The English Football League returned this weekend with a whole host of games coming in the Championship, League One and League Two. With so many of Ireland's players plying their trade in the second-tier of English football, it was perhaps somewhat inevitable that some of the Irish would be among the goals this afternoon.
At Deepdale, Preston North End included Alan Browne and Callum Robinson among the starting XI; while Daryl Horgan and Graham Burke were on the bench.
Somewhat surprisingly, it was the central midfielder Browne who grabbed Preston's goal; his looping header securing an opening day 1-0 win against Queens Park Rangers.
The 23-year-old from Cork will be keen to keep such performances up in the hope he can build upon the 3 international caps he has already earned.
Meanwhile at The Den, Millwall's Aiden O'Brien was on the mark to open the scoring in what turned out to be a 2-2 draw with Tony Pulis' Middlesbrough.
At 24-years-old, O'Brien is still looking to add a senior Irish appearance to those he has made at U17, U19 and U21 level.
At Ashton Gate, Bristol City welcomed Nottingham Forest to town. Having already announced his international retirement, Daryl Murphy won't be factoring in Martin O'Neill's plans for the upcoming Nations League ties, yet, the Waterford man continued his fine start to life at Forest with a second-half equaliser in a game that ended 1-1.
Tomorrow afternoon Stoke City will kick-off their Championship campaign away to Leeds United; a game that could see the debut of Ireland's James McClean.
