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The one remaining Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup second round tie between First Division sides Longford Town and Shelbourne took place this Saturday evening in the City Calling Stadium, with goals in either half securing a quarter-final place for the hosts. The quarter-final draw is scheduled to be made live on the RTE Soccer Republic Show between 7pm and 8pm this Monday evening.

There was Irish involvement in two Scottish Premiership matches this Saturday afternoon with Daryl Horgan starting for Hibernian who scored a late equaliser to secure a point against visitors Aberdeen at Easter Road. Watford loanee Tommie Hoban put the ‘Dons’ ahead on the stroke of half-time and he was joined in the starting eleven by Stephen Gleeson but Chris Forrester remained unused on the bench. Meanwhile at Rugby Park, Gary Dicker was red carded for the hosts Kilmarnock on sixty eight minutes as current league leaders Heart of Midlothian scored the only goal to maintain their one hundred  per cent record. Young centre back Jimmy Dunne, on loan from Burnley, completed the full ninety minutes for the victors while U21 midfielder Jake Mulraney was substituted after sixty one minutes. 

Wolverhampton Wanderers wing back Matt Doherty, who suffered a nasty injury on Saturday last, was fit and included in the starting eleven when all conquering Manchester City were held to a one all draw at Molineaux in the Premier League early this Saturday afternoon. Declan Rice, excluded from the West Ham United squad for last weekend’s home defeat by AFC Bournemouth, was back on the substitute bench as his side went down to a three one defeat by  Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Seamus Coleman and his Everton colleagues travelled to the South coast where AFC Bournemouth came from behind to secure a two all draw while Cardiff City included Harry Arter in their starting eleven with Greg Cunningham an unused substitute for their scoreless draw at Huddersfield Town. Shane Long started for Southampton who went down to a two one defeat at home to Leicester City while Shane Duffy was in the Brighton & Hove Albion starting eleven for the one nil defeat by Liverpool at Anfield.  

The Championship meeting of Aston Villa and Reading on Saturday afternoon ended in a one all draw with Conor Hourihane a second half substitute and Glenn Whelan unused on the substitute bench while David Meyler started for the visitors with John O’Shea also unused on the bench. Darragh Lenihan retained his centre back position for Blackburn Rovers in their one nil victory over visitors Brentford, for whom Alan Judge who has seen very little action this season so far was introduced from the bench on sixty four minutes. Surprise packet Bolton Wanderers had Marc Wilson on the bench as they crashed to an unexpected three nil home defeat by visitors Sheffield United for whom John Egan and Enda Stevens maintained their ever present starting roles while David McGoldrick was introduced for the second half. Richard Keogh, a Derby County regular this season was again in action for the two nil victory over visitors Preston North End who included Callum Robinson and Graham Burke in their starting eleven. James McClean, involved in some in house troubles at Stoke City, started and scored after nine minutes against visitors Hull City as his side ran out two nil victors at the Brittania Stadium. Callum O’Dowda was introduced from the bench after thirty one minutes as his Bristol City scored the only goal for victory at Swansea City. Leeds United maintained their fine start with a three nil victory over Norwich City at Carrow Road where Conor Shaughnessy was an unused substitute and the recently touted Patrick Bamford a seventy seventh minute substitute.

The Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup second round kicked off with seven matches completed on Friday evening. Non-league side CIE Ranch played host to First Division leaders UCD and took an early two goal lead but were pegged back with the match going into extra-time, where the ‘Students’ took control, scoring four unanswered goals to progress to the quarter-finals. The other successful first round  non-league side Maynooth University Town went down to a four nil defeat by holders Cork City in Turners Cross. The only all Premier Division tie saw Derry City score the only goal to defeat St Patrick’s Athletic in the Brandywell while First Division promotion challengers Drogheda United went down to a one nil defeat by Premier Division third place Waterford in United Park. Current Premier Division leaders Dundalk defeated Finn Harps, currently occupying second place in the First Division, by two goals to nil in Oriel Park while Galway United of the First Division went down to a two nil defeat by Premier Division visitors Bohemian in Eamonn Deacy Park. The remaining Premier versus First contest saw hosts Limerick defeat their visitors Cabinteely by two goals to one in the Markets Field.  

The Championship continued on Friday evening with current leaders Middlesbrough scoring an added time winner to defeat seventh place West Bromwich Albion at the Riverside Stadium. Current Ireland goalkeeper Darren Randolph as expected retained his starting role for the hosts, our only senior number one in regular club action, although this evening he had little or no real action to contend with.

The Irish trio of Jeff Hendrick, Kevin Long and Stephen Ward all started for their club Burnley who went down to a disappointing three one away defeat by Olympiakos of Greece in the third round first leg of the Europa League on Thursday evening. They now face a formidable task in the second leg which is set for Turf Moor next Thursday evening. Robbie Brady has resumed full training with the ‘Clarets’ following his lengthy injury absence and is expected to shortly be available for action while young defender Jimmy Dunne has joined current Scottish Premier League leaders Heart of Midlothian on loan until the 7th January 2019.