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Irish Abroad: Conrad Logan heroics on his Hibernian debut

Updated / Monday, 18 Apr 2016 17:17
Conrad Logan is mobbed after helping steer Hibernian to the Scottish Cup final on 21 May
Conrad Logan is mobbed after helping steer Hibernian to the Scottish Cup final on 21 May

Here is your comprehensive guide to how the Irish players abroad got on this weekend with just eight weeks to go until Ireland kick-off their Euro 2016 campaign against Sweden.

Good Weekend: Conrad Logan (Hibernian)

Donegal goalkeeper Conrad Logan was the hero on his Hibernian debut as his new side reached the Scottish Cup final. The former Leicester City man, who was playing his first match in over a year after ending his 10-year association with the Foxes, made two saves in the penalty shootout, as well as making several important stops throughout the game.

Bad Weekend: Wes Hoolahan (Norwich)

The Irish playmaker was left out of Norwich’s most important game of the season so far as the Canaries lost 3-0 at home to relegation rivals Sunderland. Hoolahan came on after 59 minutes and had a shot cleared off the line. The 33-year-old hasn’t started since the middle of March, a run of five games.

FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED THIS WEEKEND:

1 Seamus Coleman limped off in the second-half for Everton against Southampton, adding his name to a growing injury list that contains Marc Wilson, Jeff Hendrick, Harry Arter, Jon Walters, Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle, while Rob Elliot and Alan Judge have already been ruled out of Euro 2016.

2 Damien Delaney produced another man-of-the-match performance in his 150th appearance for Crystal Palace as the Eagles warmed up for their FA Cup semi-final against Watford with a battling 1-1 draw against Arsenal.

3 Darragh Lenihan is earning himself a reputation as a no-nonsense midfielder after picking up another yellow card in Blackburn’s home loss to Huddersfield. That is now 10 bookings in the last 17 games for the man from Dunboyne. 

4 Dubliner Jake Mulraney scored his first goal in professional football for Stevenage on Saturday.The 20-year-old midfielder is on-loan from Championship side Queens Park Rangers.

5 Other Irish youngsters, midfielders Josh Barrett (17) and Adam McDonnell (18) made the bench for Reading and Ipswich Town respectively.  

THE WEEKEND IN NUMBERS: 

Premier League: 7 starters

Defenders (3): Seamus Coleman (Everton), Damien Delaney (Crystal Palace), Ciaran Clark (Aston Villa)  

Midfielders (3): Darron Gibson (Everton), Robbie Brady (Norwich City), James McClean (West Brom)  

Forwards (1): Shane Long (Southampton)

Substitute appearances (2): John O’Shea (Sunderland), Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City) 

Unused substitutes (2): Darren Randolph (West Ham),EunanO’Kane (Bournemouth)

Championship: 22 starters  

Goalkeepers (1): Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday)

Defenders (7): Cyrus Christie (Derby County), Stephen Kelly (Rotherham United), Richard Keogh (Derby County),Shane Duffy (Blackburn Rovers), Stephen Ward (Burnley), Greg Cunningham (Preston), Matt Doherty (Wolves)  

Midfielders (9):  Lee Frecklington (Rotherham United), Darren Potter (MK Dons), DarraghLenihan (Blackburn Rovers), Alan McCormack (Brentford), Kevin Foley (Ipswich Town), David Meyler (Hull City), Jonathan Douglas (Ipswich Town), Stephen Quinn (Reading), Samir Carruthers (MK Dons)

Forwards (5): Leon Best (Rotherham United), Simon Cox (Reading), Eoin Doyle (Preston), David McGoldrick (Ipswich Town),Anthony Pilkington (Cardiff)

Substitute appearances (1): Alan Browne (Preston)

Unused substitutes (10): Jack Bonham (Brentford), Paddy Kenny (Rotherham United), Alex Pearce (Bristol City), Kevin Long (MK Dons), Stephen Gleeson (Birmingham City), Paul Green (Rotherham United), Adam McDonnell (Ipswich Town), Josh Barrett (Reading), Sean Scannell (Huddersfield Town), Joe Mason (Wolves).

PREMIER LEAGUE ROUND-UP

Darron Gibson made his first Premier League start of the season against Southampton on Saturday. The midfielder picked up a yellow card for a late tackle on international team-mate Shane Long in the first-half. The former Manchester United midfielder has only made eight appearances in all competitions for Everton this season and a mix of injuries, suspensions and rotation paved the way for Gibson to start.

James McCarthy was one of those players to miss out after being sent off in the midweek match against Crystal Palace.

Seamus Coleman's injury in the second-half at Goodison Park means that he is likely to miss Wednesday’s Merseyside derby at Anfield and the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday against Manchester United.

At Carrow Road, Sunderland’s survival hopes have been boosted with a comprehensive 3-0 win over relegation rivals Norwich City.

Robbie Brady started on the left of midfield for the Canaries but was replaced at half-time by Nathan Redmond. Wes Hoolahan came on with just over 30 minutes to go having not started in the Premier League since March.

