Trap’s Eye: The Irish Abroad

Trap's too lazy to do it, so leave it to JOE to look back on the performances of the established and potential members of the Ireland squad over the weekend.

By Conor Heneghan

Premier League

Ciaran Clark

The man who recently committed his international future to Ireland has now scored three Premier League goals and they have all come in games against Arsenal and Chelsea, a good sign of the big game temperament that the 21-year old is quickly developing. Clark started the game at left back, having previously played at both centre half and in central midfield and didn’t look at all out of place as he linked well with Ashley Young on the flank.

The icing on the cake for Clark came in stoppage time at the end of the game as he nipped in at the back post to head home a Marc Albrighton cross to rescue a thoroughly deserved point for the Villains in one of the games of the season so far.

Richard Dunne

The Honey Monster’s time at Villa Park had looked doomed after a falling out with Gerard Houllier, but the moody Frenchman may be forced to change his mind after a solid return to form against Chelsea. Dunne may have been part of a defence that conceded three goals at Stamford Bridge, but much like the Villa team as a whole, Dunne looked a lot more like his old self as Villa put it up to the champions at Stamford Bridge.

Dunney was back, if not quite to his best, against Chelsea

Missed a sitter in the first half and will have been disappointed to have been beaten in the air by Drogba in the build up to Chelsea’s second goal, but the big man will probably just be glad to be back on the pitch.

David Meyler

The Cork native played ninety minutes for the Black Cats for the first time since his return from serious injury early last month and was impressive in the centre of the park as Sunderland breezed past Blackburn Rovers at the Stadium of Light. The 21-year old is full of energy and not half afraid to put himself about; a definite alternative to the pedestrian options currently filling the midfield positions for Giovanni Trapattoni’s side.

nPower Championship

Shane Long

Without a doubt, Long is the Irishman of the moment cross channel and scored another match-winning brace against Burnley on Monday night to make it six in five games for the Tipperary man. That’s ten in total for the season and such is Long’s form that Reading boss Brian McDermott has rushed to proclaim that his star pupil is going nowhere amid rumours of a January bid from relegation-threatened West Ham United.

Liam Lawrence

Yet another Irish man on a losing side that is struggling in the Championship, Lawrence equalised for Portsmouth against Hull on Monday night, before he and his teammates went down 3-2 to Hull at Fratton Park. Pompey are only five points off the relegation zone and could easily slump down two divisions in as many seasons.

Liam Lawrence may not be in Pompey's colours for much longer

Like Shane Long, Lawrence has been linked with a move back to the Premier League, also with West Ham, after seven goals from midfield so far this season. The Hammers are reportedly prepared to spend £4million (€4.6million) in an attempt to bring the 29-year old to Upton Park.

Mark Yeates

Sheffield United may have lost out to Burnley in a goal fest at Turf Moor on New Year’s Day, but it was through no fault of Mark Yeates, who gave the Blades the lead inside ten minutes with a low shot the corner, his fifth goal in 15 appearances this season. Unfortunately for Yeates and his team, Burnley went on to condemn Sheffield United to a third successive defeat. Micky Adams’ side claimed a draw at home to Doncaster on Monday night, but are still hovering just above the relegation zone in 21st place.