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The regular 3pm kick-off time featured several Irish players in FA Cup third round action on Saturday afternoon. The Aston Villa duo of Glenn Whelan and Scott Hogan started against visitors Swansea City who crushed them by three goals to nil with both Whelan and Hogan substituted during the second half. Richard Keogh and Derby County came from two goals down to draw with visitors Southampton and Shane Long at Pride Park. James McCarthy was named alongside Seamus Coleman on the Everton substitute bench, where they remained for the two one victory over League Two leaders Lincoln City. Greg Cunningham was unused on the Cardiff City substitute bench as they went down to a one nil defeat at League One side Gillingham while Peterborough United, also of League One, included goalkeeper Conor O’Malley in their starting eleven at Middlesbrough, where they crashed to a five nil defeat. Darren Randolph was rested by the victorious hosts. Manchester United scored a comfortable two nil victory over visitors Reading for whom midfielder Liam Kelly caught the eye with some cultured play. The former Ireland Under 21 international rejected a senior call up from Martin O’Neill but the quality on display at Old Trafford might prompt an enquiry from Mick McCarthy

There was some Irish involvement in the initial batch of FA Cup third round fixtures which kicked-off at 12.30pm on Saturday afternoon. Manager Chris Hughton and his Brighton & Hove Albion side, which included Shane Duffy, made the short south coast journey to face AFC Bournemouth and secured a three one success at the Vitality Stadium. Burnley included Jeff Hendrick, Kevin Long and the fit again Stephen Ward in their starting eleven for the one nil victory over visitors Barnsley who currently sit fourth in League One. James McClean and his Stoke City colleagues live to fight another day as they drew one each at League One side, Shrewsbury Town. Conor Coventry was an unused substitute, while Declan Rice started for West Ham United who defeated  London Stadium visitors   Birmingham City and Lukas Jutkiewicz by two goals to nil. 

The Premier League continued on Wednesday evening with Shane Long a half time substitute for Southampton who played out a battling scoreless draw with hosts Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Teenage striker Michael Obafemi was unavailable for the ‘Saints’ through injury. Robbie Brady returned to action with Burnley as a sixty third minute substitute but then was red carded in the final minutes for a two footed tackle. Irish colleague Jeff Hendrick was an added time substitute while Kevin Long remained on the bench as the ‘Clarets’ came from behind to secure a two one victory at Huddersfield Town.  West Ham United, with Declan Rice in midfield,  recovered a two goal deficit to draw two all with London Stadium visitors Brighton & Hove Albion for whom Shane Duffy scored their second goal. Matt Doherty and Wolverhampton Wanderers suffered a disappointing two nil home defeat by Crystal Palace at Molineaux.

Goodison Park hosted the opening Premier League fixture of 2019 when Everton went down to a one nil defeat by visitors Leicester City at 12.30pm on Tuesday afternoon. Seamus Coleman was dropped to the substitute bench where he remained throughout a dismal affair. Later in the afternoon, Cyrus Christie and his Fulham colleagues made the short journey to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium where they suffered a four one defeat with Christie substituted on fifty six minutes. The Premier League programme for the day was wrapped up with the 5.30pm meeting of Cardiff City and visitors Tottenham Hotspur with Harry Arter and Greg Cunningham starting for the ‘Bluebirds’ who went down to a comprehensive three nil defeat.  

The Championship entered 2019 with a full opening day programme in a very competitive competition. Unpredictable Aston Villa, with Conor Hourihane starting and Glenn Whelan and Scott Hogan on their bench, were held to a two all draw by revitalised visitors QPR who included Ryan Manning on their substitute bench. Blackburn Rovers had Darragh Lenihan in their starting eleven for the their two one victory over visitors West Bromwich Albion for whom international retiree Wes Hoolihan was a seventy eight minute substitute. Brentford introduced Alan Judge from their substitute bench on seventy five minutes of their one all draw with visitors Norwich City while Richard Keogh and Derby County were held to a one all Pride Park draw by visitors  Darren Randolph and Middlesbrough. James McClean and Callum O’Dowda were in opposition at the bet365 Stadium where Stoke City played host to Bristol City who emerged victorious by two goals to nil with O’Dowda scoring the second. The Sheffield United quartet of John Egan, Jack O’Connell, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick all started their three nil victory at Wigan Athletic with McGoldrick opening the scoring on forty minutes. Defender Sean Raggett was restored to the Rotherham United defence following his injury absence for the two one defeat of visitors Preston North End for whom Graham Burke started while seventeen year old Adam O’Reilly was an unused substitute. Keiren Westwood having recovered from injury resumed in goal for Sheffield Wednesday who played out a one all draw with   Birmingham City and Lukas Jutkiewicz at Hillsborough. Leaders Leeds United went down to a four two defeat by Nottingham Forest at the City Ground where another international retiree Daryl Murphy, scored the third goal and was also named ‘Man of the Match’.
In League One, current leaders Portsmouth returned to winning ways with a two one victory over Fratton Park visitors AFC Wimbledon with Ronan Curtis scoring the winning goal.

Following his Saturday afternoon visit to watch Seamus Coleman and Shane Duffy at the Amex Stadium, Ireland manager Mick McCarthy was expected to just journey a few miles West on Sunday afternoon and take in the Premier League contest between Southampton and Manchester City at St Mary’s Stadium. Shane Long was introduced from the bench on sixty eight minutes but, despite his usual optimum effort, could do little to change the outcome as his side went down to a three one defeat. The ‘Saints’ were without Michael Obafemi, who picked up an injury in training last week. Relegation threatened Burnley defeated visitors West Ham United by two goals to nil at  Turf Moor where Terry Connor was expected to be in attendance. With  Robbie Brady still absent through injury and both Jeff Hendrick and Kevin Long confined to the substitute bench, there was just current hot topic Declan Rice in the visitors midfield to be the recipients of his attention. Young visiting midfielder Conor Coventry was another confined to the bench for the duration.

Shane Duffy and his Brighton & Hove Albion colleagues welcomed Seamus Coleman and Everton to the Amex Stadium in the Premier League this Saturday afternoon where the hosts scored the only goal for victory. The fit again James McCarthy was not included in the  visiting ‘Toffees’ matchday squad amid rumours of a loan move during the upcoming January transfer window. Cyrus Christie retained his starting position for Fulham who scored the only and very late goal to defeat fellow strugglers Huddersfield Town at Craven Cottage while Harry Arter and Greg Cunningham both started for Cardiff City who shocked their hosts Leicester City with the only goal at the King Power Stadium. Matt Doherty got a Wembley Stadium outing for Wolverhampton Wanderers who recovered from a one nil half-time deficit to defeat hosts Tottenham Hotspur by three goals to one.