Advertisement
Joe Giddens/EMPICS Sport
COYBIG

Irish Eye: Andy Reid is a magician, part 132

When he’s not playing the guitar, Andy Reid is still a useful enough footballer, you know. Here’s how the Irish got on across the water 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

Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City 1-1 Wigan Athletic) Hoolahan got the opening goal at Carrow Road yesterday, but it was only enough to earn Norwich a 1-1 draw against Wigan. Hoolahan took advantage of some slack defending to loop a volley over Ali Al-Habsi in the ninth minute. The goal is the Dubliner’s third in the league this season.

League Championship

Sean Murray (Derby County 1-2 Watford) U19 international Sean Murray continued to make his mark on the Watford first-team with his third league goal in his last four starts. Murray set the Hornets on the road when he finished off a cross from on-loan winger Alex Kacaniklic in the eighth minute.

Robbie Brady (Hull City 2-2 Ipswich Town) Brady got his first league goal in almost two months in Hull’s 2-2 draw at home to Ipswich on Saturday. Nick Barmby’s men took the lead on 17 minutes when Brady’s shot took a deflection and wrongfooted Ipswich keeper Alex McCarthy.

Andy Reid (Nottingham Forest 3-1 Millwall) Get him on the plane, Trap! Everybody’s favourite guitar-strumming midfielder was at the heart of Forest’s win on Saturday, creating the first two goals before making sure of all three points with a 25-yard strike into the top corner.

League One

Alan Judge (Charlton Athletic 2-4 Notts County) Andy Reid wasn’t the only Irishman scoring from 25 yards on Saturday. Notts County’s Alan Judge had a scorcher of his own when he opened the scoring after 16 minutes at the Valley.

Scottish Cup

Roy O’Donovan (Ayr United 0-2 Hibernian) Pat Fenlon’s Hibernians may be struggling in the league, but Edinburgh side are into the final four of the Scottish Cup, thanks in no small part to a Corkman. Roy O’Donovan, formerly of Cork City and on loan at Hibs from Coventry, headed the visitors into the lead on Saturday after just six minutes.

Anthony Stokes (Dundee United 0-4 Celtic) Anthony Stokes scores goals. The former Shelbourne youth took his tally to 20 for the season when he ran on to Joe Ledley’s pass to score four minutes from time.

Wes Hoolahan’s goal was the highlight of Norwich 1-1 Wigan

Title-race analysis: just another manic Sunday