John O’Shea also came off the bench late on for Sunderland. The veteran defender has also struggled to get game time in recent weeks. The Waterford man hasn’t started for Sam Allardyce’s side since the start of last month.

James McClean played the full 90 minutes as West Brom lost at home to Watford after Saido Berahino had two second-half penalties saved by Heurelho Gomes. It was the Derry man’s 30th Premier League appearance of the season and his 23rd start.

Ciaran Clark started for Aston Villa as their inevitable relegation from the Premier League was confirmed after a 1-0 defeat at Manchester United. The Irish international was culpable for the home side’s winner after he failed to fully track the run of Marcus Rashford.

It was only the 14th league start of the season for Clark but the 26-year-old has started five out of the last six games for Villa.

Despite another impressive performance by Darren Randolph in midweek against Manchester United in the FA Cup, it wasn’t enough for the Wicklow man to force his way into West Ham’s starting line-up for the visit to league leaders Leicester City. The Irish goalkeeper had to settle for a place on the bench instead.

Harry Arter’s club season could be over after his Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe revealed he has visited a specialist over his Achilles injury picked up in the game against Spurs last month.

Fellow Irish midfielder Eunan O’Kane was an unused substitute for the second game in a row as the Cherries lost 2-1 at home to a youthful Liverpool side. O’Kane last started in the 4-0 home loss to Manchester City at the start of the month.

Damien Delaney’s fine form for Crystal Palace continued in their 1-1 draw away at Arsenal, but a call-up for Euro 2016 is highly unlikely.

On Monday evening, Shay Given will be hoping to get to chance to impress Martin O’Neill when Stoke take on title-chasing Tottenham Hotspur with first-choice goalkeeper Jack Butland missing out through injury and back-up Jakob Haugaard failing to impress in the last two games.

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND-UP

David Meyler made his first league start in nearly two months, a run of five matches, as Hull City got all three points against Wolves. Matt Doherty started for the visitors but striker Joe Mason failed to get off the bench having not scored since the middle of February.

Richie Towell was left out of Brighton’s match-day squad as Chris Hughton’s side thrashed Championship strugglers Fulham 5-0 on Friday night. The former Dundalk midfielder was an unused substitute in their previous two games.

Stephen Ward picked up his second booking of the season as Burnley beat Birmingham to push themselves back into the automatic promotion places after Brighton’s win on Friday night.

Stephen Gleeson remained on the bench for Birmingham. The midfielder has only missed one other match for the Blues in the Championship this season.

Darragh Lenihan picked up his 10th booking of the season as Blackburn Rovers lost at home to Huddersfield Town. Shane Duffy was also booked as he made his 39th league appearance of the season in the 2-0 defeat. Sean Scannell was on the bench for the victorious visitors.

Alan Judge is out for the rest of the season with a broken leg but the ‘Irish Messi’ was acknowledged for his outstanding season for Brentford with a nomination for Championship Player of the Year, missing out on the award to Burnley’s Andre Gray. However, Judge was named in the Team of the Season.

Alan McCormack started for the Bees in their 1-1 draw with Bristol City. Alex Pearce was an unused substitute for the Robins.

Anthony Pilkington came close several times for Cardiff City but couldn’t score the goal to give the Bluebirds all three points they needed in their scoreless draw with QPR. The former Norwich man has now gone seven Championship games without scoring.

Cyrus Christie and Richard Keogh both started and kept a clean sheet for Derby County in their 1-0 win at Charlton Athletic. The Rams are almost certain of a play-off place - they are nine points clear of Cardiff in seventh with four games left to play.

Jeff Hendrick will be hoping to return from injury to take some part in their run-in. Charlton’s Stephen Henderson missed the game with a calf injury.

Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich Town needed to beat Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday to have any hope of reaching the play-offs but the Tractor Boys could only manage a draw at Hillsborough.

Keiren Westwood produced a fine save early on for the Owls after missing last week’s loss to Bristol City through injury, while Aiden McGeady missed Saturday’s game with a slight knock.

Kevin Foley and Jonathan Douglas started in the centre of midfield for Ipswich with striker David McGoldrick starting his first game since October after several substitute appearances since recovering from injury. 18-year-old midfielder Adam McDonnell was an unused substitute.

Stephen Quinn produced his third assist of the season after Simon Cox hit the crossbar in Reading’s loss at Leeds United.

Cox ended a run of 35 games without scoring, against Middlesbrough in midweek. His first goal since 2014.

Paul McShane missed the game through suspension after being banned for three games for an on-field altercation with his own team-mate, Danny Williams. Ireland U17 international Josh Barrett was on the bench on Saturday for Brian McDermott’s side.

There was plenty of Irish interest at Deepdale as Preston drew 1-1 home with MK Dons. Darren Potter and Samir Carruthers both started for the Dons but the point looks to be too little, too late as they sit nine points away from safety. On-loan defender Kevin Long was on the bench.

Eoin Doyle started for Preston but failed to add to his four goals for the season, while Greg Cunningham made his 40th league start at left-back. Alan Browne, who turned 21 during the week, was a late substitute.

