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…
FA Cup
Simon Cox (West Brom 4-2 Cardiff City) Cox hasn’t been getting a huge amount of game time under Roy Hodgson this season so he was determined to make the most of it when handed a start against Cardiff on Saturday. The striker bagged a Hawthorns hat-trick, the pick of the bunch coming just after the hour mark when he fired a sweet strike off the upright and in from 25 yards out. Ireland U21 Joe Mason was also on the scoresheet for Cardiff.
James McClean (Peterborough 0-2 Sunderland) McClean grabbed the headlines in Sunderland’s 2-0 win yesterday, capping another lively performance on the wing with a goal, headed home from Seb Larsson’s corner.
Damien Duff (Fulham 4-0 Charlton Athletic) Duff wrapped up a comfortable win for Fulham at Craven Cottage when his shot three minutes from time deflected off Matthew Taylor and into the net.
Jon Walters (Gillingham 1-3 Stoke City) Walters got Stoke back on level terms after the Potters had fallen behind to an early goal at Gillingham. The striker combined nicely with Cameron Jerome to make some space before scuffing his shot past Ross Flitney, who will be disappointed with his effort.
Ciaran Clark (Bristol Rovers 1-3 Aston Villa) Clark burst out from the back to score his first goal of the season on Saturday evening, capping a mazy run with a fine curling finish into the bottom left corner of the net.
Colin Doyle (Birmingham City 0-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers) Doyle single-handedly earned Birmingham a replay at the end of an insipid affair on Saturday afternoon. The Cork stopper tipped Matt Jarvis’s injury-time effort onto the post and then reacted quickly to deny Steven Fletcher as he followed up the rebound from close range.
League One
James Berrett (Carlisle United 4-1 Leyton Orient) U21 international James Berrett rounded off a straightforward win for Carlisle, skipping past two defenders before finishing cooly.
Martin Devaney (Tranmere 2-2 Brentford) Devaney gave Tranmere the lead inside the opening five minutes on Saturday, finishing powerfully from Jose Baxter’s cross.
Jon Macken (Walsall 2-2 Bournemouth) Macken opened the scoring for Walsall with his sixth of the season but Bournemouth’s Steve Fletcher denied the Saddlers all three points with a header deep into injury time.
Scottish FA Cup
Anthony Stokes (Peterhead 0-3 Celtic) Stokes played himself back into Giovanni Trapattoni’s thoughts with an excellent hat-trick against minnows Peterhead yesterday. The striker took advantage of some sloppiness in the Peterhead defence to wrap up his hat-trick eight minutes from time, firing home from the edge of the box.
Eoin Doyle (Cowdenbeath 2-3 Hibernian) Doyle ensured that he will become an instant hit with the Easter Road faithful by scoring on his first start since his move from Sligo Rovers last month. The Dubliner’s first effort was parried by Thomas Flynn but Doyle reacted quickest to put away the rebound. The win was Pat Fenlon’s first as Hibernian manager.
Jonny Hayes (Inverness CT 1-1 Dunfermline) Hayes’ last-gasp equaliser ensured that 10-man Inverness live to fight another day in this year’s Scottish Cup. Dunfermline goalkeeper Chris Smith gifted Inverness a chance with a bad mistake in the fifth minute of stoppage time and Hayes was on hand to prod the ball home.
