April 16th
English Premier League
Everton and Spurs were the only teams to take to the pitch in the Premier League on Friday evening. The game was all square in the 61st minute when Seamus Coleman was introduced from the bench. One minute later, the Toffees were ahead after Gylfi Sigurdsson scored his second. Coleman set up the goal with a brilliant low cross. The tie finished 2-2 with Harry Kane equalizing minutes later.
English League One
Jack Taylor assisted Sammie Szmodics for his and Peterborough United’s second goal in a 3-1 victory over Northampton United.
Scottish Cup
St Mirren progress to the quarter-final stage of the Scottish Cup after eliminating Inverness if the fourth round. Midfielder Jamie McGrath set up the first goal of the match, and Mirren went on to clinch the victory with a winner in the 89th minute.
Australian A-League
In the Australian A-League, Simon Cox assisted Western Sydney Wanderers’ only goal of the game in a 2-1 defeat to Brisbane Roar.
April 17th
English Premier League
Ciaran Clark started for Newcastle United as they won their second game on the bounce. They overcame an in-form West Ham side thanks to a late Joe Willock header that won the tie for the Magpies.
From elation in Newcastle to dejection in Sheffield as the Blades were officially relegated from the Premier League after losing to Wolves on Saturday. Irish trio Enda Stevens, John Egan and David McGoldrick all featured in the defeat.
English Championship
At Luton, James Collins scored his 12th goal of the campaign from the penalty spot in a big 1-0 win against second-placed Watford.
The 3-1 defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday won’t bother Norwich City too much as they secured promotion after Watford’s defeat to Luton Town.
A Millwall side including Danny McNamara and Alex Pearce held promotion chasers Brentford to a goalless draw and it was also all square in Sheffield where Kieran Westwood started in goal for Wednesday against Bristol City.
Elsewhere, Richard Keogh started in Huddersfield Town’s win over Nottingham Forest, Alan Browne and Greg Cunningham featured in Preston’s 0-0 draw away to Stoke City, while Ryan Manning and Conor Hourihane played their part in Swansea City’s 2-2 draw with Wycombe.
English League One
One man who knows where the net is and could be playing his way into contention for an Ireland call-up in the summer is Lincoln City’s Anthony Scully. The forward’s early goal away to Bristol Rovers was enough to seal the win.
Rochdale have picked up their form at the most important stage of the season. They won their second game on the trot and it was also the second time in a week there were two Irish names on the scoresheet. Jimmy Keohane made it two in two after ten minutes and Conor Shaughnessy ensured all three points for his side with a 91st minute strike into an open goal.
Dan Crowley got his first assist of the season as Hull City completed a comeback against Fleetwood Town. The win means Hull remain top of League One.
English League Two
Ryan Sweeney’s finish made the difference in the clash between Mansfield Town and Stevenage. The defender bundled the ball home in the 24th minute to give Mansfield the lead and the victory.
After a tiny slip in form, Cambridge United won their second consecutive game. Wes Hoolahan set up Declan Drysdale in the 79th minute to make it 1-0 and seal all three points.
Conor Wilkinson turned provider this week in Leyton Orient’s 2-0 win over Barrow, assisting the second goal of the game.
Scottish Cup
There was another Irish player amongst the assists in the Scottish Cup on Saturday. Johnny Hayes set up Niall McGinn for Aberdeen’s second goal in a game that was decided by penalties with Aberdeen going through to the next round.
Scottish League Two
Luca Connell continues to impress during his loan spell at Queens Park, bagging himself another assist in their 3-2 victory.
April 18th
Australian A-League
Roy O’Donovan scored his fifth goal of the season from the penalty spot in Newcastle Jets’ 2-2 draw with Macarthur.
April 20th
English Championship
There were nine players amongst the action in the Championship on Tuesday evening. Alan Browne was involved in the most notable bit of the action, assisting Benjamin Whiteman for Preston’s opener in a 3-0 win against Derby County. Greg Cunningham started with Sean Maguire and Jayson Molumby appearing as late substitutes for Preston while Jason Knight and Festy Ebosele also featured for Derby.
Andrew Omobamidele started in Norwich City’s defeat to Watford, their second defeat in the space of four days. Meanwhile Darragh Lenihan started at the back in Blackburn Rovers’ defeat to second bottom side Sheffield Wednesday who had Kieran Westwood between the sticks keeping a clean sheet.
English League One
In the third tier, Ronan Curtis netted a consolation goal as Portsmouth lost 3-1 away to Swindon Town.
Northampton full-back Peter Kioso was at the double, giving his side a 2-0 lead in the first-half against a struggling Ipswich Town (with Troy Parrott missing from the matchday squad). Both of Kioso’s goals came from a corner, the first was neatly volleyed in while the second was nodded home at the back post.
Will Keane was also on the scoresheet with a powerful header, as well as claiming an assist, for Wigan who have now won four games in a row and consequently have climbed out of the relegation zone.
At Wimbledon, Olamide Shodipo set up Josh Ruffels for an early goal to give Oxford United the lead. However, the home side scored two second-half goals which earned them the win.
English League Two
Bolton Wanderers got it spot on with their description of Eoin Doyle’s 18th goal of the season. The striker was quickest to react when the ball cannoned off the post as he slid the ball into the net to give his team the win.
Paudie O’Connor was also amongst the goals, but unfortunately for him it was in the wrong net. His own-goal on the stroke of half-time was enough to separate Bradford City and Tranmere Rovers.
April 21st
English Championship
Scott Hogan’s evening was cut short inside just 20 minutes after he picked up an injury in Birmingham City’s draw with Nottingham Forest. Cyrus Christie started at the back for the opposition.
There were also starts for Alex Pearce, Danny McNamara and Richard Keogh for their respective clubs, Millwall and Huddersfield Town.
Scottish Premiership
Jamie McGrath’s stoppage time penalty ensured St Mirren were home and hosed in their clash with Ross County. McGrath is now on 14 goals for the season with his last six coming from the penalty spot. The game finished 3-1 to Mirren with Conor McCarthy and Joe Shaughnessy also playing the full ninety minutes in defence.
April 22nd
English Premier League
After experiencing the highs that come with back-to-back wins, West Brom’s bubble was burst by Leicester City on Thursday evening. The Foxes eased to a 3-0 victory at the King Power Stadium where Callum Robinson was substituted at half-time while Dara O’Shea lasted the full ninety minutes.