Stephen Kelly, Lee Frecklington and Leon Best all started for Roterham United in their goalless draw with Nottingham Forest to edge both sides closer to safety.

LEAGUE ONE ROUND-UP

Portmarnock’s Shaun Williams was sent off for Millwall after an apparent head butt on Coventry’s Ruben Lameiras – something the television cameras failed to pick up.

The Lions were leading when the midfielder was shown the red card, but two second-half goals for Coventry has put a dent in their play-off aspirations.

Striker Aiden O’Brien made his 39th league appearance in the game but failed to add to his nine goals, David Forde was on the bench.

Paddy Madden provided two assists in Scunthorpe’s 3-2 win at Crewe to retain their outside chance of reaching the play-offs. The Irish striker doubled his tally of his assists for the campaign in that game after scoring 21 goals in all competitions so far this season.

Winger Donal McDermott also produced two assists in Rochdale’s facile 3-0 win over Colin Doyle’s Blackpool. Those assists were McDermott’s seventh and eighth in the league this season. Former Ireland underage international right-back Joe Rafferty also started for Rochdale.

Conor Hourihane started for Barnsley as the Tykes picked up what could be a vital point in their bid for a play-off spot at promotion hopefuls Burton. Chris McCann was on the bench as Wigan’s hopes of automatic promotion took a slight knock with a 3-1 defeat at Doncaster Rovers.

Peterborough United will be playing League One football next season but highly-rated Chris Forrester, who made his 32nd appearance of the season for the Posh on Saturday, will need to play at a higher level if he wants to enhance his international credentials.

LEAGUE TWO ROUND-UP

In England’s fourth tier, Tuam-native Rory Gaffney scored the opening goal for Bristol Rovers in their win over Yeovil Town. That victory propels his side into the automatic promotion places after Accrington Stanley dropped two points at home to Morecambe.

Saturday’s goal was Gaffney’s 10th strike in League Two this season, two of which were for Cambridge United.

Former Galway United player Seamus Conneely assisted Accrington’s opening goal in that game but his side are now behind Bristol Rovers on goal difference.

Northampton Town secured promotion last weekend and on Saturday they were confirmed as champions of League Two. The Irish trio of Brendan Moloney, John Joe O’Toole and James Collins were all involved for the Cobblers in their scoreless draw away at Exeter.

Illness ruled promising Irish U-21 international Callum O’Dowda out of second-place for Oxford United’s surprise home defeat to Luton Town. On-loan defenders Glenn Rea and Alan Sheehan started for the Hatters who have an outside chance of making the play-offs.

On-loan QPR midfielder Jake Mulraney scored his first goal in senior football as his Stevenage side beat Newport County to all but guarantee their place in the league next season.

Another two former League of Ireland players were heavily involved in the game at Fratton Park, as two late goals in quick succession earned Plymouth Argyle victory over Portsmouth, who are now managed by former Sligo Rovers manager Paul Cook.

Former Shamrock Rovers left-back Enda Stevens started for Portsmouth but it was the former Bohemians midfielder Graham Carey that proved influential for Plymouth in the local derby. Two assists from Carey took his total of assists for the season to seven, having already scored nine goals from midfield in League Two.

Former Spurs midfielder Kenny McEvoy is on the verge of being relegated out of the Football League with York City. He was an unused sub in their away defeat to Hartlepool.

REST OF THE WORLD

In the Scottish Cup, former Ireland U 21 international Rob Kiernan played 88 minutes for Rangers as they beat Glasgow rivals Celtic on penalties to reach the final.

Mark Warburton’s men will face a Hibernian side looking for their first Scottish Cup win since 1902. They also got to May’s showpiece via penalties thanks to the heroics of Irish goalkeeper Conrad Logan. Anthony Stokes also started for Hibs, while Sean Dillon started in defence for Dundee United.

Jack Byrne made his 25th Eredivisie appearance for Cambuur as they lost 2-1 to NEC Nijmegen and remain bottom of the table.

In Cyprus, Cillian Sheridan scored his 14th league goal of the season as his Omonia won 3-0 at Anorthosis Famagusta.

Andy Keogh’s Perth Glory were knocked out of at the Elimination Finals stage of the A-League by Melbourne City on Sunday morning, losing the match 2-0.

Meanwhile, Kevin Doyle hopes to get back on track with Colorado Rapids shortly. The Ireland striker, who suffered a bad gash to his leg while on international duty against Switzerland, tweeted an update on his recovery at the weekend. 

TEAM OF THE WEEKEND (4-4-2): Conrad Logan (Hibernian); Cyrus Christie (Derby County), Richard Keogh (Derby County), Damien Delaney (Crystal Palace),Stephen Ward (Burnley); Graham Carey (Plymouth), Jack Byrne (Cambuur), Stephen Quinn (Reading), James McClean (West Brom); Paddy Madden (Scunthorpe), Cillian Sheridan (Omonia).

Outside of the Premier League and the Championship only selected players are included.

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