Thursday
FAI Cup winners Dundalk returned to the Aviva Stadium to complete their season with a signing off Europa League encounter with Arsenal which ended in a four two defeat. Shane Duffy started for Glasgow Celtic in their final European fixture of this season against French side Lille which they won by three goals to two. Matt Doherty was in the Tottenham Hotspur side which defeated visitors Royal Antwerp of Belgium by two goals to nil as they progressed to the next stage.
Wednesday
The final contests in the Group Stage of the UEFA Champions League take place this week with already qualified Liverpool travelling to face FC Midtjylland of Denmark where the sides finished level on one goal apiece. Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who has excelled in the ‘Reds’ last two contests, started again this evening and conceded the penalty from which the hosts scored but otherwise was again in fine form.
The Championship continued this evening with Preston North End defeating visitors Middlesbrough by three goals to nil at Deepdale. Alan Browne started for the ‘Lilywhites’ while Sean Maguire was a 74th minute substitute with youngster Adam O’Reilly unused on the substitute bench. Daryl Horgan started with Wycombe Wanderers who went down to a two one defeat at Barnsley. Jason Knight was in the Derby County side which played out a scoreless draw at Brentford. Callum O’Dowda and his Bristol City colleagues scored alate winner to defeat visitors Blackburn Rovers, who were without the suspended Darragh Lenihan who was replaced by Derrick Williams at Ashton Gate. Teenage defender Andrew Omobamidele was an unused substitute for Norwich City who defeated Nottingham Forest by two goals to one at Carrow Road. Harry Arter and Cyrus Christie both started for the visiting ‘Reds’. Birmingham City included Scott Hogan in their side for their two one victory at Reading.
Tuesday
The Championship continued on Tuesday evening with James Collins and Luton Town playing out a scoreless with Coventry City at their temporary home St Andrews in Birmingham. Ireland U21 striker Troy Parrott started for Millwall while defender Conor Masterson was an unused substitute for QPR at the sides played out a one all draw at the New Den. U21 defender Nathan Collins, started alongside James McClean for Stoke City who went down to a two one defeat by visitors Cardiff City for whom Greg Cunningham was an unused substitute after his lengthy injury absence. Transfer window signing Ryan Manning has yet to nail down a regular starting role with Swansea City and was again an unused substitute for the scoreless draw with visitors AFC Bournemouth who included Mark Travers and Gavin Kilkenny on their substitute bench.