Had Boots Did Travel: The Irish Abroad (September 14-17, 2020)

There was a busy few days for the Irish Abroad over the midweek period, with Premier League, Carabao Cup and Europa League action all taking centre stage.

There was joy for Robbie Brady who scored Burnley’s winning spot-kick in their win over David McGoldrick’s Sheffield United in the Carabao Cup.

However, there was also disappointment as Dean Ebbe’s TNS were dumped out of the Europa League by Faroese minnows B36 Torshavn.

Meanwhile, Shane Duffy continued his goalscoring form for Celtic in their 2-1 win over St Mirren.

Here’s how the Irish abroad got on between the 14th and 17th of September….

Premier League

Aaron Connolly was introduced as a first-half sub, but his Brighton and Hove Albion side fell to a three-one opening day defeat at home to Chelsea on Monday night.

On the same evening, Sheffield United trio David McGoldrick, John Egan and Enda Stevens all played as the Blades were easily seen off by Wolves at Bramall Lane

Carabao Cup

McGoldrick would however get on the scoresheet for the Blades in the Carabao Cup but his Sheffield United side were undone on penalties by Burnley.



Robbie Brady scored the winning spot-kick for Sean Dyche’s side as both Jimmy Dunne and Kevin Long both featured for Burnley at Turf Moor.

There was an appearance for former Derry City forward Ronan Curtis as Portsmouth fell to a heavy four-nil defeat away to a Brighton and Hove Albion side that saw Jayson Molumby start.

Dara O’Shea started once again for West Brom as they saw off League Two Harrogate Town. Irish senior international Callum Robinson was a sub for the Baggies and scored late on for Slaven Bilic’s side at the Hawthorns.

Irish under-21 forward Michael Obafemi came on as a sub along with Will Smallbone as Southampton were defeated at home by Championship Brentford, with Shane Long left on the bench for the Saints.

Former Cork City defender Sean McLoughlin started as Hull City defeated Premier League Leeds United on spot-kicks.

Former Cabinteely schoolboy and current Republic of Ireland under-21-star Jason Knight was on target as Derby County were defeated 2-1 at home by a Preston North End side that saw starts for both Alan Browne and Seanie Maguire.



James Collins and Glen Rae were both unused subs as Luton Town secured a one-nil win away from home against Reading as Alan Judge came on in Ipswich Town’s one-nil defeat against Fulham.

Paudie O’Connor and Anthony O’Connor both started, while Billy Clarke sat on the bench for Bradford City as the Bantams were handed a five-nil hammering at home to Lincoln City.

Anthony Scully netted for Lincoln in their big win away from home with Sean Roughan and Zack Elbouzedi both left on the bench for the Sincil Bank outfit.

Paddy Madden scored and Glenn Whelan started as Fleetwood Town saw off Port Vale by two goals to one, while both Liam Kelly and Anthony Forde could not help Oxford United to a penalty shootout win over Watford.

Darren Randolph, Josh Cullen, and Conor Coventry all featured as West Ham bounced back from their Premier League defeat against Newcastle with a three-nil win over Charlton Athletic.

Elsewhere, Stephen Quinn was powerless to stop his Burton Albion teammates fall to a three-one defeat at home to Jack Grealish’s Aston Villa at the Pirelli Stadium.

James McClean and Nathan Collins both starred as Stoke City won one-nil away to Wolves at Molineux.

Republic of Ireland under-19 international Ciaran Brennan made his first professional start for Sheffield Wednesday as they saw off a Rochdale side that included Jimmy Keohane, Gavin Bazunu and Eoghan O’Connell by two goals to nil.

Dubliner Conor Grant also made his first senior appearance for Wednesday in their win as a second-half sub.

Former Irish under-21s Liam McAlinden and John O’Sullivan both played as Morecambe saw off Ian Lawlor’s Oldham Athletic.

Harry Arter came on as a sub as Bournemouth won on spot-kicks against Premier League Crystal Palace. Palace saw James McCarthy and Stephen Henderson remain on the bench while Gavin Kilkenny and Mark Travers also stayed on the bench for the Cherries.

Meanwhile, Niall Canavan’s Plymouth Argyle fell to defeat against Limerick’s Shadrach Ogie by three goals to two at Brisbane Road as Padraig Amond was introduced as a substitute for Newport County in their win over Cambridge United.

Celbridge native Cian Bolger and former Ireland under-21 Michael Harriman both played as their Northampton Town side lost four-nil away to Bristol City.

Elsewhere, there was a start for former Dundalk midfielder Richie Towell and an appearance off the bench for Darron Gibson as their Salford City side lost three-nil away to Premier League Everton. The Toffees left Seamus Coleman on the bench for their win.

Europa League Qualifiers

Matt Doherty won his first competitive game as a Tottenham Hotspur player as Spurs defeated nine-man Lokomotiv Plovdiv while Dubliner Jonny Hayes and Tommie Hoban helped Aberdeen to a two-nil away at Viking.

Linfield duo Connor Pepper and Ethan Boyle were not as lucky as the Blues were defeated by Maltese side Floriana at Windsor Park as Graham Carey came on and scored in CSKA Sofia’s two-nil win over BATE Borisov.

And there was Europa League disappointment for TNS’ Dean Ebbe and Tom Holland as they were dumped out of Europe’s secondary competition by Faroese B36 Torshavn.

The Welsh side went behind in the 47th minute through Michal Przybylski’s opener. They soon levelled with Ebbe setting up Leo Smith to score in the 81st minute.

The former Longford Town man then scored what looked like an extra-time winner in the 112th minute, but the Saints were pulled back in the 120th minute by Stefan Radoslevic.

They would lose the resulting shootout to ensure that their latest European odyssey has ended in the Faroe Islands.

Scottish Premier League

Shane Duffy scored his second goal in as many games as Celtic defeated a St Mirren side containing Jamie McGrath, Joe Shaughnessy, Dylan Connolly, and Conor McCarthy by two goals to one.

Rest of the World

Former Republic of Ireland under-21 Robert Kiernan was brandished with a yellow card as his Orange County SC side were defeated by San Diego Loyal on Monday evening.

Former Cork City star and double winning full-back Steven Beattie was introduced as a sub as his Chattanooga Red Wolves saw off Union Omaha in the USL League One.

Former Finn Harps star Niall Logue played for Tucson in their one-nil win over New England Revolution II, while ex-Dundalk man Paddy Barrett featured for Indy Eleven as they lost at home to Louisville City.

Dubliner Jordan Doherty played as his Tampa Bay Rowdies side defeated Atlanta United, whereas Richie Ryan grabbed an assist in El Paso Locomotive’s two-one win over Colorado Springs.

Meanwhile, Arron Molloy was brandished with a yellow card as his Portland Timbers side defeated Real Monarchs.