Talking points from Irish football

Anthony Stokes continues his scoring streak, taking him to eight goals in six games with his second hat trick of the season. This is the first time the Celtic striker has managed the feat more than once in a season since 2006/07 with Falkirk
Jeff Hendrick scored twice for Derby County as they look to assure their place in the play offs. Will he be playing in the Premier League next season, with or without the Rams?
Roy O'Donovan continued his remarkable record of scoring twice in games with another brace for DPMM FC in the Singapore S League. Is the former Cork City striker too far out of sight, and out of mind?
Seamus Coleman joins his compatriots Gary Kelly, Denis Irwin, Stephen Carr and Steve Finnan by appearing in the Premier League team of the year at right back. After an outstanding season for the Donegal man, how good can he get?
Eunan O'Kane, Harry Arter and Stephen McLaughlin were watched by Roy Keane on Saturday. Who of these can look forward to a call up in the near future?
Paddy Madden will return to League One with Scunthorpe to face his relegated former team Yeovil, at only 24 do you think he will earn another cap?
FC Den Bosch are making a late run into the play offs in the Dutch Eerste Divisie, will Barry Maguire be playing in the Eredivisie next season?
LA Galaxy are playing Colorado Rapids on Saturday, should Robbie Keane speak to Middleton born defender Shane O'Neill about declaring for the Republic of Ireland?

Irish goals for Monday, 21 April 2014

Irish Scorers for 21/04/2014 Sky Bet Championship Derby County 2-1 Barnsley Jeff Hendrick(34) Ipswich Town 2-2 Bournemouth Paul Green(56) Sky Bet League 1 Milton Keynes Dons 2-2 Brentford Stephen Gleeson(80, penalty) Sky Bet League 2 Dagenham & Redbridge 0-1 Chesterfield Eoin Doyle(28) Plymouth Argyle 1-2 AFC Wimbledon Conor Hourihane(7) Southend United 1-0 Accrington Stanley Barry Corr(64)

Irish Scorers for 25/04/2014 Singapore S League DPMM FC 4-1 Balestier Khalsa Roy O'Donovan(45) Roy O'Donovan(81)

Talking points from Irish football

David Forde was awarded Player of the Year at Millwall, but is he the long term solution between the posts for Ireland? As it is,Robert Elliot and Keiren Westwood are the only Irish goalkeepers in the Premier League, with only a handful of appearances between them this season.
On that note, Manchester City's EDS keeper Ian Lawlor faced his compatriots Sean Long, Shane Griffin, Pierce Sweeney and Liam Kelly of Reading FC in the U21 Premier League Cup, with the Royal contingent coming winners over the two legs. Who of these do you see playing for the senior team in the years to come?
Shane Long had to come off against Arsenal with a calf problem, if this persists who should start up front in the May/June friendlies?
Anthony Stokes scored his fifth goal in five games against Motherwell, to take him to 16 for the season, is it enough to bring him into the squad?
Kevin Kilbane is reportedly in talks to join the coaching staff at the FAI, should more be done to encourage former players to take similar roles?
Joey O'Brien made his first appearance in a matchday squad for West Ham since January as an unused substitute against Crystal Palace. Should he be considered for the troublesome left back position, or is he another square peg in that round hole?
Despite Norwich City's troubles, FA Youth Cup winning captain Kyle McFadden has been awarded a one year extension on his contract, do you think he'll make an appearance for the first team next season?
With more promotions secured over the weekend, Brentford FC will be in the Championship next season and Burnley will be playing Premier League football next season. Which Irish players from their respective squads can make the step up to the next level?
Stephen McLaughlin made his debut for Nottingham Forest in central midfield and marked his debut with an assist. Can he progress to the international side, or are the established players too much of a barrier for the former Derry City player?

