Daryl Horgan’s first start for Preston proved a memorable one, the former Dundalk star creating the second goal and nearly scoring a third as North End beat Chris Hughton’s Brighton 2-0 in Saturday’s Championship clash at Deepdale.

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.

Preston 1 Man United 3

FA Cup Fourth Round

Yeovil Town 0 Manchester United 2

When lowly Yeovil Town seek to rekindle FA Cup romance tomorrow by plotting Manchester United’s downfall, their playmaker Sam Foley will have international ambitions with Ireland stored in his mind.

Sheffield United 1 Southampton 0 

Corkman Conor Hourihane has admitted that life at Barnsley couldn’t have started any better after he was named League One’s player of the month for August.

Ireland striker Kevin Doyle is back in the Premier League after last night completing a loan move from Wolves to Crystal Palace until January.

With the start of the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign less than a week away, the weekend’s championship action brought some unwelcome news for Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill as Jeff Hendrick suffered a dislocated shoulder in Derby’s 1-1 draw with Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich.

Phil Jones admits Manchester United are still learning Louis van Gaal’s new system but the defender believes their 100% record in pre-season shows they are ready for the new Premier League campaign to start.

Brighton grabbed a last-minute winner to beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 and snatch the last play-off spot on a dramatic final day in the Sky Bet Championship.

The remarkable away form of Ireland’s U21s continued last night at a rain-soaked Podgorica City Stadium as Noel King’s side kept their 2015 European Championship dreams intact.

Ireland U21 manager Noel King has cited his squad’s stellar away form as reason to be confident heading into today’s Uefa Championship qualifier in Montenegro (5pm).

UEFA U21 CHAMPIONSHIP

Conor Henderson has thanked his former Arsenal assistant manager Steve Bould for helping him secure a Premier League lifeline at Hull City.

The fact that Paddy Madden watched part of Euro 2012 in Magaluf and the rest of it back in Dublin with his Da tells you something about what a transformative year it has been for the 23-year-old who, 14 months on, now finds himself coming to grips with the novelty of working with Ireland’s senior squad.

Anthony Pilkington might have pulled out of an Irish squad for no less than the fifth time but, despite the large number of raised eyebrows which must have greeted that recent withdrawal, Giovanni Trapattoni yesterday made it clear that not only has he no doubts about the Norwich man’s commitment to Ireland, he is anxious his current injury problems do not also rule him of out of contention for next month’s World Cup games against Sweden and Austria.

The traditional perils of the early season international friendly are becoming all too familiar for Giovanni Trapattoni ahead of next Wednesday’s game against Wales in Cardiff.

Goalkeeper David Forde is a doubt for the Republic of Ireland’s friendly against Wales in Cardiff tomorrow week.

Irish players formed central parts in the play- off victories of two sides at the weekend.

West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Clarke made 10 changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur for the Capital One Cup second round tie at Yeovil Town.

Ireland U21 2 Liechtenstein U21 0

IRELAND U21 manager Noel King has challenged his players to maintain their Euro qualification quest tonight – and try catch Giovanni Trapattoni’s eye in the process.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND U21 coach Noel King has named his squad for the UEFA Championships qualifier against Liechtenstein at The Showgrounds, Sligo on Monday night (7.30pm).

ALEX FERGUSON admits he feels for the managers who find themselves right in the spotlight after a torrid month for the men in charge.

Two more Airtricity League players have been drafted into the Republic of Ireland Under-21 squad ahead of tomorrow’s UEFA European Championship qualifier against Turkey.

GEORGE O’CALLAGHAN was a familiar face at training yesterday as the Cork City squad held their first session of the season under the watchful eye of new manager Roddy Collins.

Cork City boss Tom Coughlan defended himself and his commitment to soccer in Cork City as he appeared before a disciplinary committee in Abbotstown at lunchtime today.

Leeds United face an away tie against Oldham Athletic in the first round of the FA Cup.

THE first match of the Intercontinental Cup finished with the Republic of Ireland U21 team securing their first points of the competition.

West Ham have completed the signing of midfielder Gavin Williams from Yeovil Town for a fee of £250,000 (€362,389).

NON-LEAGUE Exeter were yesterday handed a glamorous trip to Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup.