A former Irish international won a trophy – yes, you heard me – some actual silverware, over the weekend, while Robbie Keane scored his third goal in a matter of days for LA Galaxy on Saturday evening. It’s The Emerald Exiles weekly round-up.
In The Goals
Following on from his two goal salvo in LA Galaxy’s CONCACAF Champions League defeat during the week, Robbie Keane continued his goalscoring spurt with the equaliser in their 1-1 MLS draw with Real Salt Lake on Saturday night.
There was no box hanging at play here. Having picked up the ball on the half way line, Keane drove at the RSL defence, beating one man before firing past goalkeeper Nick Rimando to secure Galaxy’s first league point of the season. Cristiano Ronaldo-esque, if not quite as pacy.
(Forward to 2.05 for the goal)
Also among the goals over the weekend was Kedah FA’s Billy Mehmet, who scored the only goal in their 1-0 win over Johor on Friday afternoon. The former Republic of Ireland Under 21 cap smashed an unstoppable free-kick into the top corner to help his side to victory over a Johor side containing former Argentina and Valencia star Pablo Aimar.
The 30-year-old celebrated his goal by revealing a t-shirt that read ‘That’s 4 You Nan’, a tribute to his ill grandmother back in London.
Kedah were back in action on Monday afternoon, this time in a derby match against Palau Pinang, but Mehmet failed to add to his eight goals this term as they suffered a 0-1 reverse and a setback in their push for promotion to the Malaysian Super League.
Top Of The Pile
To the aforementioned trophy winner, an all too rare sight these days of an Irishman lifting some silverware. Liam Miller, once an SPL winner with Celtic and Championship victor with Sunderland, helped Brisbane Roar to A-League’s Premier Plate on Saturday as the beat Melbourne Victory 1-0 at the SunCorp Stadium.
The former Ireland midfielder played 85 minutes for the Roar, before an injury time winner confirmed their first place finish in the A League regular season. That doesn’t mean they’ve won the title however, as in Australia the top six go into an end of season Final Series playoff.
Though, with a ten point lead ahead of the three final regular season games, Miller and Roar will go into those playoffs as clear favourites.
In Cyprus, Cillian Sheridan was handed a rare league start in the first game of APOEL Nicosia’s end of season phase, playing 73 minutes as APOEL Nicosia beat Ermis Aradippou 2-0.
The two time Republic of Ireland cap failed to add to his five goals this season but can expect to feature as APOEL’s season reaches its climax with the club looking to complete a fourth league and cup double in their history.
Northern Ireland striker Kyle Lafferty was a 61st minute substitute as Palermo maintained their nine point lead at the top of Serie B on Saturday with a 2-1 win at Pescara.
Shut Outs
While a few Irish strikers were getting among the goals, it was a good weekend too for those exports concerned with keeping them out in both the United States and Ukraine.
Middleton man Shane O’Neill played 90 minutes as Colorado Rapids beat Portland Timbers 2-0 on Saturday night while earlier that evening the well-travelled veteran Andy O’Brien helped Vancouver Whitecaps continue their unbeaten start to the season with a shutout in their 0-0 draw with New England Revolution.
In the Ukraine, despite continued political and social unrest it was business as usual in the Ukrainian Premier League. Metalurh Donetsk continued their push for European football next season with a 4-0 win over Zorya. Darren O’Dea was a half time replacement.
And the Rest…
- Joe Gamble and Roy O’Donovan both featured for Brunei DPMM on Sunday but couldn’t prevent Steve Kean’s side from suffering their first loss of the S League season, going down 1-2 to Tampines Rovers. O’Donovan hit the post late on as Brunei’s late onslaught proved unsuccessful.
- There was a recall for Union Berlin’s Patrick Kohlmann on Friday night but a late equaliser denied them a much needed win in their 1-1 Bundesliga 2 draw with Paderborn.
- Finnish-Irish defender Patrick O’Shaughnessy returned to Ykkönen side PK-35 on trial on Saturday, playing the full match and setting up their opener in a 5-1 friendly win.
- Republic of Ireland Under 21 striker Selcuk Tidim was in action for Hansa Rostock II’s on Sundya but they lost 0-2 to runaway Nord-Nordost Oberliga leaders BFC Dynamo.
- Finally, in more pre-season news; Aodhan Quinn made his debut for Orlando City in a 1-1 draw with Charleston Battery while Pop Idol Kevin Walker started for GIF Sundsvall in a 1-2 defeat to Gefle.
You can follow Emerald Exiles on Twitter and visit the website here.