Irish goals weekend of 12th April 2014

Irish Scorers for 12/04/2014 Sky Bet Championship Ipswich Town 2-1 Doncaster Rovers Daryl Murphy(47) Sky Bet League 1 Preston North End 6-1 Carlisle United Alane Browne(20) Leyton Orient 5-1 Gillingham David Mooney(5), David Mooney(35) Sky Bet League 2 Dagenham & Redbridge 1-4 Portsmouth Michael Drennan(21), Michael Drennan(57) Hartlepool United 1-2 Chesterfield Eoin Doyle(49) Scunthorpe United 2-2 Bury Paddy Madden(62)

Irish Scorers for 13/04/2014 American MLS League Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0 Vancouver Whitecaps Robbie Keane(47) The FA Cup Hull City 5-3 Sheffield United Stephen Quinn(67), David Meyler(90)

Sky Bet Championship Reading 1-1 Leicester City Alex Pearce(16)

Talking points from the weekend

We're getting closer to the end of the season now, Norwich are looking like getting dragged into the relegation dogfight - will Hoolahan and Pilkington pass Leicester City's Logan and St Ledger as they get promoted?
Following Hull City's FA Cup semi final win yesterday, it's possible that their sizeable Irish contingent could be playing in Europe next season.
Kevin Doyle is back at QPR after recovering faster than expected from his injury, is he able for another season in the top flight?
U19 cap and former Cork City player Alan Browne marked his first start for Preston with a goal on Saturday, what do we expect from him in the future?
Hull City player Conor Henderson made his first start since August 2012 on loan at Stevenage, he was marked out as one to watch for a long time, and had a reputation for some fantastic strikes, can he be part of the Ireland set up under the new manager?
Martin O'Neill was at the Stoke - Newcastle game on Saturday, are we finally going to see Stephen Ireland back in a green jersey?
Aiden O'Brien was awarded a new contract at Millwall, despite not playing for the first team after a productive spell on loan at Torquay. Can the U21 striker progress to the senior ranks?

Irish goals week of 7th April 2014

Irish Scorers for 07/04/2014 Eerste Divisie Jong PSV 1-4 Den Bosch Barry Maguire(62), Barry Maguire(72, penalty)

Irish Scorers for 08/04/2014 Sky Bet Championship Doncaster Rovers 1-2 Bolton Wanderers Joe Mason(15) Leicester City 1-4 Brighton and Hove Albion Stephen Ward(17) Huddersfield Town 0-2 Ipswich Town Daryl Murphy(33) Sky Bet League 2 Newport County AFC 1-2 Plymouth Argyle Conor Hourihane(30) Sky Bet League 1 Brentford 1-0 Crawley Town Jonathan Douglas(58)

Irish goals for weekend of 4th April 2014

Irish Scorers for 04/04/2014 Scottish Premiership Ross County 1-2 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Aaron Doran(45)

Irish Scorers for 05/04/2014 Sky Bet Championship Huddersfield Town 0-1 Bolton Wanderers Joe Mason(90) Sky Bet League 1 Brentford 3-1 Notts County Alan Judge(43) Alan Judge(52) Sky Bet League 2 Cheltenham Town 1-2 Southend United Barry Corr(64) Chesterfield 1-1 Newport County AFC Jimmy Ryan(49) Scottish Premiership Dundee United 0-2 Celtic Anthony Stokes(24)

Irish Scorers for 06/04/2014 American MLS League Chivas USA 0-3 Los Angeles Galaxy Robbie Keane(37) Singapore League DPMM FC 6-1 Young Lions Roy O'Donovan(32) Roy O'Donovan(87)

Irish goals week of 31st March 2014

Irish Scorers for 01/04/2014 Sky Bet League 1 Port Vale 2-1 Crawley Town Billy Clarke(35, penalty) Sky Bet Championship Wigan Athletic 2-2 Leicester City Robert Kiernan(62)

Irish Scorers for 02/04/2014 Scottish Premiership Hearts 1-1 Aberdeen Willo Flood(74)

Irish Abroad player statistics for March 2014

Appearance data for March 2014: http://irish-abroad.appspot.com/MonthlyStats?month=3 
Everton duo Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy won the most games in March, both started five wins for their club
Championship defenders Alex Pearce and Shane Duffy both finished March with more draws than any other player with four games finishing all square
Darren Randolph and John O'Shea lost the most games, both players starting five games where they ended on the losing side
Loanees Leon Best and Shane Duffy started the most games and Duffy completed 90 minutes in each of his eight games
Nottingham Forest striker Simon Cox was substituted the most in March, he was withdrawn from the action in five of the six games he started
Fellow striker Conor Sammon was introduced the most in March, coming off the bench for Derby five times
Strikers Robbie Keane, Leon Best, Daryl Murphy, Anthony Stokes, and Adam Rooney all scored three goals in March, with Leon Best going on to win each of the games he scored in