Irish Eye: Ian Harte's still got it

The Reading defender’s 25-yard free-kick was the pick of the bunch this weekend.

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

Kevin Doyle (Newcastle 2-2 Wolves)

Doyle secured an unlikely point for new Wolves boss Terry Connor in his first game in charge by scoring a 66th-minute equaliser at St James’s Park.

The visitors had been trailing by two goals after Jonas Gutierrez and Papis Demba Cisse were on target but Matt Jarvis pulled one on back on 50 minutes before Doyle was on hand to fire home from close range. Stephen Ward and Kevin Foley played at full-back for Wolves, while Stephen Hunt came off the bench.

Keith Andrews (West Brom 4-0 Sunderland)

On loan midfielder Keith Andrews capped a terrific day for the Baggies as they secured a first Premier League win since November at the Hawthorns. Andrews scored the final goal in the last minute of normal time and there were appearances for Steven Reid, John O’Shea, James McClean and Shane Long (from the bench).

Carling Cup final

Anthony Gerrard (Cardiff 2-2 Liverpool)

At Wembley, a dramatic Carling Cup final ended with a missed penalty by Bluebirds defender Anthony Gerrard. The 26-year-old, who began his career at Everton and has played at U18 level for Ireland, put his spot-kick wide to hand Liverpool the trophy after the game had ended 2-2 after 120 minutes.

Npower Championship

Andy Keogh (Burnley 1-3 Millwall)

Ireland winger Keogh took advantage of David Edgar’s poor clearance to score the opener for Millwall in their 3-1 win over Burnley. Keogh has been left out of Giovanni Trapattoni’s squad for the friendly with the Czech Republic on Wednesday but helped push the Lions further away from the relegation zone with his strike on Saturday.

David Forde, who third choice behind Shay Given and Keiren Westwood, also started in goal.

Noel Hunt & Ian Harte (Middlesborough 0-2 Reading)

At 34, Ian Harte‘s international career is well and truly over but the Reading full-back showed he’s still got a cracking left foot with a free-kick from 25 yards against Middlesborough. The former Leeds United defender doubled the Royals lead to move them into third place in the Championship after Noel Hunt had put Brian McDermott’s side in front at the Riverside.

Npower League One

Paddy Madden (Carlisle 3-2 Yeovil)

Ex-Bohemians striker Paddy Madden grabbed his first goal of the season in the 3-2 home win against Yeovil playing alongside fellow Dubliner Peter Murphy.

Gary Doherty (Wycombe 5-0 Hartlepool)

‘The Doc’ was on target for the first time in 2012 as Wycombe romped to a 5-0 win over the Monkey Hangers at Adams Park. Former international defender-come-striker Doherty was making his debut for the Blues after agreeing to join on a loan deal from Charlton.

Scottish Premier League

Jon Daly & Gavin Gunning (Hearts 0-2 Dundee United)

Daly scored goal No17 in a what has been a superb season for the Tangerines as they climbed ahead of Hearts to fifth place in the SPL on Saturday. Former Crumlin United and Blackburn Rovers defender Gavin Gunning was also on the scoresheet during a man-of-the-match performance at Tynecastle.