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.

Nine was the magic number for Daryl Murphy this weekend as his brace in the 4-1 Championship win over Leeds made it nine goals in nine games for Ipswich’s number nine.

Martin O’Neill’s mantra that age is no barrier to an international career has fallen kindly for Ipswich Town striker Daryl Murphy ahead of his Ireland re-launch tonight against Serbia.

Hull 1 Huddersfield 0

Valencia 1 Paris Saint-Germain 2

Huddersfield 1 Blackpool 1

Huddersfield 1 Bristol City 0

Republic of Ireland U21 team manager Noel King has added Aston Villa’s Derrick Williams to his squad for the forthcoming UEFA Championships qualifiers against Hungary and Italy.

Robbie Brady maintains he’d rather be in Sligo than Serbia tonight.

Noel King has challenged his Republic of Ireland U-21 players to pick up where they left off as they prepare to head into European Championship battle with Turkey.

It was like 1992 all over again, with a team from Co Clare coming to the heart of Co Cork football territory, and taking home the trophies.

Bordeaux president Jean-Louis Triaud does not believes Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh will return to the French club this summer.

CARDIFF boss Malky Mackay hailed his side’s “nerves of steel” after they reached the Carling Cup final last night after a thrilling penalty shootout win over Championship rivals Crystal Palace last night.

Cardiff 1 Crystal Palace 0 (aggregate 1-1 AET; Cardiff win 3-1 on penalties)

SATURDAY

Crystal Palace 1 Leeds 1

Crystal Palace 1 Cardiff 0

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish is dreaming of a “fairytale” Carling Cup final against Liverpool.

GLENN MURRAY headed the winner in extra time as Championship side Crystal Palace stunned Manchester United in the Carling Cup quarter-finals last night.

Manchester United 1 Crystal Palace 2 (after extra time)

Crystal Palace 0 Reading 0

Ipswich 0 Crystal Palace 1

IRELAND U21 boss Noel King has given one-time senior squad member Terry Dixon, 21, an international lifeline in tomorrow’s European Championship qualifier against Liechtenstein in Eschen.

Republic of Ireland Under-21 boss Noel King has named a 16-man squad for the forthcoming UEFA U21 Championships Group Eight qualifying round fixture against Liechtenstein.

Leeds 3 Crystal Palace 2

Republic of Ireland Under-21s boss Noel King admits his side’s European Championship qualifying campaign could be hit by injuries ahead of their Group Seven clash in Turkey tomorrow.

MANY English-born strikers aspire to emulate Danny Welbeck but Londoner Rhys Murphy wants to make it to the top in an Irish shirt.

Republic of Ireland U-21s boss Noel King is hoping to take a feelgood factor into tomorrow night’s opening Euro 2013 qualifier.

Republic of Ireland under-21 manager Noel King has been forced to make a couple of changes to his squad for the forthcoming UEFA Under-21 Championship Group 7 fixtures against Hungary and Turkey.

Wigan midfielder James McCarthy has been named in Republic of Ireland squad for the forthcoming UEFA U-21 Championships qualifiers against Hungary and Turkey after being excluded from the senior squad yesterday.

MANCHESTER UNITED winger Robbie Brady will be looking to put a disappointing few months at international level behind him tonight when he spearheads Ireland’s attack for the U21 friendly against Austria at the Showgrounds, Sligo (6pm).

REPUBLIC of Ireland winger Keith Treacy celebrated his Burnley debut by rescuing a point in the Clarets’ 2-2 draw against Watford at Turf Moor on Saturday.

Republic of Ireland U-21 team manager Noel King has named his squad for a friendly international against Austria at The Showgrounds, Sligo on Tuesday, August 9 (kick off: 6pm).

TOP horse exhibitor at last year’s Dublin Horse Show, Seamus Lehane, continued his domination of shows in his native West Cork, at last week’s Carbery Show in Skibbereen.

CRAIG BELLAMY set Cardiff on their way to reclaiming the second automatic promotion place in the Championship as rivals Swansea and Norwich both drew last night.

Republic of Ireland Under-21s boss Noel King has drafted six new men into his squad for tomorrow’s friendly in Portugal after being hit by a rash of withdrawals.

Republic of Ireland U-21s boss Noel King has handed first call-ups to Coventry keeper Michael Quirke and Preston midfielder Adam Barton.

WIGAN midfielder James McCarthy has been named in Noel King’s 19-man squad U21 for their friendly international against Cyprus in Larnaca on February 9.

Republic of Ireland U21 head coach Noel King has this evening announced a 19-man squad for the upcoming U21 International friendly against Cyprus which will take place on Wednesday, February 9 at the GSZ Stadium in Larnaca (kick-off: 2.30pm, local time).

AN emotional Paul Hart revealed he will start looking for work again next week after ending his short-term contract at Crystal Palace by keeping them in the Championship.

Striker Terry Dixon has been named in the Republic of Ireland U21 squad to take on Armenia in the Tallaght Stadium on March 3.

A DEPLETED Republic of Ireland U21 side were no match for a rampant Armenia in Yerevan yesterday.

Republic of Ireland U-21 boss Don Givens will be forced to make changes as he attempts to end his wait for a European Championship qualifying victory in Armenia.

Georgia U-21 1 Republic of Ireland U-21 1