This weekend marked the final round of club football for many Irish players abroad before the seasonal divide sets in. For those plying their trade on the Continent, a well-earned winter break now beckons, for those in the UK, the relentless festive schedule is only just beginning.
As ever, it begins with the main man, Troy Parrott, who brought a brief scoring drought to an end by notching his ninth goal of the Eredivisie season for AZ Alkmaar, albeit in a frustrating 4–3 defeat away to Fortuna Sittard on Sunday. It was a performance that carried mixed emotions for the Dubliner. While the goal continued an impressive run of form in open play, Parrott will feel he could have had more, passing up a couple of chances he would normally expect to convert. When AZ were awarded a penalty, Parrott didn’t step up, having missed from the spot in recent weeks – a small but telling indication of the fine margins even during a productive season.
Evan Ferguson had seemed to be edging back towards his best in recent weeks, scoring twice against Celtic before earning man-of-the-match honours against Como. That made his omission from Saturday’s starting line-up against Juventus all the more puzzling, with manager Gasperini opting for a false nine. The decision raised eyebrows, with Fabio Capello noting: “Against Como, Ferguson had a very good match. I don’t understand why he wasn’t used from the start this time.”
Introduced after 55 minutes, Ferguson’s display was far from polished, but his influence was clear in the 2-1 loss. Roma’s second goal stemmed from his powerful left-footed strike, brilliantly saved before Baldanzi finished on the rebound. Gasperini’s post-match assessment was notably blunt: “Ferguson hasn’t convinced me yet ... he hasn’t fully entered the rhythm of the game.” But that view was countered by the club’s porting director Frédéric Massara, who struck a more patient note. “We believe in him. He arrived in Italy just four months ago. He needs time to adapt, but he is giving important signals. He is a strong player who is still growing.”
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In the Premier League, Brentford’s victory over Wolves owed plenty to Caoimhín Kelleher, who did what he does best by saving Jørgen Strand Larsen’s penalty in a crucial 2-0 win. With pressure mounting on Keith Andrews, it was a crucial three points.
Matt Doherty, meanwhile, endured a frustrating afternoon on the losing side for Wolves, having won the penalty that Kelleher ultimately denied.
Elsewhere, Josh Cullen and Burnley picked up a valuable point away to Bournemouth, with the Ireland midfielder playing the full 90 as Scott Parker’s side ground out a draw.
It was a far more difficult afternoon for Jake O’Brien. Facing league leaders Arsenal at home, Everton were beaten 1-0, with the decisive moment being one O’Brien will want to forget, a costly handball that led to the match-winning penalty.
It was a quieter weekend across the EFL, though Friday night delivered a moment of real significance. Adam Idah came off the bench with five minutes remaining to score a dramatic injury-time winner for Swansea in the Welsh derby against Wrexham. Although the brevity of brief cameo may raise some concern, the striker yet to fully settle since his move to the Championship, the goal will provide a timely boost as he looks to work his way back up the pecking order after a difficult start at the Swans.
Also in the Championship on Saturday, Will Keane marked his first appearance of the season for Preston in style, rising to meet a cross with a fine header in the 95th minute to earn a 1-1 draw against Norwich City.
The other standout Irish performance came from Sinclair Armstrong in Bristol City’s 2-0 win over Middlesbrough, earning the man of the match nod after tormenting Boro’s defence with his pace, power and intelligent movement. In his current form, he offers something different and is undoubtedly a player Heimir Hallgrímsson will be monitoring closely ahead of the March playoffs.
Player and Stat of the Week: Caoimhín Kelleher (Brentford), most penalty saves by any keeper in the top 5 leagues
In a weekend that didn’t feature a long list of standout Irish performances, Caoimhín Kelleher was comfortably the key man. The goalkeeper made a series of crucial saves for Brentford in their 2-0 win over Wolves on Saturday, none more important than his penalty stop on Jørgen Strand Larsen. It was a must-win fixture for the Bees, with form faltering and pressure beginning to build on manager Keith Andrews from sections of the fan base.
Kelleher’s intervention proved decisive, securing a vital result that has lifted Brentford clear of relegation trouble. The penalty save also carried wider significance, taking Kelleher to three spot-kicks denied this season – more than any other goalkeeper across Europe’s top five leagues.
Goal of the Week: Owen Oseni (Plymouth)
In a week short on Irish goalscorers abroad, Owen Oseni offered up a beauty. The young striker produced a superb finish with his weaker right foot, guiding the ball neatly into the bottom corner. Oseni has been in excellent form for Plymouth of late, playing a key role in their climb away out of the League One relegation zone.
And his recent numbers underline that impact. Across his last three appearances, Oseni has scored twice and added two assists, form that has quickly endeared him to the Home Park crowd and marked him out as one of the brighter Irish prospects at that level.
