The football season is officially up and running with many Republic of Ireland internationals representing clubs in both the Premiership and Championship.
With our national squads next friendly against Poland less than a month away, let’s see how our talented bunch have begun the season so far.
Where better to start than our inspirational captain
Name: Seamus Coleman
Club: Everton FC
Our national team captain has recovered well from an horrific leg break suffered on Ireland duty last year. He began the season for Everton in his usual right back position as they drew away from home with newly promoted Wolves.
Name: Darren Randolph
Club: Middlesbrough
Randolph has settled into life at Middlesbrough very well starting all three games, they have won two and drawn once, leaving them top of the Championship currently.
Name: Shane Duffy
Club: Brighton
Duffy had a stellar season last year with both club and country. The Derry man stayed at Brighton this summer and played the full 90 minutes of their opening game this season. Unfortunately they lost 2-0 to Watford.
Name: Ciaran Clark
Club: Newcastle United
Clark started last weekends Premiership opener for Newcastle at centre back. Unfortunately they lost to favourites Tottenham 2-1.
Name: Kevin Long
Club: Burnley
The Cork native broke into the Burnley squad last season, making 16 appearances having spent the previous few seasons on loan. The seven time capped international unfortunately failed to make Burnley’s squad for their league opener at the weekend.
Name: Cyrus Christie
Club: Fulham
Having only made seven appearances since his January move from Middlebrough, Christie started newly promoted Fulham’s league opener and played the full 90 minutes.
Name: Greg Cunningham
Club: Cardiff City
The left back made 103 appearances for Preston North End before securing a lucrative move to newly promoted Cardiff. Cunningham was an unused substitute during Cardiff’s 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth at the weekend. Neil Warnock decided to stick with Joe Bennett who played 38 games for the Welsh side last season.
Name: Declan Rice
Club: West Ham United
The 19-year-old has a bright future ahead of him, he broke into the side last season, making 26 appearances and finishing runner-up for Hammer of the Year. Unfortunately the opening game of this campaign did not go to plan as he was substituted during West Ham’s 4-0 loss to Liverpool.
Name: Conor Hourihane
Club: Aston Villa
Hourihane’s club Aston Villa have had a bright start to the season, Hourihane started and played the full game on the opening day before coming on as a substitute against Wigan.
Name: Matt Doherty
Club: Wolves
An ever present member of Wolves starting 11 over the past few seasons, Doherty began this season in the unfamiliar position of right midfield where he conducted himself well throughout a 2-2 draw with Everton.
Name: John Egan
Club: Sheffield United
Egan secured a move to the Blades during the summer after a successful spell with Brentford. It has been an indifferent first two games. A heavy 4-0 defeat to Middlesborough was followed by a 2-1 away win versus QPR. The Cork native played 90 minutes in both games, where he was one of three centre halves.
Name: Enda Stevens
Club: Sheffield United
A club mate of John Egan’s, Stevens has also played the full 90 minutes of both games. He has been playing in the left back position.
Name: Darragh Lenihan
Club: Blackburn Rovers
The first Meath man to represent Ireland. Lenihan has started brightly for Rovers this season playing 90 minutes in both their opening games where they have secured two draws out of two.
Name: James McClean
Club: Stoke City
The cult hero signed for Stoke City in the summer and has played the full 90 minutes in both games so far. He played in a front three during the 3-1 defeat to Leeds Unitd before being reverted to his regular position on the left hand side of Midfield for the 1-1 draw with Brentford.
Name: Jeff Hendrick
Club: Burnley
Hendrick has had a couple of great seasons with Burnley. The Dubliner looks set to continue being a first team regular this season. He started their season opener against Southampton in the number 10 role. He was substituted after 76 minutes.
Name: David Meyler
Club: Reading
Meyler transferred from Hull to Reading this summer, so far the Royals have lost their opening two games of the season. The Cork native has started both in central midfield but has been replaced in the final 20 minutes of both games.
Name: Harry Arter
Club: Bournemouth (On loan at Cardiff City)
Arter has fallen out of favour with Eddie Howe at Bournemouth and secured a deadline day loan move to Cardiff City. He has yet to make his debut for his new club as their season opener was against his parent club.
Name: Callum O’Dowda
Club: Bristol City
O’Dowda has been playing on the left hand side of midfield for Bristol City in their opening two games. He has been substituted shortly before the 70 minute mark in both games.
Name: Alan Judge
Club: Brentford
Judge bagged the winner against USA in the summer, a first goal much deserved after two injury hit seasons. Judge has started on the bench in Brentford’s opening two games. He came on for the final 20 minutes during their 5-1 win against Rotheram.
Name: Daryl Horgan
Club: Hibernian FC
Horgan secured a deadline day move to Hibernian from Preston North End. He made his debut last weekend coming on with 25 minutes to go in their season opener with St. Johnstone. The game ended 1-1.
Name: Alan Browne
Club: Preston North End
The Cork native has started the season very brightly, he has played the full 90 minutes in both of Preston’s games and scored the winner in their 1-0 season opener win against QPR.
Name: Jonathan Walters
Club: Burnley
Walters moved to Burnley this summer, however the hard working centre forward was an unused substitute in their opening game with Southampton.
Name: Graham Burke
Club: Preston North End
Burke secured a move back to England earlier this year from Shamrock Rovers. He has started on the bench twice for Preston, making one substitute appearance so far.
