New surroundings, same narrative. Sean Maguire has got used to that winning feeling this year; his goals ensuring Cork City have turned this season’s Airtricity League Premier Division title race into a procession.

Sport is the very definition of a results business but success can be measured in more ways than first, second or third, writes Brendan O’Brien. 

As is the case in life, timing is everything in sport. And with Martin O’Neill set to name his squad today for the crucial World Cup qualifier with Wales on Friday week, Daryl Horgan could scarcely have picked a better time to produce a virtuoso display.

These are difficult times for Mick McCarthy but Ipswich eased the pressure on their beleaguered manager by claiming a 2-1 Championship win at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

Newcastle made it six straight wins in the Sky Bet Championship with a narrow 2-1 victory at Preston which maintained their cushion at the top of the table.

Wes Hoolahan picked up where he left off on Saturday, following up a brilliant display in Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against Moldova with another superb showing as Norwich beat Rotherham 3-1 to go top of the Championship table.

Daryl Murphy has set his sights on promotion after completing his move from Ipswich to Newcastle yesterday.

Everton have been given a major boost ahead of next week’s crucial Capital One Cup semi-final second leg at Manchester City with midfielder James McCarthy and defender Seamus Coleman likely to be fit.

Paul McShane has often been the subject of senseless ridicule but the whole-hearted defender looks to have found the perfect place to showcase his talents in Reading.

Manchester United 3 Ipswich 0: Anthony Martial stepped off the bench and scored his fourth goal in four matches as Manchester United strolled into the fourth round of the Capital One Cup with a 3-0 win over Ipswich.

In-form Stephen Gleeson returned to haunt MK Dons on Saturday, scoring the opening goal as Birmingham maintained their unbeaten start to the season to climb to seventh in the Championship.

Former Shelbourne Red Adam McDonnell could be about to face Manchester’s famous Reds of United after the young midfielder finally took his belated first bow for Ipswich Town in their 4-1 League Cup win at Doncaster on Tuesday night.

Republic of Ireland international David McGoldrick came off the bench to score and send Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich top of the Championship last night.

Former Irish internationals Stephen and Noel Hunt are amongst five players who will have to wait to discover whether they have a future at Ipswich Town.

The final day of the Championship brought contrasting emotions for the Irish as the title and the identity of the last two teams to reach the play-offs was decided.

It was an eventful day for the Irish at The Den on Saturday as Derby continued to stumble towards a play-off spot after twice coming from two goals down to draw 3-3 at struggling Millwall. 

Two of Brentford’s Irish players were in flying form on Saturday but their best efforts were not enough to earn the Bees three desperately-needed points.

Daryl Murphy continued the season of his life on Saturday but there’s now a real danger his goals — 23 and counting — will count for little at the end of the campaign.

A weekend that started in celebration ultimately ended in frustration for Daryl Murphy.

It was a case of no pain, no gain for Daryl Murphy this weekend as the Republic of Ireland striker broke his nose scoring Ipswich’s opening goal in their 2-1 Championship win at Fulham.

Championship: Derby captain Richard Keogh admits he cannot wait for their top-of-the-table clash at Bournemouth tonight.

How the Irish fared: It’s a football tradition. Club opts to dispose of player. The player finds new club. The old and the new meet and the player returns to haunt former employers.

Daryl Murphy’s importance to the Ipswich cause was brought into sharp focus at the weekend.

How the Irish fared

Ireland duo Daryl Murphy and David McGoldrick were among the goals as in-form Ipswich crushed Charlton Athletic 3-0 in front of their biggest crowd of the season to maintain the pressure on Championship leaders Bournemouth.

Manager Mick McCarthy has warned potential suitors a "bonkers offer" will be required if Daryl Murphy is to leave Ipswich.

Even now in this country that he used to captain and manage with such pride, we still don’t or can’t give Mick McCarthy due credit.

He may have been outshone by clubmate David McGoldrick in Ireland’s 4-1 friendly win over the USA last week but Daryl Murphy remains the star Irishman at Ipswich after his goal earned Mick McCarthy’s men a 2-2 draw at Bournemouth.

He may have netted twice but Daryl Murphy still cut a frustrated figure after Nottingham Forest struck late to deny Ipswich victory in yesterday’s Championship clash.

Not many, if any, of the current Ireland squad have encountered Mick McCarthy and Roy Keane more in the past decade than Daryl Murphy and Ipswich Town’s Irish striker realises the pair of adversaries are integral to his future.

Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy and his assistant Terry Connor have signed new three-year deals, the club have announced.

Cork legend Roy Keane may be returning to the bosom of his native city as his former Ipswich home has been put on the market again for a cool £3.5m (€4.29m).

Mick McCarthy’s hopes of becoming Ireland manager may be fading and he was fully focused on his current side Ipswich last night.

Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy hopes new signing Jack Doherty will follow in the footsteps of another player he signed from Waterford United — Daryl Murphy.

Mick McCarthy believes masterminding Ipswich Town’s escape from relegation will have silenced some of those who doubted him after his sacking at Wolves in February last year.

Ipswich 1 Blackpool 0

Aston Villa 2 Ipswich 1

Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy returns to his former club Wolves for the first time today, insisting that he feels no bitterness towards the Midlands side which sacked him in February.