May 15th
Belgian Pro League
Josh Cullen started as Anderlecht lost 2-1 to Genk on Saturday.
May 16th
English Premier League
James McCarthy returned to the Crystal Palace starting eleven in their 3-2 victory over Aston Villa.
Sheffield United provided the upset of the weekend, beating Everton by one goal to nil. Again Irish trio David McGoldrick, Enda Stevens and John Egan all started the game but it was 17-year-old Blades’ striker Daniel Jebbison who stole the show. Seamus Coleman started in his more advanced role down the right-hand side for Everton until half-time when Mason Holgate came off injured.
Scottish Premiership
Kilmarnock came away from Hamilton with three points and a clean sheet. Colin Doyle was between the sticks while Alan Power provided the assist for Kilmarnock’s second goal of the game.
Conor McCarthy, Dylan Connolly and St Mirren ‘Player of the Season’ Jamie McGrath all started as their game with Dundee United ended goalless.
MLS
Atlanta snatched a last gasp winner against Montreal in the MLS. Jake Mulraney set up the decisive stoppage time goal.
Australian A-League
It took Andy Keogh 19 appearances to get his first goal of the campaign, in Sunday’s game against Western Sydney Wanderers. He then went onto to score three more in an emphatic 5-1 victory for Perth Glory, including an incredible first-time volley from distance which looped over the Sydney keeper.
May 17th
English Championship
Swansea City take a 1-0 lead over Barnsley into the second-leg of their play-off semi-final thanks to a second-half goal from Andre Ayew. Conor Hourihane started in midfield for the Swans against his old club, while Ryan Manning had to settle for a seat on the bench.
Both Shane Long and Mark Travers were also unused substitutes as Bournemouth also won by one goal to nil against Brentford.
May 18th
English League One
Oxford United have a small mountain to climb in the second leg of their play-off semi-final tie after losing 3-0 at home to Blackpool. Mark Sykes started the game (and missed a great opportunity to give his side a goal and a glimmer of hope for the second leg) while Irish teammates Olamide Shodipo and Anthony Forde were brought on for the final 10 minutes.
English League Two
In the first of the League Two semi-final play-off games, Newport County beat Forest Green Rovers 2-0. Padraig Amond started up top for Newport, coming up against Dominic Bernard in Forest Green Rovers’ midfield.
May 19th
English Premier League
Seamus Coleman started his sixth consecutive game for Everton in what has been a positive season for the Ireland captain. The Toffees beat Wolves 1-0 back in front of the fans in Goodison Park and are still within a shout for European football next season, whether it will be the Europa League or the newly-formed Europa Conference League.
On another day David McGoldrick could have had a hat-trick but it wasn’t to be for the Sheffield United forward as his side lost 1-0 to Newcastle United. Enda Stevens and John Egan started while Ciaran Clark and Jeff Hendrick remained on the bench for the Magpies.
Meanwhile there was a start for Darren Randolph after Lukasz Fabianksi pulled up in the warm-up. West Ham saw off the challenge of West Brom, winning 3-1. At Selhurst Park, there was second successive start for James McCarthy in the Crystal Palace midfield as the home side were on the end of a 3-1 defeat to Arsenal.
Matt Doherty appeared as a late substitute in Spurs’ 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa. It was the full-back’s first appearance since playing for Ireland in the defeat to Luxembourg in March.
English League One
Aiden McGeady and Anthony Scully came head-to-head in the first leg of the play-off clash between Lincoln City and Sunderland. Both men came close to finding the net but it was Lincoln who came out on top and head into the second leg in Sunderland with a 2-0 lead.
Bulgarian Cup
Graham Carey’s CSKA Sofia clinched the Bulgarian Cup on Wednesday night, beating Arda Kardzhali by one goal to nil. The former Plymouth Argyle midfielder is the second Irishman to lift the trophy, following in the footsteps of Cillian Sheridan who also won it with CSKA Sofia back in 2011.
May 20th
English League Two
Morecambe and Irish midfielder Liam McAlinden stole the show in the first League Two play-off showdown against Lee O’Connor’s Tranmere Rovers. For the first goal, McAliden’s drive was diverted in by Nathaniel Knight-Percival to give Morecambe the lead. Tranmere equalized four minutes later before McAliden bundled home what would be the decisive winning goal in first-half stoppage time.
Belgian Pro League
Anderlecht came from 3-1 down against league leaders Club Brugge to draw 3-3 after they scored an equalizer in the 94th minute. Josh Cullen’s evening lasted 73 minutes before he was substituted.