The Championship: Irish Round Up

Irish internationals past and present scored at Highfield Road on Saturday afternoon, with current squad member Graham Barrett netting his side’s all-important second goal as Coventry City bounced back to form with a victory over Plymouth Argyle. One Cap Mick Doyle also started for Coventry.

The Sky Blues had won just once in their previous 12 games, and were mauled 3-0 by Leicester City five days before this game.

But they were 2-0 up inside 15 minutes against the Pilgrims, Stephen Hughes netting the opener before Barrett’s free kick was missed by everyone to extend the lead.

Plymouth’s former Irish striker Mickey Evans (remember him?) pulled one back for the visitors after the interval, his speculative effort dipping over Coventry’s on-loan Manchester United keeper Luke Steele, but the home side held on to take the three points.

Another fringe Irish midfielder, Alan Quinn, scored for his side yesterday: Sheffield United midfielder Quinn fired a spectacular second goal for the club since his summer move from city rivals Wednesday, but Neil Warnock’s side were pegged back by in-form Watford at Bramall Lane on Saturday.

After starting the season on the fringes, Quinn has established himself as a first-choice in Warnock’s starting XI, and he struck after 29 minutes to put his side ahead on Saturday.

Cardiff City’s Irish international midfielder Graham Kavanagh could face a lengthy ban after being dismissed for stamping on Reading’s Steve Sidwell during Saturday’s Coca-Cola Championship clash at the Madejski Stadium.

The week started for Kavanagh with the news that he had been included in the Irish squad for Tuesday’s friendly against Croatia in Dublin, but it has been all downhill since.

The Dubliner conceded a crucial penalty as the Bluebirds’ made their Carling Cup exit at the hands of Premiership side Portsmouth, and Saturday brought a red card – and possibly severe disciplinary action.


And the rest: David Connolly's Leicester City went down narrowly 1-0 to former Ireland manager Mick McCarthy's Sunderland. Gary Breens and new striking sensation Steven Elliot featured for the Mackems.

Nottingham Forrest and Andy Reid continued their miserable run of form with a 1-0 defeat to Burnley.

Irish veteran Gary Kelly and crisis club Leeds plunged deeper into the danger zone of the Championship after going down to high flying Ipswich Town. Darren Bent scored the goal in another 1-0 win.

And finally on-loan Arsenal keeper Graham Stack had to rely on Barry Hayles to grab a pint for his Millwall side against Preston North End.