Irish Eye: Bad day for Ireland's Aston Villa contingent
Ciarán Clark was not a happy man after Ashley Young’s theatrics, while Anthony Stokes missed out on a Scottish Cup final place. Andy Keogh, at least, is flying for Millwall…
EVERY MONDAY, WE scan the passports, check the family trees and cross-reference with the “granny rule” to keep you informed about the ups and downs of all the Irish (and Irish-eligible) footballers in England and Scotland. Think of us as the Tardelli to your Trap, if you will…
Premier League
Ciarán Clark (Manchester United 4-0 Aston Villa)
Not a good day for young defender/midfielder Clark, who ‘gave away’ the ‘penalty’ to Ashley Young that Wayne Rooney converted. Clark barely touched the United winger but Young went to ground anyway, and the seeds of another bad defeat for Villa were sewn. Rumour has it that Stephen Ireland was playing in the match but it’s hard to remember anything of note that the Cobh man produced, before he was replaced by 19-year-old Samir Carruthers, a future Ireland international if his lively cameo was anything to go by. The score could have been in double-digits had it not been for some fine saves from Shay Given, at least.
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Anthony Forde (Sunderland 0-0 Wolves)
The 18-year-old wide player from Limerick started for Wolves against Sunderland and looked decent in only his fourth first team game, while James McClean had one of his quieter outings in what could have been the worst match of the season.
Npower Championship
Liam Lawrence (Barnsley 0-1 Cardiff)
A good day for the former Portsmouth captain, who scored the only goal of the game for his new side against Barnsley. Cardiff occupy the last of the play-off places in the division and lie two points clear of 7th-placed Middlesbrough. Joe Mason also started for Malky Mackay’s side, with Stephen McPhail coming on as a second half substitute.
Andy Keogh (Millwall 2-1 Leicester City)
A penalty for the former Wolves player as his side made sure they would be playing Championship football next season. Lions boss Kenny Jackett praised the 25-year-old’s partnership with on-loan Harry Kane after the match, saying: “We are very pleased rather to do it sooner rather than later. We have had some form off the back of Andy Keogh and Kane’s partnership.It has been a good partnership up front for us and has given us a threat all of the time, which at different stages of the season we haven’t had.”
Gary Dicker (West Ham 6-0 Brighton)
An utterly miserable day for the Dubliner was confounded when he diverted a cross from Mark Noble into his own net with 11 minutes left in the game.
League One
Michael Doyle (Sheffield United 3-1 Leyton Orient)
A goal for the Blades captain as Danny Wilson’s side kept up their push for automatic promotion to the Championship. Set up by Ched Evans, Doyle grabbed his second goal in a week and put his side 2-1 up, after Kevin Lisbie had initially given Orient the lead.
The Scottish Cup
Anthony Stokes (Celtic 1-2 Hearts )
Came on as sub with half an hour to go in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park. Fared much better than Georgios Samaras and things were looking good for the Bhoys when the Dubliner’s strike partner Gary Hooper equalised in the 87th minute of the match. However, referee Euan Norris had other ideas, awarding the Edinburgh side a dubious penalty to send them through to face Hibs in the final.
Irish Eye: Bad day for Ireland's Aston Villa contingent
EVERY MONDAY, WE scan the passports, check the family trees and cross-reference with the “granny rule” to keep you informed about the ups and downs of all the Irish (and Irish-eligible) footballers in England and Scotland. Think of us as the Tardelli to your Trap, if you will…
Premier League
Ciarán Clark (Manchester United 4-0 Aston Villa)
Not a good day for young defender/midfielder Clark, who ‘gave away’ the ‘penalty’ to Ashley Young that Wayne Rooney converted. Clark barely touched the United winger but Young went to ground anyway, and the seeds of another bad defeat for Villa were sewn. Rumour has it that Stephen Ireland was playing in the match but it’s hard to remember anything of note that the Cobh man produced, before he was replaced by 19-year-old Samir Carruthers, a future Ireland international if his lively cameo was anything to go by. The score could have been in double-digits had it not been for some fine saves from Shay Given, at least.
The 18-year-old wide player from Limerick started for Wolves against Sunderland and looked decent in only his fourth first team game, while James McClean had one of his quieter outings in what could have been the worst match of the season.
Npower Championship
Liam Lawrence (Barnsley 0-1 Cardiff)
A good day for the former Portsmouth captain, who scored the only goal of the game for his new side against Barnsley. Cardiff occupy the last of the play-off places in the division and lie two points clear of 7th-placed Middlesbrough. Joe Mason also started for Malky Mackay’s side, with Stephen McPhail coming on as a second half substitute.
Andy Keogh (Millwall 2-1 Leicester City)
A penalty for the former Wolves player as his side made sure they would be playing Championship football next season. Lions boss Kenny Jackett praised the 25-year-old’s partnership with on-loan Harry Kane after the match, saying: “We are very pleased rather to do it sooner rather than later. We have had some form off the back of Andy Keogh and Kane’s partnership.It has been a good partnership up front for us and has given us a threat all of the time, which at different stages of the season we haven’t had.”
Gary Dicker (West Ham 6-0 Brighton)
An utterly miserable day for the Dubliner was confounded when he diverted a cross from Mark Noble into his own net with 11 minutes left in the game.
League One
Michael Doyle (Sheffield United 3-1 Leyton Orient)
A goal for the Blades captain as Danny Wilson’s side kept up their push for automatic promotion to the Championship. Set up by Ched Evans, Doyle grabbed his second goal in a week and put his side 2-1 up, after Kevin Lisbie had initially given Orient the lead.
The Scottish Cup
Anthony Stokes (Celtic 1-2 Hearts )
Came on as sub with half an hour to go in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park. Fared much better than Georgios Samaras and things were looking good for the Bhoys when the Dubliner’s strike partner Gary Hooper equalised in the 87th minute of the match. However, referee Euan Norris had other ideas, awarding the Edinburgh side a dubious penalty to send them through to face Hibs in the final.
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Andy Keogh Aston Villa Boys in Green Ciaran Clark Irish Eye James McClean Manchester United Michael Doyle Republic Of Ireland Stephen Ireland Trap