Adam Idah scored a dramatic injury-time winner for Norwich City, on a mixed opening day for Irish players in the EFL.
With a host of Irish stars involved at both Norwich and Hull City, the meeting between the two sides seemed like the perfect choice for Ireland boss Stephen Kenny, as he made his way to Carrow Road to watch from the stands.
However, he will have been disappointed to see Idah and Andrew Omobamidele start on the bench for the Canaries, with Aaron Connolly, Cyrus Christie and Sean McLoughlin doing the same for Hull.
Adam Idah scores after Shane Duffy error
One Irish player who did start was Shane Duffy, who lined out in Norwich colours for the first time, but an early error won't have done much to convince Kenny to recall the veteran defender any time soon.
17 minutes in, Duffy was involved in a mix-up with fellow central defender Ben Gibson, allowing Irish-eligible Liam Delap to swoop in and fire home.
The benched Irish sextet were all introduced into the game by their respective managers in the second half, and with the game level at 1-1, Idah proved to be the hero by bundling home a loose ball in the seventh minute of added time.
IDAH AT THE DEATH!
🟡 #NCFC 2-1 #HCAFC 🔵 (90+5) pic.twitter.com/o9nVJkSjwK— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) August 5, 2023
Debuts for Ireland stars
Elsewhere, former Shamrock Rovers starlet Aidomo Emakhu provided an assist as Millwall picked up a 1-0 win away to Middlesbrough, while Will Keane scored a late equaliser on his second debut for Preston North End.
Ireland internationals Mark Travers and Enda Stevens made their Stoke City debuts in a 4-1 victory at home to Rotherham United, while lower down the divisions, James McClean's new Wrexham teammates fell to a 5-3 defeat at home to MK Dons on their return to League Two.
As always, there is plenty of Irish interest in the lower leagues this season and it's good to see some of Stephen's Kenny's stalwarts helping their sides to three points on their first outing.
