Republic of Ireland of Ireland internationals Wes Hoolahan, Anthony Stokes and David McGoldrick were among the goals on the opening weekend of the Championship.
Norwich City, relegated from the Premier League last season, began their campaign with a resounding 4-1 victory at Blackburn Rovers, with Hoolahan and Stokes both on the score-sheet for their respective teams.
The Canaries have had a settled summer and, enjoying the cohesion that familiarity breeds, put Rovers to the sword with three goals in the first 25 minutes.
A close-range finish from Hoolahan, who was prominent throughout, put the Canaries 2-0 up and it was a three-goal advantage after just 25 minutes.
Stokes, who joined Rovers after six years with Celtic, scored on his debut after coming on at half-time, but it was merely a consolation as Norwich ran out comfortable winners.
Ireland centre-half Shane Duffy and Darragh Lenihan also started for Blackburn, while Manchester City loanee Jack Byrne came on to make his competitive debut for the Ewood Park side.
Robbie Brady was not named in the Norwich match-day squad.
Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich Town got off to a flying start with a 4-2 win over Barnsley at Portman Road.
Second half substitute Grant Ward was the star of the show on his first outing for the club with a goal four minutes from time sealing the match ball, with two Irish players also among the goals.
David McGoldrick’s second-half penalty restored the home side’s two goal advantage after Cork-born Conor Hourihan equalised four minutes after the interval.
The Ireland underage international, who joined the Tykes two years ago, scored one and created the other as the 25-year-old skipper led by performance in the away defeat.
Callum O'Dowda got his Bristol City career off to a winning start as they beat Wigan 2-1 at Ashton Gate. Will Grigg failed to spark up front for Wigan.
The 21-year-old, who made his Ireland bow in the Euro 2016 warm-up defeat to Belarus, moved to City from Oxford for a fee believed to be worth up to £1.6m and played 76 minutes as two goals in the last 10 minutes from Tabby Abraham and Bobby Reid claimed the three points.
84 - Man of the match has been awarded to Callum O'Dowda. #BRCvWIG
— Bristol City FC (@bcfctweets) August 6, 2016
Elsewhere Nottingham Forest came from behind to sink promoted Burton Albion 4-3 in a thriller.
Walter Zenga's Wolverhampton Wanderers recovered from a 2-0 deficit to draw 2-2 at Rotherham United.
John Swift’s first-half goal proved to be the difference between Reading and Preston North End, while Nigel Pearson’s first game in charge of Derby County ended in a draw as the Rams were held at home by Brighton.
