Every Monday here at Balls HQ we're bringing you a round-up of all the notable performances (and non-performances) of Irish players over the weekend from abroad.
Generally, us fans don't get to see or hear how they faired because most of our squad play in the English Championship or below, given the lack of television coverage relative to the Premier League: the English Football League highlights show is no longer broadcast on the BBC, instead they are covered on Channel 5.
So here is our latest look at the 'Irish Abroad' from the weekend.
Honourable Mentions
Mick McCarthy
The former Republic of Ireland manager has won his first four games in the Championship with Ipswich which has put them in 2nd place.
Ipswich fans have found it hard to warm to McCarthy in previous seasons because they have been a mid-table team who have spent little or no money on improving the squad during his tenure at the club,
Warnock/McCarthy sides top @SkyBetChamp.
Mick: “Two old farts who know f**k all about the game hey? I’ll have to get my iPad out now." #itfc— Stuart Watson (@Stuart_Watson) August 19, 2017
Harry Arter
Although Bournemouth lost, Arter gets an honourable mention for his straight out of the playground playbook when shouting, 'leave it' to the oncoming Watford's Nathaniel Chalobah.
Check it out here: MOTD Highlight A Vintage Piece Of Shithousery By Harry Arter
Mark Travers
Our final honourable mention goes to AFC Bournemouth keeper Mark Travers, who was sent on loan to Weymouth FC and he scored a sensational winning goal on his debut away to Bishops Storford in The Evo-Stik League Southern.
Weymouth won 3-2 and it will be a debut that Travers will never forget.
The audacity to go for a goal was incredible.
Irish Abroad
Conor Hourihane
A fantastic weekend for the Cork native, a hat-trick for Aston Villa and important win for them as Villa had lost their previous two matches in the Championship.
Martin O'Neill take note.
Declan Rice
A pleasant surprise to see that teenager Declan Rice starting for West Ham this weekend after coming on as a substitute last week against Man United.
It is rare for an Irish teenager to be starting for a Premier League team nowadays but hopefully, this is the start of something special for Rice.
See Also: Pablo Zabaleta Is A Huge Fan Of Irish Underage International
Wes Hoolahan
Why does every different Norwich City manager bench Wes Hoolahan? The 35-year-old magician was only brought on in the 75th minute by head coach Daniel Farke when his side were 3-1 down to Villa. They lost the game 4-2.
He may be 35 years old but he still has that magic with the ball at his feet.
See Also: Hotel Respond Perfectly To Customer's Very Specific Wes Hoolahan-Related Request
Daryl Murphy
The Waterford man is a Championship guru at this stage and his start to the season would suggest so, as the striker scored his third goal in four games for Nottingham Forrest, who are currently flying high in the division with 9 points and they currently lie in 4th position.
Although he scored a penalty, Murphy started the move that led Forest being awarded the penalty.
Aiden McGeady
The winger didn't set the world a light last weekend as Sunderland were beaten at home 2-0 by Leeds United. He scored a 20-yard screamer last week when they defeated Norwich but his crossing was particularly poor last Saturday. Phil Smith of the Sunderland Echo gave him a 5/10 for his performance:
His ability to beat defenders in one on one situations will be priceless this season but normally outstanding crossing dipped below the usual standard here. 5
Sunderland fans seem pretty happy that they have Aiden McGeady,
AIDEN MCGEADY pic.twitter.com/HWw47nNOhL
— Roker Report (@RokerReport) August 16, 2017
Sean Maguire
Maguire was back into the Preston starting line-up this weekend, as they beat Jaap Stam's Reading 1-0 and it was the Kilkenny man who set Jordan Hugill to score the winning goal in the 22nd minute.
Watch his assist to Hugill below:
Sean Maguire and Jordan Hugill combined very nicely for @pnefc's excellent winning goal!
➡️ @EFL highlights from 9pm on @channel5_tv. pic.twitter.com/KOELLzXUdm
— Channel 5 Sport (@Channel5Sport) August 19, 2017
Daryl Horgan
This will worry Irish fans as the winger was left out of Preston's match day squad by manager Alex Neill on Saturday.
Horgan has only made one substitute appearance so far this season.
Not ideal and surely he is too good to be sitting on the bench . . .
Greg Cunningham
You have got to have sympathy for the left back, after breaking his leg last season, he started this season in great form which resulted in him getting called up to the Irish squad for next month's qualifiers against Georgia and Serbia but he then suffers a knee injury against Derby last Tuesday that rules him out for the foreseeable future.
The lad cannot catch a break and his replacement at left-back on Saturday impressed manager Alex Neill who was asked about Josh Earl,
What do you think looking at how big Josh did? That is your answer.
I thought Josh was great against Reading and for me, left-back in his position.
Scott Hogan
Martin O'Neill revealed last week at a press conference that the Aston Villa striker has decided to declare for the Republic of Ireland.
Naturally this is good news due to how light we are up front but Hogan was unused substitute for Aston Villa this weekend, and since arriving at the club, he has played 16 times, scoring one goal.
A poor return for a striker who cost £12 million.
See Also: 8 Players You Forgot Could Have Played For Ireland
Eunan O'Kane
Generally an Irish player that goes under the radar, he signed a new deal with Leeds United last week and has become a key player in their side.
Leeds beat Sunderland 2-0 on Saturday and he had a particularly good game, bossing the midfield and was given an 8/10 from Leeds United beat reporter Phil Hay in the Yorkshire Evening Post,
Always available to take a pass and set the rhythm with his distribution. Exactly what Sunderland’s midfield were missing. 8/10
HEAT MAP: Eunan O'Kane & Kalvin Phillips v Sunderland. [@Squawka].
Bossed the midfield. Superb pressing, energy and work rate. #LUFC pic.twitter.com/EHDvR4xHC4— LUFCDATA (@LUFCDATA) August 19, 2017
See Also: Sergio Ramos Refuses To Accept The Blame For Record-Equaling Red Card
