roar 6-3 in a topsy-turvy A League encounter.

Finally, Jack Byrne started for Cambuur Leeuwarden in Holland’s Eredivisie, but a 3-0 defeat away to FC Twente leaves his side nine points away from safety at the bottom of the table.

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